Sauget’s Gateway Grizzlies Begin New Season of Family-Friendly Fun
Hello Metro St. Louis Baseball Fans!
On the Missouri side of the river, your St. Louis Cardinals are doing their best to prove the prognosticators wrong, flapping (not flopping?) their way into second place in the National League East. At four games over .500, it’s fair to say they are currently succeeding in defying expectations for a down year. One realistic expectation for the average baseball fan remains unchanged, though: You will part with a significant chunk of your paycheck to entertain yourself at a Cardinals game. That’s not to say you shouldn’t, but let me offer you an alternative.
Over on the Illinois side, the Frontier League’s Gateway Grizzlies started their season on the road last weekend, taking two of three from the Evansville Otters in Indiana. Next, they head to Pearl, Mississippi to take on the Mississippi Mud Monsters for a three-game series before returning for their home opener this Friday, May 16th. Are expectations high for a winner on opening day? Sure! But, at the newly-renamed Arsenal BG Ballpark in Sauget, IL, the expectation is for family-friendly good times at a very reasonable price. Speaking of value, I’ll talk about $2 Tuesdays a bit later on. For now, suffice to say that tickets are cheap and parking is free. Whattaya got to lose?
The opening weekend’s lineup looks like this:
If you’re new to Grizzlies baseball, here’s a primer:
- The Frontier League is not affiliated with any Major League Baseball franchise. If I had to rank the quality of play, I’d say it’s pretty close to single-A minor league. You will occasionally see a player leave a Frontier League team for MLB, but it’s a rare occurrence.
- That said, the entertainment value is very high. Decent-quality baseball, cheap tickets (there isn’t a bad seat in the house), reasonably-priced concessions, and lots of fun family-friendly activities before, during, and after games. It’s a can’t lose proposition.
- Although there are reserved seats, it’s rare that folks stay in the seat they purchased, especially on weeknights. If you do want reserved seats, it’s advisable to be on the first base side for night games. The western sun will be at your back.
- Folks coming over from Missouri, be forewarned, a 4-mile section of I-255 is closed for construction between Belleville and Cahokia Heights. Check your GPS before leaving.
- Here’s where I talk about $2 Tuesday, a personal favorite. On Tuesday nights, the tickets are $2, Natural Light beer and seltzers are $2, and hotdogs are $2. You won’t find a better deal east or west of the Mississippi!
This intrepid reporter is considering starting a fan club for the $2 Tuesdays, though I’m not sure what to call it yet. Grizz Gang? Meet me at the ballgame, and we’ll discuss!
Joe Thebeau is taking on the role of grizzled Gateway Grizzlies correspondent. Joe’s contribution to local media has primarily been in the form of music writing, recording and performing in his band Finn’s Motel. He’s also a lifelong baseball fan and Red State Refugee who has relocated to the Metro East.
