Take Me Out To The "Battle At The Ballpark"
Comstock Park, Mich. - The "Battle At The Ballpark" is sure to be a memorable day as the Ferris State Bulldogs square off against the Michigan Tech Huskies in college football action this Saturday (Oct. 3) at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park, Mich.
The game will take place under the lights with kickoff set for 7 p.m. (EDT) on the home field of Minor League Baseball's West Michigan Whitecaps. The collegiate football contest in a baseball stadium setting is being put on through a joint partnership between FSU Athletics and the Whitecaps, who are an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.
Ferris State will be the home team for the Great Lakes
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) tilt and proceeds from
the fundraising game will help generate additional revenue for the
FSU football program.
A number of special activities will take place in conjunction with
Saturday's contest. Tailgating begins at 4 p.m. (ET) and will
include two bands along with a bean bag tournament, free health
screenings and youth activites such as a rock climbing wall and
inflatable obstacle course.
The gates to the ballpark open at 5 p.m. (ET) and the event will
also feature things such as a cheerleading clinic, a halftime
performance from the well-known MTU Pep Band, the national anthem
performed by Big Rapids Middle School students and a simulated
virtual station supplied by the U.S. Army. Both the Ferris
and Michigan Tech Alumni Associations will also hold events in
conjunction with the game.
While Fifth Third Ballpark is primarily used for minor league baseball games, the venue has played host to a multitude of other events in recent years, including concerts, high school and college baseball games along with carnivals. The Ferris-Michigan Tech game will be the second college football game to be played at Fifth Third Ballpark following the "Fall Classic" in 2007 when Grand Valley State defeated Wayne State in another GLIAC matchup. The ballpark also hosted two high school football games in 2008.
"We're excited about the opportunity to showcase Division II football in an outstanding facility such as Fifth Third Ballpark while helping our program at the same time," said Ferris head football coach Jeff Pierce. "It will be a great environment for the fans and feature good competition between Ferris and Michigan Tech while highlighting the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference."
Fifth Third Ballpark, which was originally known as Old Kent
Park, opened in April of 1994 and has a total seating capacity of
10,071 in a variety of formats, including box seats, luxury suites,
deck/patio areas and lawn/standing room locations. The ballpark is
one of the only professional baseball stadiums in the country to be
constructed strictly with private funds and without taxpayer
dollars.
General public tickets for the "Battle At The Ballpark" are $10
with all college students and those is grades K-12 being charged $5
per ticket. The game will be a no-pass event and everyone
will be required to purchase a ticket. Tickets will be sold
at the ballpark or to purchase tickets in advance to the "Battle At
The Ballpark", please stop by the FSU Athletics Ticket Office
(cash/check only) or call the West Michigan Whitecaps Ticket Office
at (616) 784-4131.
Additionally, tickets for the game can also be purchased
online via Ticket Return by visiting this website link: https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/Buy.asp?EventID=43846
For more information on the contest and a complete list of
activities, please visit the "Battle at the Ballpark" website at
the link below:
"Battle At The Ballpark"
Website