Peanut Free Days Coming to Fifth Third Ballpark
May 22nd, 2009
COMSTOCK PARK – The West Michigan Whitecaps will soon give fans with peanut allergies a chance to enjoy a baseball game. The Whitecaps will hold peanut free days during their games against Quad Cities on Tuesday, May 26 at 6:35 p.m. and Wednesday, May 27 at 11:00 a.m.
All peanuts and peanut products will be moved off site and the entire ballpark will be cleaned to remove as many of the leftover peanut shells as possible. Also, any product containing peanuts or nuts, including sunflower seeds, will not be sold during the games.
“We’ll be giving the whole ballpark a thorough cleaning to try to take care of any peanut residue,” said
Whitecaps Director of Food and Beverage Matt Timon. “While we won’t sell or cook peanuts that day, the Whitecaps can’t guarantee that there won’t be peanut residue in the park or that other fans won’t sneak peanuts into the ballpark.”
Timon added the Whitecaps’ vendors are on board with the decision to go peanut free.
“This is an important day for us,” said Timon. “Our vendors who sell peanuts and other peanut products have been incredibly supportive and they’re just as excited as we are to be able to offer this opportunity to people who would not normally be able to come to the ballpark.”
This will be the seventh season that the Whitecaps have offered peanut free days.
“Peanuts are as much a part of baseball as a home run,” said Whitecaps Director of Marketing and Media Relations Mickey Graham. “Unfortunately some fans aren’t able to come out to the ballpark because of their peanut allergy. We are giving those fans, especially kids, a chance to experience the ballpark atmosphere.
The Whitecaps return home to kick off a 10-game homestand on Tuesday, May 26 against the Quad Cities River Bandits at 6:35 p.m. Season, group, and individual tickets are on sale and can be purchased at the West Michigan Glass Block Ticket Office at Fifth Third Ballpark, by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
