How to Plan a Ballpark Birthday Party
- 1). Contact area ballparks---major and minor league---to get the skinny on birthday parties at the venue(s). Ask for the sales and promotion department and you'll probably be assigned a party planner. Compare the pricing of admission-only parties to packages that include food and beverages. Opt for carting your own foods if the price you're quoted falls outside your budget.
- 2). Read the ballpark's party policies before you book, as rules and restrictions are heavily enforced by security and you don't want to incur a penalty for turning a pristine section of the ballpark into a waste heap. Expect a written confirmation of the date and catering arrangements when you sign a contract for the event.
- 3). Get creative with your invitation design: put your all-star's picture, the ballpark's or team's logo on the cover so guests know where they'll be heading for the festivities. Alternately, purchase lightweight balls or bats at the dollar store, and write on them the invitation details with a permanent marker. Mail these 3D invites (with RSVP instructions) in small boxes or cardboard tubes.
- 4). Think "outdoor" when you plan your menu if the ballpark isn't preparing your food. Take advantage of barbecue pits or picnic areas that many leagues provide, so fans can host events like your birthday party. Borrow coolers to tote hot dogs, rolls, chips and soft drinks to the park. Shop for favors and a birthday cake if they're not part of the stadium package.
- 5). Call the stadium's party coordinator the day before the event. Ask how early you can arrive to deliver decorations. Verify your guest head count. Ask if umbrellas are available should the weather look iffy. Make certain your planner has the correct spelling of the birthday girl's name so it doesn't flash across the marquee congratulating Ashlee instead of Ashley.
- 6). Get help in schlepping everything to the ballpark from your teammates (aka friends). Ask for the birthday party coordinator when you get to the main gate and you'll be ushered to the party area so you can start setting up. Find out the quickest routes to the bathrooms, lost and found and concession stands. Bring plenty of paper towels for spills and the one kid guaranteed to overeat and leave behind evidence of his escapades.
