By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
There was already a lot happening at Phil Welch Stadium on Saturday evening, but a chance at Taylor Swift tickets was the cherry on top to a record-breaking night.
6,013 fans showed up and watched Mustangs baseball and celebrated a Mustangs win with a Taylor Swift themed postgame fireworks show. Plus, fans attending the game had the chance to win an exceptional prize, two Taylor Swift concert tickets in Seattle and a $250 gift card towards air fare.
Mustangs General Manager and Owner Ky Turner says after a week of planning Taylor Swift night the reception was incredible, but the lead up to it was nerve wracking
"That whole week I was just nervous, I refused to look at the weather, the day of it was just like a pit in your stomach because we knew we had the potential for something fun and special to happen," Turner tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "But I'll tell you I grew up in St. Joe and I've never seen the ballpark like that, and it was just so much fun."
Turner says the energy from the crowd on Saturday was excellent and fans packed the seats by first pitch to where the only place to sit was the grass in left field.
Even before gates opened on Saturday fans were lined up across the street for the game, hoping for their chance to win the big prize. Turner says it felt like a major event in a big city.
Turner says the turnout was incredible, but you don't always see this large crowd at the stadium.
"You know whether it's from our concessions to our restrooms, to just the walking area, trashcans just all that stuff goes through your head as well like holy cow are we prepared for all of this," Turner says.
With a turnout similar to that of a Savannah Bananas game, Turner hopes that this can be replicated again.
"As many people as there were and how crazy it was throughout the night, as soon as we turned off the lights, I was ready to do it again, I mean it was just so much fun," Turner says.
Taylor Swift night at Phil Welch Stadium surpassed 'Frozen' night in 2014 which brought in 5,345 fans.
Turner says what Saturday shows is that everyone has a reason to come out to a Mustangs game.
"Maybe you really like baseball, maybe you like Taylor Swift, maybe it's the summer thing to do and to hang out with your friends or your family, everyone's got a reason, I'll tell you there's definitely not a better value," Turner points out.
Turner says he's not sure where else you could go and get a free t-shirt, a poster, fireworks, and three hours of baseball for only eight dollars, meeting the mission of providing affordable, family friendly fun in St. Joseph.
