Season starts for Joliet Slammers, fans

JOLIET – Kathy Copen has attended a handful of Joliet Slammers games every year since Silver Cross Field opened in 2002.

As Copen walked at 6 p.m. Tuesday through the gates of Silver Cross Field for the 2016 Slammers home opener, it marked the 15th consecutive season she has attended a game at the park.

She said she enjoys the atmosphere of a professional baseball game without having to travel too far from her home in Homer Glen.

“It’s close to home, but it has a big ballpark kind of feel,” Copen said. “The players are having a good time;they’re not making a lot of money like in [Major League Baseball].”

Copen was seated in the last row, one section to the left of home plate. She’s sat all over the park, but these are her favorite seats. There’s easy access to the concourse and shelter from potential rains and hot summer sun provided by the second deck above.

“I like this spot the best,” Copen said as she pointed down the right field line. “In the summer, it gets hot over that way.”

But no matter where you sit, you might see someone you know, she said. As people still were filing into the park, she already had seen a coworker.

The draw for fans that keep coming back year after year appears to be family-friendly fun and affordability. This year, Copen bought a six-game ticket package. She prefers to attend Friday night games for the fireworks.

Although she’s a White Sox fan, making the drive to U.S. Cellular Field takes more time and money. Copen said the Slammers’ game atmosphere has improved over the past few years.

She also noted the success of fan promotions, such as “Princess Night,” which drew a big crowd last year.

“The food has gotten better,” Copen said. “There’s more variety.”

She encouraged people in the Joliet area to come to the park for “decent baseball that doesn’t cost a fortune.”

Rich Reneau and his son, Evan, were doing just that. Evan, 10, is on a youth baseball team from the Lockport Park District that was in attendance Tuesday night. Reneau agreed that Slammers games provide affordable family fun.

“And it’s only a dollar for parking,” said Reneau, of Romeoville.

Reneau said he and his son have been to three or four games over the past few years. Two players autographed Evan’s hat Tuesday, adding to a couple he collected last year.

Going to the game was a bit of a surprise for Evan.

“[Evan] just about jumped off the couch when I told him earlier,” Reneau said.

Reneau said he wanted to make sure it was alright with his daughter – who had a choir concert at the same time – for the father and son to attend the game. Luckily for them, she was OK with it.

“It’s a really cool experience,” Evan said. “It’s fun to watch the Slammers play baseball.”

As with any weeknight out with Evan, Reneau had to keep in mind it was a school night.

“We’ll probably leave a little bit early,” he said. “Plus, I work tomorrow, too.”