Joliet Slammers kick off season with Old Joliet Prison Big House Ballgame against St. Louis Gateway Grizzlies
The minor league baseball season is starting and the Joliet Slammers are kicking theirs off with the Big House Ballgame in the Old Joliet Prison Yard.
The Slammers will face off against the St. Louis Gateway Grizzlies in their opening exhibition game.
The baseball field at the prison hasn't been touched since the building closed down in 2002, but the exhibition game is part of the centennial celebration of Route 66.
Joliet Prison is more than 160 years old and has a reputation for being extremely haunted. It also let inmates play baseball for more than 100 years.
Joliet Slammers part-owner Bill Murray was there Thursday morning getting ready for the game and sharing his love of baseball, Chicago area history, and throwing reporters onto death row for wearing winter coats in April.
Fans — of the Slammers, of baseball in general, of history, of the prison, of having a fun day with family and friends — flocked to the Old Prison yard to enjoy the day out and the season opener.
"I love baseball and this is great fun," said Marty Havrelewicz, who donned an orange prison jumpsuit. "I know the ownership of the team, Joliet's team. It's always been about having fun at the ballpark."
"It's not often you get to do something like that and on the national stage with something so momentous. We thought, one, why not do it for Joliet in style, but two to bring a lot of joy to a place that may not of had it," said Slammers co-owner Nighttrain Veeck.
Some fans came in Slammers gear, others painted their faces (some did both). Samuel Tiberi and his wife Katelyn dressed their nine-month-old daughter in an outfit that says "Cutie Convict."
"We wanted her to get dressed up so she can be a part of fun and be a part of the theme. She's a big hit so far," Tiberi said.
Jim Woolf hoped the Slammers also hit it out of the park.
"I'm hoping it's a great game, neck and neck," he said.
Rob Weiss created a combination logo of the jailhouse bird and Route 66 logo that is displayed at home base.
"This one here probably took 25 minutes I would say. Something along those lines. I just hand drew it on the a piece of paper and just looked at it, started drawing in the dirt and make it happen," he said.
The game was nearly sold out, and if you missed today's game there will be plenty of opportunities to see the Slammers play again this year. Frontier League season kicks off May 8 with a home game as well.
Going to the Big House Ballgame?
Parking lots and gates
Parking lots open at 11 a.m. on game day. All attendees will have to enter through the East Gate on Collins Street. Gates open at 12 p.m. on game day.
The first 1,000 fans through the gates get a commemorative tin cup.
Parking is free and available in lots on the east side of Collins Street, near the old Women's Prison. Extra parking is available at U.S. Steel south of the prison, as well as Azteca de Oro.
ADA parking and rideshare drop-off is in the Old Joliet Prison lot immediately south of the main prison building. Organizers noted there's a quarter-mile distance from the ADA lot to the East Gate.
When does the game start? What kinds of tickets and seating are there?
The game starts at 3 p.m.
There are three ticket tiers: general admission yard, bleacher seats and VIP seating.
If you have general admission yard seats you should bring your own seating; organizers warned there are no physical seats provided with a general admission tickets. They also don't come with field access, but fans can walk the historic prison grounds and watch the game from a large screen directly below Tower Five.
Assigned bleacher seating is down the first baseline and in right and left field. Bleachers are numbered.
VIP tickets allows access to an exclusive area with a view of the field and al-inclusive food and beverage options. With this ticket option, organizers said you would watch the game with the same view the prison warden would have had.
Attendees with bleacher seat or VIP tickets are the only tiers with direct field viewing access.
Will there be pre-game entertainment?
Bill Branch and the Sons of Blues featuring Sheryl Youngblood will perform at 1 p.m. at the stage in the general admission yard.
For more information and for details about what is and is not allowed into the Big House Ballgame, click here.