Rain Or Shine, Blue Wahoos Seasoned On Creating Fireworks Show Experience
At mid-afternoon Wednesday, Blue Wahoos president Jonathan Griffith was faced with a difficult, expensive decision.
This was a deadline for the fireworks company, Pyro Shows, to either plan on traveling from their Fort Walton Beach warehouse to Blue Wahoos Stadium to load the fireworks for a post-game show, or not.
It was still raining at the time. Griffith opted to have the company load the fireworks.
And the show went on, even after the Blue Wahoos game that night against the Montgomery Biscuits had been cancelled due to unplayable field conditions. The Blue Wahoos still put on game activities, had the popular “Roach Run” for kids, then had the fireworks show end with applause.
“It was tough,” Griffith said later. “But you either have to be all in, or all out with this kind of decision. We shot a fireworks show at the stadium one season during a tropical storm. So it’s one of those things where I feel that if you come to the ballpark on a Saturday night, or a Wednesday night, of whatever night we say we’re having fireworks, then we should do it.
“If we’re going to advertise a fireworks show, I want to have a fireworks show for people.”
Fireworks like the kind the Blue Wahoos ignite during selected home games, including games this weekend on Saturday and Sunday as part of Fourth of July weekend, are not a cheap thrill item.
It costs thousands of dollars to launch fireworks by a professional company.
And once the fireworks company loads the fireworks into canisters, always by mid-afternoon or sooner, then the show has to go on. Rain or shine. There is no turning back, because fireworks are explosives.
The devices are inspected by the Pensacola Fire Marshall, checked thoroughly to insure proper loading, then it’s done.
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And once all that happens, there is no turning back. The fireworks have to be launched into the sky.
“And it doesn’t matter about the weather, you have to shoot them off,” Griffith said. “There is no refund, no saving them. The fireworks have to go off. I had zero control over the baseball game being played Wednesday.
The field was deemed unplayable because both teams, along with the umpires, felt like they couldn’t put their athletes on the field. And I can’t do anything about that. But I can do something about the fireworks shows. If someone pays for a ticket, we are going to give them a show.”
This weekend, the Blue Wahoos are giving opportunity for three fireworks shows in three days.
There will be the regular Saturday home game fireworks show, following a doubleheader Saturday against the Biscuits. A special extended Fourth of July fireworks show will occur on Sunday, following the 6:05 p.m. game against the Biscuits.
And then on Fourth of July Monday with the Blue Wahoos on the road playing the Mississippi Braves, the stadium will open at 6:00 p.m. for free admission and a variety of activities.
People will be able to view on the videoboard and listen to the Pensacola Symphony concert at the Hunter Amphitheater behind center field. Around 9 p.m. or so, people inside the stadium will be able to view the annual Pensacola Sertoma 4th of July Fireworks show, which takes place a short distance away on the waterfront across Bayfront Parkway.
The stadium will have concession stands open for food and beverages, plus people will have access to the field in order to have blankets placed on the outfield area and for kids to run around. All areas of the field, except the infield, will be accessible.
“This is an exciting chance for us to essentially have a community celebration,” said Shannon Reeves, the Blue Wahoos events manager, now in her fifth year. “We have two baseball games that lead up to the Fourth of July on Monday, then we will have a community event at the ballpark that day.
“It is a chance to start July the way you should start it and a chance for families to come out and have kids running around on the outfield. Sometimes people are stuck in the same spot for awhile in order to wait for fireworks. This is a chance for them to get energy out. We also have shady spots. It will be fun. We will have some inflatables for kids to play with.
“We won’t have baseball, but we will activities and fireworks.”
The Blue Wahoos are also offering two presold packages for people who want an upscale experience. One will be on the Winn-Dixie party deck area in right field for $40 and a traditional cookout style buffet. The other is a more elaborate dining option at the Hancock-Whitney Club level, prepared by Blue Wahoos chef Travis Wilson and costing $55.
The experience continues the team’s top mission to provide a fun community gathering place.
“I am so grateful for (team owners) Quint and Rishy (Studer) who want to host events like this,” Reeves said. “We are not playing baseball, this is a community event. It gives people a place to come to the stadium for free and enjoy the Fourth of July.”
When the Blue Wahoos are playing baseball, their nights hosting fireworks have consistently attracted sellout crowds, especially on Saturday, throughout the entire 10-year history of the franchise.
All Minor League and Major League Baseball teams have fireworks shows. But the Blue Wahoos in 10 seasons have consistently made their Saturday night home game fireworks show a sellout experience.
“I think it’s our setting here,” Griffith said. “Being on the water. Getting to come down, go to a ballpark on the water and having a fireworks show is what sets it off. And you are seeing these fireworks up close, because they are shot off at the back of the stadium. That’s what makes it a great experience.”
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BLUE WAHOOS FIREWORKS
SATURDAY: Following the second game of a doubleheader. First game at 4:05 p.m., second game 30 minutes later. Both games are 7-innings. This includes makeup game postponed from Wednesday.
SUNDAY: Team’s annual extended Fourth of July show. Game starts at 6:05 p.m.. Kids will be able to run the bases and have family toss in the outfield after fireworks show.
MONDAY: Free admission. People can listen and view Pensacola Symphony Sparks and Stripes Concert presented by Peter Mougey of Levin Papantonio Rafferty Law Firm. The Pensacola Sertoma 4th of July Celebration Fireworks show can be viewed from the ballpark, as it occurs a short distance away from the downtown location on the water at Bayfront Parkway.
OPTIONS: All-American Buffet: $40 per-person. Includes hot dogs, hamburgers, assorted toppings, mac and cheese, coleslaw, baked beans, brownies, and soda.
Gourmet Buffet, $55 per-person. At Hancock Whitney Club. Grilled steak, seafood boil, grilled vegetables, hot dogs, dessert, and non-alcoholic drinks.
TICKETS: www.bluewahoos.com.
Bill Vilona is a retired Pensacola News Journal sports columnist and now senior writer for Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He can be reached at bvilona@bluewahoos.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Wahoos to host multiple fireworks shows this weekend
