How the Sioux City Explorers stay in the game

Oh, we almost forgot to mention: the X's beat the Goldeyes 4 - 0 that night.

According to Shane Tritz, the vice president and general manager for the Explorers, it's OK if fans don't remember who won the game.

"We're happy if fans have a fun experience, regardless of who won the game," he said, inside a snug office located near the team's box office.

The organization has a two-prong marketing approach, Tritz said.

"We market the team to our die-hard baseball fans, but we also market to people who aren't necessarily into the game."

Tritz knows the Explorers have a dedicated following who've stuck with the team in good times and bad times since it was founded in 1993. 

However, the non-sports fan also look upon Explorers games as a family friendly alternative to other forms of entertainment.

"To those people, the X's aren't competing with other sporting events," Tritz said. "We're competing against a family going to a nice restaurant or going to a movie.

"These people don't care if the X's are on a 10-game winning streak or a 10-game losing streak. They are simply looking for a nice evening of entertainment."

IT'S NOT WHETHER YOU WIN OR LOSE, IT'S HOW YOU MARKET THE GAME

During the off year, Tritz and his staff gauge how much other forms of entertainment cost consumers.

"Families have a limit to how much they're wiling to spend on entertainment," he explained. "Despite the fact we've been around for 25 years, we're constantly reevaluating the way we market the team."

After all, Tritz knows a thing or two about promoting the X's.

A 1999 University of Iowa sports management graduate, he actually began his career as a box office intern for the Explorers.

Tritz has been the team's general manager for more than 12 years.

"The trick is to market an experience as oppose to marketing a game," he said. "As much as we want to showcase our players, people will remember a positive experience over a game."

That's especially true when there's free swag involved.

"We love giving stuff away," Tritz said. "And our fans love being able to take home a part of the Explorers after they leave Lewis and Clark Park."

PROMOTING TEAM SPIRIT AND DISCOUNTING WEENIES

Tritz said there are season-long promotions, seven days a week, for all Explorers games.

For instance, military members, first responders and kids under the age of 12 get in for free, while on Wednesday, everyone gets in for half-price.

"We're trying to give folks more bang for their buck," Tritz said, noting that hot dogs sell for $1 on Wednesdays, T-shirts are given out on Fridays, while souvenirs are available for the first 500 fans every Saturday.

Lately, the Explorers' most popular promotion has been "Thirsty Thursday," in which fans can buy a beer or fountain drink at the regular price, while receiving a second one for free.

In addition to season-long promotions, Tritz said the X's have special game day promotions as well.

"Whether it is baseball cards or baseball jerseys, fans look for keepsakes from the games," he said.

Still, it's memories that trump merchandise for many people.

A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE

Looking out into the empty field, Tritz said his daughters learned all about America's favorite pastime by hanging out with him during Explorers' games.

"Baseball has become synonymous with growing up," he said. "That's why bringing kids onto a real, professional baseball field is such a magical experience."

"Giving a kid the opportunity to run the bases is exciting because this may be the only time the kid will ever be able to do it," Tritz continued. "For some, that may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

This is, ultimately, the best kind of marketing.

"We can do all the marketing in the world, but our best P.R. comes from the team itself," Tritz said. "Over the past 25 years, we've become a part of the community.

"Over those years, people know how much fun it is to see the Explorers."