JUNE 15, 2004
Adams wants to build Golden Eagles by community involvement
By MAURY THOMPSON
thompson@poststar.com - Local Sports, THE POST-STAR

GLENS FALLS -- A foul pop-up shot high in the air and looked as if it was headed straight for the bleachers.

People in the stands went "ah," and some ducked before a young fan standing behind the fence along the first base line jumped up and caught the ball it in his glove.

People clapped as he waved the ball in the air, and then the public address announcer chimed in.

"Hey, don't forget to return that foul ball to the front gate for a concession voucher."

Welcome to a Golden Eagles game at East Field -- baseball with no beer and no frills.

Gone are the contests and giveaways between innings, features that Golden Eagles General Manager Charles Adams says some fans consider to be a "diversion" from the game itself.

Beer sales have also become a thing of the past at East Field.

For one thing, the players are all under 21, and for another, no one has offered him a compelling reason to sell beer at games. Adams said.

But it's baseball, nonetheless, at a level Golden Eagles General Manager Charles Adams believes is the right fit for Glens Falls.

"What I'm trying to bring here is quality baseball that people will like for what it is," Adams said.

Baseball teams have come and gone at East Field over the years, but Adams believes this team can be viable because of its low overhead. Only the coaches draw a salary on the team made up of college-age amateurs.

To further cut costs, Adams has paired the team with the Greenjackets football team, which he also manages, selling joint sponsorship packages and buying goods and services including bus travel and hotel accommodations on a joint basis, realizing savings based on economy of scale, Adams said.

He initially envisioned the enterprise to also include the Adirondack Wildcats basketball team, which he owned for less than a year before the United States Basketball League took over ownership in mid-season.

The baseball team costs significantly less to operate than the Wildcats, and has the advantage that its games are played during the traditional baseball season, Adams said.

"We think this (Golden Eagles) team is well scaled for this market," he said.

Adams also is looking to build a sense of community ownership.

He's recently established the Golden Eagles and Greenjackets as separate tax exempt nonprofit organizations, each with a board of directors drawn from the community.

Golden Eagles players live with area families, a feature Adams suggests in and of itself helps build attendance.

Players interact with people in the neighborhood and build up a natural following, he explained.

Fans may also act as "sandwich sponsors," providing congregate meals for the players after games.

The concept seems to appeal to those who turn out for the games.

"I wasn't sure what to expect," said Doug Koos of Comstock.

But he was impressed with the caliber of play, and was intrigued when it was announced that an Atlanta Braves scout was in attendance.

"I know I've come to see Lumberjacks games and there's been fewer people," he said.

The team reported 387 people in attendance at Saturday's game, which is in the range of between 250 and 400 attending most games this season. The attendance at Sunday's doubleheader was 156.

"I come to all of the games," said Tony Mandolare, a restaurant owner from Hudson Falls. "It's a nice night out for me."

The attendance so far has been adequate to support to the team, but Adams said he'd like to see more families with young children attending.

"It is like looking at the audience of the Glens Falls Symphony," he characterized the current fan base. "The demographics are the same -- gray hair and middle aged."

Looking to promote Golden Eagles games to children, the coaches and some players held a clinic for children ages 7-16 at East Field on Saturday. Other clinics sponsored by the Glens Falls Recreation Department are planned later this summer.

Adams said that he is also looking to involve the team in programs at the Glens Falls Family YMCA and other local organizations.

He's also making the rounds to speak at meetings of area professional and service organizations.

Players, as well, are doing their part to connect with area youngsters.

Backup infielder Cory Rodriguez, for example, visited with several children that gathered along the fence near the dugout before Saturday's game.

"Don't eat so much sugar," he advised one youngster, going on to encourage the youngsters to bring more of their friends to the games.