ports Marauders Set Event Schedule for Opening Week 2015

BRADENTON — The Bradenton Marauders kick off the 2015 season, the club’s sixth at McKechnie Field, next week. Marauders players will be introduced to the fans for the first time at a pair of events on Tuesday, April 7. The team’s home opener is Saturday, April 11 against the St. Lucie Mets, with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. and the first pitch of the season at 6:30 p.m.

Marauders fans have their first chance to meet the Marauders at Tarpon Pointe Grill and Tiki Bar on April 7. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. and will be attended by every player and the coaching staff. There is no cover charge to enter the event. Tarpon Pointe will offer a $5 Tarpon Chips with a draft beer or fountain soda.

The Marauders open the season on the road on Thursday, April 9 against the Mets. The two teams square off at Tradition Field on April 9 and April 10 at 6:30 p.m., before shifting the series to McKechnie Field for the weekend. Marauders season ticket holders can attend road games for free by presenting their season ticket holder ID card.

The Second Annual Pirates and Princesses 5K Home Run presented by New Belgium Brewing will be held in downtown Bradenton on Friday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. Online registration and printable registration forms are available by visiting www.BradentonMarauders.com/PiratesandPrincesses5K. Early packet pickup will be available at Fit2Run Downtown Sarasota on April 7 from noon to close and at Pirate City April 8-9 from noon-6:00 p.m. each day. Race day check-in will begin at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 11 will be a season kickoff bonanza at McKechnie Field. It is Pirates and Princesses night at McKechnie Field. Dressing up as a Pirate or a Princess for the night is highly encouraged. Activities in the ballpark include horse and carriage rides, free princess hair styling and makeup stations, and a costume parade for all the fans who dress up. The first 500 fans will receive a Marauders 2015 magnet schedule from Pepsi. After the game there will be spectacular postgame fireworks from Bright House Networks and Budweiser.

Every Saturday game this season is a Silverauders Club Saturday. The Silverauders Club for fans 60 and older is presented by Humana. For just $30, Silverauders Club members receive a ticket to every Saturday game, a food voucher for each Saturday game, a Silverauders T-Shirt, and the chance to take a postgame senior stroll around the bases. Each Saturday game will also feature Baseball Bingo presented by Jersey Mike’s Subs and PLS Print.

Opening night will also be the first night of the Lady Marauders Club. For $50, Lady Marauders receive admission to every Saturday night Bradenton Marauders home game, happy hour specials from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. at Saturday games, a club T-shirt, and invitations to special pre-game events before select Saturday games. For more information on the Lady Marauders Club, call Anne Putnam at 941-747-3031 (ext. 4350) or email Anne.Putnam@Pirates.com.   

Sunday, April 12 is the season’s first Family Fun Sunday presented by Kayem. All tickets and regular size Kayem hot dogs cost just $1. After the game all fans 12 and younger can take part in a children’s fun run presented by Mosaic. The game begins at 1:00 with gates opening at noon. There will be a pre-game Easter Egg Hunt on the field.

When purchased in advance, tickets for the regular season Marauders games cost $8 per seat for adult tickets in infield box, infield reserve, baseline box, and grandstand seats. Left field bleacher seats cost $6 per adult ticket. Tickets for children 12 and younger cost $7 in infield box, infield reserve, baseline box, and grandstand sections, and $5 per ticket in the left field bleachers. There is no change in day-of-game pricing for children’s tickets. The Marauders will offer a $1 military discount to anyone presenting a valid military ID at the McKechnie Field box office when purchasing tickets.

Marauders season and group ticket packages are on sale now. Marauders season tickets cost $300 for all 70 regular season home games. Season ticket holders receive numerous great benefits, including the ability to exchange unused past or future tickets to any future 2015 Marauders regular season game. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets in any section for just $5 per ticket if booked at least three days in advance. Season and group tickets can be purchased by calling 941-747-3031.

The McKechnie Field ticket office is open on non-gamedays Tuesday-Friday from 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. On gamedays the ticket office is open from 11:00 a.m. until the conclusion of the game. Single game tickets can be purchased at the ticket office, online at www.BradentonMarauders.com, or by phone be calling 877-893-2827.

For more information about the Bradenton Marauders please call 941-747-3031, visit www.BradentonMarauders.com, or email MaraudersInfo@Pirates.com.