DIRECTOR OF PR JOE STEFANI ANSWERS FANS’ QUESTIONS

#18 Josh Wasson signs autographs for fans during post-game autographs on the field. After every home game, players sign autographs for fans on the field.
www.GrabowskiPhoto.com

Every week, Director of Public Relations Joe Stefani will answer fans’ questions about any aspect of the Chicago Shamrox. To send your question, please send an email to joe@chicagoshamrox.com with the title “Shamrox Mailbag,” for the possibility of your question being featured in a future mailbag column. Letters sent may be edited briefly for brevity, length and/or content. Please be sure to include your hometown.

I was at the game on Saturday night. The announcer mentioned something about free water park passes? What gives?
- - Lisa, Hoffman Estates

That was a true statement. Our next game, Saturday, March 29, the first 2,000 fans 18 and under will receive a voucher for one free admission to CoCo Key Water Resort at the Sheraton Chicago NW in Arlington Heights. CoCo Key Water Resort is the Illinois’ largest indoor water resort and features 60,000 square feet of water park adventures.

I actually have been to CoCo Key and it is AWESOME! Definitely worth it to come out to the game on the 29th and get the free admission pass. I believe the passes are worth somewhere in the $32 - $34 range.

Does the team charter flights when traveling to games?
- - Scott, Palatine

The team actually flies commercial. Lately the team has been using American Airlines a lot, but it just really depends on the prices of the flights. Economically it didn’t make much sense to charter a flight, but you never know, it might happen in the future.

How does the team go about picking which player appears on the front page of the program and how does that player react when selected?
- - Jeff, South Holland

Picking a player to be placed on the front of the program isn’t as hard as you think it is. Myself and Eric, who is our Director of Operations & Special Projects, sit down and talk about different guys that we think should have their picture on the cover along with a cover story. There are a few different factors that we take into account including how well a player is playing at that particular time, is the player a fan favorite, is the player known or unknown, should fans know about this particular player, etc.

A player will usually know ahead if they are going to be featured on the front of the program because either myself or one of my interns will write a cover story about that player. Most players are pretty excited about it and they usually ask for a hand full of copies as well. Bobby McBride asked for “as many programs as possible” after he was featured on the cover (January 26 game). Weird thing happened after he asked though; four cases of programs (about 1,000 total) went missing. Hmmmmmm…….

When will tryouts be held for the 2009 Chicago Shamrox Dance Team?
- - Joe, Chicago

Joe, are you asking because you want to tryout? Tryouts for the 2009 dance team will be held sometime during August. We should have a date selected and announced by early June. If you want to be kept in the loop, email our Dance Team Director Kim at majorleaguedance@yahoo.com