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First, as I've already suggested, the team is "sluggish" because they're going through a major ownership shift. As anyone who's gone through any sort of management/ownership transition knows things tend to come to a halt because

(a) the outgoing group tends not to want (or cannot) plan for a future they intend to be completely separated from --especially any added costs (and more so for any costs they can shift to the new group

and (b) the incoming group has a lot to learn about how things are done and either is slow to act (not wanting to break anything that is --or should be-- underway) or, unless they were supremely prepared with a complete management group, plan and money to take over the moment the ink dried simply are unprepared to move quickly.

The fact is that springtime is a terrible time to change ownership/management since the business of baseball (selling advertising and tickets, lining up talent and promotions) should be more than simply underway... it should be mostly over. The RailCats aren't the only club to suffer from this sort of paralysis. The Vipers, as the most recent NoL example, suffered through this in a highly profound way when Gidney came in with 2 months (or so) to opening day to "save the day/club."

I also have to add that as much as every baseball fan wants the season to "hurry up and start already" the start of the (NoL) season is still over a month away. Not everything has to be in place right away. That said, I do agree that one of the first things the R-Cats need is to get their media relations set up. Still, what matters for the club in terms of promotion is really advertising, not media.

Just another goofy Vick promotion, like the Saints doggy toy (pig with Vick's name and number on its back).

First, the "silliness to baseball" mix, for many "real baseball fans," IS out of kilter. Much of the ire is for the normal, repeated game promotions (not unlike "Whopper Man"). Some aren't all that enthused about the others (like Mime Night or Myron Noodleman). Every night is a constant barrage of between-inning promotions and advertising. During the years when the Saints struggled to put together a winning season it was particularly tough to listen to the same jokes/promos each night.

But to answer your question. there are several promotions that repeatedly draw well, usually "nationality nights" like Irish or German Nights. Giveaways like bobbleheads have usually lead to sellouts (though that trend is down with the general decline in interest in bobbles). These do have an impact (as with the case with fireworks) they help lead to sellouts (now that St. Paul no longer sells out entire seasons).

A matter of expectations

The fact is that people here expect Saints games will have some sort of goofy promotion. What it is, rarely matters but it's another one of the jokes and irreverence people expect they'll have at Midway. It's part of the evening people think of along with tailgating, trains, pigs bringing baseballs to the umpire, Sister Ros massages, peanuts tossed from the press box and "Singing Along with Seigo."

It's those expectations that lead to group sales sell outs. That's what leads to school bus traffic jams for mid-week day games and other warning track seating situations. It's also what keeps the Saints in the news (in a market that does zero to support them in the press large or small) and in the public's mind.

(As I find myself repeating several times a year...) The fact is the majority of people at Saints games really pay little attention to the game itself and know less about the club. "Fun is Good" is the more than the mantra of the Saints --it's the product of which baseball is a key part. And that observation goes back the Bill Veeck who started much of this to sell tickets to get people to watch the St. Louis Browns.

Battle of the Vick Promotions

I don't blame the T-Bones for putting a lot of effort into promotions, it's a universally accepted part of the business. If there's a difference between the approach in St. Paul and KCK it's been to minimize the impact to the actual game on the field during the season. The Saints management never supported X-Box and have limited most game play promotions to one at bat (Minnie Minoso) or pre-season (legless Dave Stevens playing second base). After that it's pretty much a question of taste (or lack there of) in the local market.

On that count, as I've already pointed out, the Saints already had a Mike Vick promotion. It generated a lot of press and numerous auctions on eBay. It was considered a bit "tasteless" at the time, but the Saints (Mike Veeck) have a lot more experience in walking that line. The Twin Cities aren't KCMO/KCK and everyone expects promotions like this from them. It was also "targeted" a bit more about making fun of footballers' missteps (like Randy Moss' driving or the Vikings partying on a private boad) than his incarceration --if there's really any distinction there.

Bottom line: We're going over the same old ground about how important promotion is to (minor league) baseball. I believe Bill Veeck's approach was to say "I can't promise fans a win, but I can promise them a good time." He also pointed out that he could never make money selling tickets solely to "serious baseball fans." The result is that this battle is older than I am with no sign of abating.