RubberDucks go to 'extreme' measures to ensure fans get their bellies full at games

First pitch for the Akron RubberDucks Home Opener against the Erie SeaWolves is at 6:35 p.m. Thursday.

But the real action begins a bit before that on the concourse at Canal Park.

Baseball is back in downtown Akron and so are the culinary smells of the ballpark.

Sure, there will be peanuts and hotdogs, but the RubberDucks will also be introducing a new lineup of "Extreme Food" for fans to try.

This will also be the first season that Canal Park will be cash free.

Fans will have to use a debit or credit card to make any purchases inside of the ballpark.

There will be an ATM next to Guest Services where customers can convert cash to a debit card that can be used inside of the ballpark and elsewhere.

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RubberDucks President and General Manager Jim Pfandersaid the switch will hopefully improve the flow of lines at concession stands inside of the park and even outside as the ballclub is also using digital-only ticketing this season and getting rid of paper tickets.

The RubberDucks chief chef Louis Willmon-Holland, who is in his third season with the team, has been working on this season's menu of extreme foods since last October.

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The process of perfecting and selecting the right combination of flavors and ingredients, Pfandersaid, involves using Canal Park's food supplier Sysco's test kitchen in Cleveland to get everything just right before the season starts.

Not only does each dish have to taste great, Pfandersaid, it also has to be able to be made and served quickly at the ballpark.

“The Extreme Food Menu began in 2011 and has become synonymous with the Akron RubberDucks ballpark experience," he said.

What new Extreme Foods are at Canal Park this season?

There are five new Extreme Food menu offerings at Canal Park this season.

They include:

Buffalo Chicken Nachos: One pound of nachos that consist of a bed of tortilla chips covered with buffalo chicken dip, bacon bits, jalapeno, green onion, black olives and a ranch drizzle. The item costs $13.75 and is sold at the Taters concession stand.

All Around the World Dogs: Three different new hot dog concoctions are being offered. The Buffalo Chicken Mac Dog comes topped with mac n cheese, buffalo chicken dip, green onion and a ranch drizzle. The Kimchi Dog is topped with cabbage shredded kimchi, chili sriracha sauce, cucumber and mayonnaise. The Banh Mi Dog is topped with shredded carrots, jalapeno, radish, cucumber, cilantro and cusabi dressing. The hotdogs are $22 and sold at the Dog Pound concession stand.

Bases Loaded Breakfast Burger: A half-pound breakfast sandwich that comes with ground meat topped with American cheese, peppers and onions, potato hashbrown, scrambled eggs and syrup in a bun. The sandwich costs $12.50 and is cold at the Sir Loins Grill.

Big Bangin’ BBQ Brisket: The half-pound sandwich consists of pulled brisket topped with BBQ sauce, cabbage slaw, fried onions, cheddar cheese in a bun and comes with a bag of Lays Chips. The sandwich costs $14 and is sold at the Bier Garten concession stand.

Boot Scootin’ Boozy: This the first time a drink has been added to the ballpark's Extreme Food lineup. The 16-ounce vodka lemonade comes with a choice of strawberry, raspberry or mango puree and is served with a cowboy boot or hat and a piece of fruit. The drink costs $12 and is served at the Cutwater Tiki Bar.

What 'Extreme Foods' are returning this season at Canal Park?

The menu items at Canal Park change from season to season dictated by fan tastes.

"Our fans vote with their stomachs," Pfandersaid.

But one staple will always remain.

Pfandersaid the ballpark's signature $2 hotdogs are back at every game this season.

"This is part of our affordable fun moniker," he said.

Some Extreme Food menu items are also returning.

The returning extreme items include:

• The Screamer: The five-pound sundae served in a RubberDucks batting helmet consists of 21 scoops of Smith’s ice cream on top of a brownie base and finished off with chocolate syrup, bananas, whipped cream, sprinkles and maraschino cherries. It debuted in 2011.

• Not Your Routine Poutine: A 10-ounce portion of French fries are topped with gravy, cheese curds, pulled pork, green onions and bacon bits. The menu item debuted in 2015.

• Three Dog Night: Canal Park's version of a turducken is a hot dog stuffed inside of a bratwurst then wrapped inside of a kielbasa topped with sauerkraut and Stadium Mustard on a hoagie roll. The menu offering was introduced in  2011.

• Pineapple TeriyAkron Bowl:  The bowl consists of half of a pineapple hollowed out and filled with a mixture of white rice, grilled chicken, diced pineapple and Thai chili garlic sauce topped with a teriyaki glaze. It debuted in 2014.

• Nice 2 Meat U Burger: This monster sandwich comes with two 8-ounce steakhouse seasoned certified angus beef burgers, two beef franks, crispy bacon, grilled onions and American cheese on a toasted Kaiser bun. The sandwich was first offered in 2011.

Craig Webb, who got a bellyache just writing this article, can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: RubberDucks go to 'extreme' measures to ensure fans have full bellies