After 5: Cardinals' season ticketholders swing into summer

Gordon Kinne, owner and president of Med-Pay Inc., has owned four season tickets in the first row behind the Cardinals dugout since the inaugural 2005 season, and he plans to keep those tickets as long as he can.

“It’s really become a staple in our spring and summertime activities,” Kinne says. “With evening games, it’s a good place to network, see people you know and spend family time.”

Kinne splits every other game’s tickets with Chuck Banta, former president of Banta Foods, but says he still doesn’t make it to all the games.

“It’s also a perk to give to staff,” adds Kinne. “I have a lot of single mothers who work for me, and it’s good family time for them.”

Kinne notes that even though games are three hours long, they don’t require sitting still and being quiet. Interaction with other people nearby, eating baseball park fare, watching the on-field festivities between innings and just plain relaxing fill the time.

Kinne isn’t the only one who shares tickets with staff. Jack Stack, founder of Springfield ReManufacturing Corp., offers the company’s $40,000-a-year luxury suite to employees and customers when they’re in town.

“It’s definitely their box,” Stack says. “Executives don’t go more than twice a season.”

According to Kirk Elmquist, Springfield Cardinals vice president of sales and marketing, luxury suites can accommodate up to 18 with the option to purchase eight more tickets. Corporations that have owned a Hammons Field suite include Noble, Price Cutter, Conco, Loren Cook, Springfield Underground and, of course, John Q. Hammons, developer of the $32 million stadium.

Linda McHaney, administrative assistant for SRC Holdings corporate office, coordinates the tickets to SRC’s luxury suite. “I’m the ticket master,” she jokes.

At the beginning of the season, McHaney distributes tickets to SRC’s 12 subsidiaries.

“Employees love the box. I constantly get calls about ‘When does automotive (division) have the suite?’” McHaney says. “They realize what a great perk it is.”

McHaney also says the suite allows employees who don’t regularly have contact with each other to get acquainted outside of work.

SRC also donates its suite to charities, including an annual event for Big Brothers Big Sisters, since so many employees are involved with the organization.

Elmquist adds that when luxury suite owners use their box for charitable events, the Springfield Cardinals try to enhance the experience with a VIP tour.

Season-ticket holders receive several amenities depending on the package, according to Elmquist. Ticket packages can include guaranteed same seats, appreciation night, food vouchers, first rights to promotions and tickets, access to Busch Stadium tickets with an online code and gifts such as autographed photos of St. Louis Cardinals legends.

Kinne remembers his favorite games: “Definitely that first game when the (St. Louis) Cardinals came to open the field. Or this year, the veterans night was pretty neat.

“The Springfield Cardinals really reach out and try to do great things to recognize people in the community.”

Around the Horn

Hammons Field will be the host of the 2008 Texas League All-Star Game at 7:10 p.m. on June 25. Stars from all eight Texas League teams take center stage during the game, which is presented by Great Southern Bank. At press time, only single seat and general admission tickets were available.

Season Tickets

Prices for season-ticket packages depend on seat locations, and all prices listed are per seat.

Full-season range from $385 to $1,295

Half-season range from $192.50 to $647.50

Quarter-season range from $99 to $333

For ticket information, call (417) 863-2143 or visit www.springfieldcardinals.com.[[In-content Ad]]