RailRiders open stadium doors today to let fans see renovations

Members of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders’ front office have said they are intent on giving the franchise back to the community.
They will take another step toward doing so today.
The RailRiders will host an open house at PNC Field from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, a free-of-charge event to showcase the progress and changes being made at the ballpark during the $43 million renovation project that began last year.
Fans can purchase RailRiders merchandise at the park, and anyone interested in purchasing season- or group-ticket packages will have the chance to do so. Not only that, they’ll be able to view the seats they can sit in during the 2013 season.
Criticized in recent years for what many fans complained was a disconnect with the community that festered after the New York Yankees moved their top minor league affiliate to the area in 2007, the RailRiders organization has engaged in a whirlwind effort to re-engage its fan base. Fans were asked to submit potential team names in the Name The Team contest, and they voted the RailRiders the winner in the fall. They also announced the winning team name at a free party for the public in November that packed Genetti Manor in Dickson City.
Fans have responded in kind to the changes.
More recently, the franchise’s new Community Organization of the Night Program, which was announced last week, filled to its capacity in just 6½ business days. Team president and general manager Rob Crain said that nonprofit groups from around the area responded to the announcement of the program, and as the team hoped, one will be honored before and during all 72 home games this season.
The groups chosen will receive four free field reserve seats, will be given the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, can be interviewed on the field before the game and will be given a table on the concourse to pass out information on the organization and its cause.
Donnie Collins covers the RailRiders baseball for The Times-Tribune. Contact him at dcollins@timesshamrock.com, read his blog at blogs.thetimes-tribune.com/railriders/, or follow him on Twitter @railridersTT