In their 15th season, the Fort Wayne TinCaps are about as much a part of the spring and summer in northeast Indiana as sunshine.

The ’Caps open the 2024 season on Friday, April 5, in Midland, Michigan, against the Great Lakes Loons. However, the real fun gets going in the home opener when the Lake County Captains visit Parkview Field on Tuesday, April 9. 

Drawing a crowd

When it comes to attendance and game-day experience, the TinCaps are consistently among the top teams in minor league baseball. 

Team President Mike Nutter has been a part of minor league baseball in Fort Wayne since 1999, spending nearly 25 years with the TinCaps and their predecessor the Wizards. Despite all that time, he is still stunned by how the community has embraced the team.

“It’s been incredible. It’s amazing,” he said. “We’ve had cities — other teams — come to Fort Wayne to find out what the secret is, to find out if the stories were true. Is it truly that impactful? They found out that it was true. It wasn’t made up.” 

As they looked under the hood and kicked the tires, they found a team and stadium that have become community treasures. 

“It’s a rallying point,” Nutter said of Parkview Field. “Sixty-six home games. There’s more to it than just baseball. It’s bigger than me. It’s a gathering place.”

Nutter noted last year the TinCaps drew nearly 400,000 fans to Parkview, with another 100,000 attending 900 non-baseball events, such as wedding receptions, meetings, reunions, and community gatherings.

“Last year was great for us,” he said. “The further we get away from COVID-19, it seems like behaviors have returned to normal, or at least close to it.”

Coming together 

Hosting 66 games can be a pretty intimidating task. If you aren’t careful, the uncontrollables could overwhelm you: weather, poor team performance, and competing events around the region. 

No worries. While baseball is the backdrop, these are actually 66 unique events with something for everyone. 

Nutter said the secret is creating moments that become lifelong memories and experiences that shape families and friendships. 

With a slew of new promotions and activities to honor the 15th anniversary, Nutter says they’ll easily draw 350,000 fans, saying the ballpark can be a catalyst for change.

 “We can have healthy dialogue,” he said. “We are a place where all backgrounds can feel welcome, even at the same time.”

Promoting a good time

The key is to not change the recipe too much, which includes those nightly specials at the concession stand. 

Tuesday Family Feast Nights feature select $2 items. Wednesday Paws and Claws Nights permit fans to bring their pet to the game and enjoy a hard seltzer. Thirsty Thursdays offer domestic draft beers for $2 and other drink specials. 

Many Friday and Saturday nights feature postgame fireworks; there are 31 such shows, including Independence Day on July 4 and the Three Rivers Festival finale on July 20. 

Sunday games will also feature postgame autographs. 

Popular theme nights dot the schedule, including Scout Overnight (May 24), Dino Night (May 25), Princess Night (June 18), Margaritaville Night (June 28), ZOOperstars! (July 7 and Sept. 7), Harry Potter Night (July 19), BirdZerk! (Aug. 2), Star Wars Night (Aug. 16), and TV Sitcom Night (July 5) featuring actor Jim O’Heir from Parks and Rec.

The popular Hoosier State Tenderloins Series also returns with alternate jerseys June 20–22. 

Strike up the local bands

Although they have a grasp of what works, there’s a willingness to take risks with new events.

This year, they will bring in local bands to perform as part of Pregame Concert Series at the center field amphitheater ahead of Thirsty Thursday games from May-August. 

Grateful Groove will kick off the series on May 16, followed by Wade’s World (May 23), Chris Worth & Company (June 6), JacksonVibe (June 20), Todd Harold Band (June 27), OK Boomer (Aug. 1), and Los Electro (Aug. 15). 

Nutter said they opened a brand-new fan base with last year’s Grateful Groove show. Many of the band’s fans took a chance on the team and found out the food is good, the environment is good, and the team is good.

The bands dig it, too.

“The response was unbelievable,” Nutter said, “It’s a fresh venue, providing additional exposure for their music beyond the typical bar.”

Going Hollywood

Playing on the success of Hudson’s Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner, the team is banking on the notion that fans will love their Love and Roses Night on May 17. 

The night will feature a competition with a date as the top prize. Five men and five women will be selected from applications. Instead of witty banter and charming conversations, winners will advance by winning on-field games. The winners will receive a prize package that includes a hometown date in Summit City. Fans who want to meet the Golden Bachelor can purchase a VIP package. 

Also new are Meet Bluey Day (June 30) where younger fans will get up close and personal with the popular cartoon pup. Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond Night (July 30) is a mashup of the TinCaps and Marvel characters that includes custom uniforms. They also will pay homage to Hollywood’s baseball favorites with Baseball Movie Night (Sept. 6) which includes actor Chauncey Leopardi who played Squints in The Sandlot.

Making a difference

The TinCaps are also devoting six nights to health and other public service nights. 

“We don’t do things just to click a box, to make money,” Nutter said. “We want to do things that make an impact.”

Those nights include Hispanic Heritage Nights (April 26, June 9, and Aug. 15) when the team will be known as Manzanas Luchadoras (Fighting Apples). 

Other community nights are Mental Health Awareness Night (May 18), Peanut-Free Night (June 4), Stroke Awareness Night (June 27), ’Caps Against Cancer Night (Aug. 3), and Military Appreciation Day (Aug. 4). 

“We can be a place where people come out and our players talk about their experiences. We can use this to get a bigger message out. Through this ballpark, we can make an impact.”

There are more promotions than can fit in this article, but to learn more, swing over to tincaps.com.