ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 6, 1997 TAG: 9702060023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
Baseball is definitely back in Pulaski. And, for the first time, so are the suds.
Pulaski Town Council has approved a contract with the Pulaski Baseball Club Inc. for the use of Calfee Park in professional Appalachian League baseball from April 1 to Sept. 1.
The club will retain the league franchise in Pulaski through the 1997 season, and field a professional team which will be affiliated with the Texas Rangers. A games and use schedule must be filed with Town Manager Tom Combiths by April.
The agreement, approved Tuesday, allows alcoholic beverages to be sold in Calfee Park on a trial basis during the 1997 season, limited to draft beer in open cups. No bottled or canned beer will be sold. Sales will start 30 minutes before games and must end before the start of the seventh inning for a single game and fourth inning of the second game of a double header.
The club must designate at least one part of the grandstand where possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages will not be allowed.
Previously, Town Council had always rejected requests to sell beer at ballgames at Calfee. An Atlanta Braves affiliate left Calfee in 1992, the last pro baseball team to play in the New River Valley.
The use of tobacco products in public seating areas will be banned.
The town will spend up to $30,000 on lighting improvements as requested by team management. It will also be responsible for structural maintenance and cleaning of the stadium and related facilities.
The club must pay a $3,000 fee in three equal installments during the season, although some of that can be provided through "in-kind" services such as repair or improvements to the facilities.
The town will still be able to use Calfee Park for youth and recreational baseball, and other recreational activities when there is no scheduled use by the club. The club will be responsible for advertising, promotions, concessions, merchandise and ticket sales as well as crowd control.
LENGTH: Short : 44 linesby CNB