Addressing Fan Concerns with GM Randy Whitaker, Part 1

Over the initial 6-weeks of the season there have been a lot of questions posed by Senators fans regarding a variety of topics. The media has blasted attendance ratings at Senators games. Fans and Media have complained about Sports Service. I’ve heard the complaints from the fans since the start of the season. The same issues have been brought up time and time again. In my attempt to get answers for the fans I've asked GM Randy Whitaker some of your most pressing questions. I wanted to give him a fair opportunity to respond to the concerns of the fans.

Due to the length, I’m going to break this into 2 parts (part 2 will be posted later today). Each part will be broke up into 5 questions. If you still have questions after reading this, please e-mail me or respond to this topic and I will try to get answers for you. You may also talk directly with Randy at a game.


SFU: Season ticket holders I’ve talked with are especially frustrated this season. The ‘benefits’ they’ve received for over 20 years have been taken away and some are considering not purchasing tickets next season. What can you say that will convince them that the Senators Front Office has their best interest in mind?

RW: I can understand their frustration. I would ask that they evaluate us based on the entire season and not the first five weeks. We have many plans in place which have not been executed. It is a shortfall on our part for not communicating those plans better than we have thus far.

SFU: Season ticket holders are very important to the everyday business of the Senators. They act as the ‘unofficial voice’ of the team. They spread the word about what’s going on around the stadium. Also, bring friends and family to games which equate to additional revenue. Is there anything you can do to save the relationship between them and the Front Office?

RW: We absolutely value their business and their loyalty and I look forward to proving it in the coming months.

SFU: Some fans have become ‘overly excited’ during games when voicing their displeasure with how business is being conducted. This takes away from the fans experience and disrupts the game. Baseball games are considered a family event and sometimes profanity has been used. Is there another way in which you would like fans to express their frustration?

RW: Using profanity in a public setting is inappropriate. I would hope that while some fans may not like some things they would act as responsible adults given the environment. I’d be happy to meet with anyone individually who has an issue.

SFU: For all intensive purposes the in-game entertainment has remained the same as it was in past seasons. If you attended a Senators game 10-years ago and then again today it would be about the same. Prior to the start of the season you were excited about the new in-game entertainment & promotions. Why are fans not seeing new in-game entertainment and promotions?

RW: In a regular game, there are about nine in-game entertainment events/games. This season, four of those games are new (Slush Puppie Splash Down Game, HACC Strongest Man competition, Verizon Wireless Find the Phone and CBS21 TV Trivia contest). Also changed is the Sumo event which most nights is not the standard wrestling, but some other use of the Sumo suits. The others were considered classics and requested to be returned by many fans and the sponsors. Funny, the thing I keep hearing is that no one likes change from the way things were done in the past. Now the change is not enough.

SFU: Considering you were (and still are) a fan, would you pay to see the show being offered during the game?

RW: Absolutely. Senators Baseball is still the best, most affordable entertainment in Central PA. There is nothing better than affiliated Minor League baseball.