Sometimes, it is hard to find something fun and relatively cheap to do in town for a night. The Grand Junction Jackalopes provide exactly that experience for college students on a budget. From their $2 beer special to their free ticket giveaways for random attendees, the Jackalopes put the fan experience at Suplizio Field to the forefront.
Donning bright purple uniforms with a logo of a jackalope holding a bat, just the team’s look sets the vibes for the entire experience: exorbitant and fun. Maybe the best part about going to a Jackalopes game is how well both the fans and the venue itself create a lively atmosphere with rambunctious (and usually inebriated) fans heckling opposing teams and umpires right behind home plate.
“I come to the games because I like how the players and umpires can hear us yell at them. Last year, we [saw] a whole section that overruled the umpire. It was really fun to see because you can’t influence a decision like that in the MLB,” 12-year community member Lori Sarchet said.
The Jackalopes lean into the raucous nature of their fanbase. Each game, an opposing batter is picked to be that night’s $2 beer batter. If he strikes out, everyone gets $2 beers for the next 10 minutes. This inspires fans to fly off the handle each time that player comes to the plate, repeatedly screaming “Beer! Beer!” for the duration of the at-bat. You can almost feel the batter’s dread walking up the box.
Similarly, the team also has an ice cream special when the Jackalopes score a run during a chosen inning. If the Jackalopes score a run during that inning, fans get $2 ice cream for the next ten minutes, including the team’s unique Huckleberry flavor.
The staff also interacts with fans through fun games like a potato sack race, a catching challenge as well as music trivia with the chance to win free tickets to local events.
“We did some music trivia and we won two tickets to the peach festival this weekend, with the help of the crowd,” junior criminal justice major Brooke Bright said, “I like the games because I grew up playing and watching baseball. Back home we have the Connie Mack World Series, so this is nice to have something similar in this community for people to come out and watch.”
Despite what some might think about the level of play in minor league baseball, most of the players on the team are former Division I standouts. Their talent rivals that of even the Mavericks, which adds to the enjoyment of the affair.
Not to mention that fans experience all of this at Suplizio Field, arguably the best baseball venue in town. Overlooking the adjacent golf course and the neighborhood houses of 12th Street, the aesthetic view is hard to match. Plus, the concession prices are fairly reasonable with $2 popcorn, a $7 chicken basket and $6 nachos.
The spirited atmosphere, shrewd fan engagement and student-friendly pricing make Grand Junction Jackalope games the perfect night out for students.
