By Lauren Jennings
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.- October 10, 2016
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.- October 10, 2016
Most people assume that a minor league baseball team goes dark after the final out of the season, but the front office staff works year round to make the next year even better than the one before it.
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a minor league baseball team based in the California League. They are the high-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Quakes 2016 season may have ended in September, but the members of the front office are already working on every aspect of the 2017 season.
Promotions manager Bobbi Salcido is already hard at work planning for the Quakes upcoming 25th anniversary next season.
Salcido is focused on sponsors, what could spark ticket sales, entertainment value and what could benefit the community.
“Putting together a season take a lot of planning and to set ourselves up for April, we have to get a lot done before January,” said Salcido. “While baseball season is about game days, promotions, marketing and production, the offseason is our selling season and is equally important.”
With such an important season coming up, a lot of thought has to be put into the promotions for the 2017 season.
“We’re still in the planning stages, but the goal for 2017 is to incorporate elements from the previous 24 seasons in a variety of promotions for the season,” said Salcido.
Along with potential giveaway items, Salcido and the Quakes are tasked with thinking of other offerings that could boost fan attendance during the next season.
Such offerings include uniform designs, theme nights and flashbacks to some of the Quakes previous on-field successes.
“We will pick aspects that are most recognizable to the brand (teal, pinstripes, notable players, 1994 and 2015 championships, etc.) to highlight in jerseys, giveaways, and a general look for the season,” said Salcido.
As with most planning, a lot of brain storming and research goes into planning for a new season.
“So far, ideas like a “1993 night”, hall of fame card set, and a specialty cap are being considered among many other twists to the traditional staples of our promo schedule (bobbleheads, fireworks, etc.),” said Salcido.
On the other side of the spectrum lies the broadcast department.
The broadcast and media assistant Dave Polaski works with other sports teams during the offseason to continue to gain experience and stay prepared for the next season.
“I remain constantly involved with sports broadcasting, even when there is no baseball to be played,” said Polaski. “It’s a busy schedule, but it helps keep my mind and voice sharp for when baseball season returns.”
While he is working on other sports he reviews recordings of his broadcasts to see what he liked and didn’t like what he said or how he said it.
“You listen to recordings of games from the previous season and decide what seems to be working or what could use improvement or even what should be scrapped altogether,” said Polaski.
In addition to listening to and critiquing his own broadcasts, Polaski also takes the time to research other broadcasters and listen to what they have to say.
“I’m constantly watching and listening to other games and other play-by-play announcer, exposing myself to a wide range of styles and deliveries that could allow me to improve in the future,” said Polaski.
When he isn’t working on improving his baseball play-by-play skills or soaking in knowledge of new prospects, he meets new people with similar interests at the Winter Meetings.
The Winter Meetings are a place for baseball employees to gather together and discuss broadcasting techniques, promotion ideas and everything in-between.
Whether it’s broadcasting or promotions, the Quakes front office staff is a busy place year-round, not just during the baseball season.
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a minor league baseball team based in the California League. They are the high-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Quakes 2016 season may have ended in September, but the members of the front office are already working on every aspect of the 2017 season.
Promotions manager Bobbi Salcido is already hard at work planning for the Quakes upcoming 25th anniversary next season.
Salcido is focused on sponsors, what could spark ticket sales, entertainment value and what could benefit the community.
“Putting together a season take a lot of planning and to set ourselves up for April, we have to get a lot done before January,” said Salcido. “While baseball season is about game days, promotions, marketing and production, the offseason is our selling season and is equally important.”
With such an important season coming up, a lot of thought has to be put into the promotions for the 2017 season.
“We’re still in the planning stages, but the goal for 2017 is to incorporate elements from the previous 24 seasons in a variety of promotions for the season,” said Salcido.
Along with potential giveaway items, Salcido and the Quakes are tasked with thinking of other offerings that could boost fan attendance during the next season.
Such offerings include uniform designs, theme nights and flashbacks to some of the Quakes previous on-field successes.
“We will pick aspects that are most recognizable to the brand (teal, pinstripes, notable players, 1994 and 2015 championships, etc.) to highlight in jerseys, giveaways, and a general look for the season,” said Salcido.
As with most planning, a lot of brain storming and research goes into planning for a new season.
“So far, ideas like a “1993 night”, hall of fame card set, and a specialty cap are being considered among many other twists to the traditional staples of our promo schedule (bobbleheads, fireworks, etc.),” said Salcido.
On the other side of the spectrum lies the broadcast department.
The broadcast and media assistant Dave Polaski works with other sports teams during the offseason to continue to gain experience and stay prepared for the next season.
“I remain constantly involved with sports broadcasting, even when there is no baseball to be played,” said Polaski. “It’s a busy schedule, but it helps keep my mind and voice sharp for when baseball season returns.”
While he is working on other sports he reviews recordings of his broadcasts to see what he liked and didn’t like what he said or how he said it.
“You listen to recordings of games from the previous season and decide what seems to be working or what could use improvement or even what should be scrapped altogether,” said Polaski.
In addition to listening to and critiquing his own broadcasts, Polaski also takes the time to research other broadcasters and listen to what they have to say.
“I’m constantly watching and listening to other games and other play-by-play announcer, exposing myself to a wide range of styles and deliveries that could allow me to improve in the future,” said Polaski.
When he isn’t working on improving his baseball play-by-play skills or soaking in knowledge of new prospects, he meets new people with similar interests at the Winter Meetings.
The Winter Meetings are a place for baseball employees to gather together and discuss broadcasting techniques, promotion ideas and everything in-between.
Whether it’s broadcasting or promotions, the Quakes front office staff is a busy place year-round, not just during the baseball season.
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