Cost-effective upgrades from the Vermont Lake Monsters and the Quad Cities River Bandits shows a commitment to fans and earned recognition from Ballpark Digest for Best Ballpark Renovations (Under $1 Million) of the 2013 season.

Improving fan amenities in a cost-effective manner is always a challenge for team owners. In Burlington, Vermont and Davenport, Iowa, team owners managed to pull off serious upgrades on a budget, as Centennial Field, home of the Vermont Lake Monsters (short season; NY-Penn League) and Modern Woodmen Park, home of the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League) are the winners of the best renovations (under $1 million) for 2013 from Ballpark Digest, the leading guide to ballparks and baseball on the Internet.

In both cases, the improvements were multiyear efforts, with 2013 the first season they were available during the whole campaign. And, in both cases, the improvements were significant enhancements that featured fans first.

"It takes a serious commitment to fan comfort to take on improvements like these, and in both cases it's pretty amazing to see such upgrades cost less than a million dollars," said Kevin Reichard, Ballpark Digest publisher. "These teams and their owners deserve recognition for going above and beyond."

In Burlington, the Lake Monsters worked with the city on a renovation plan that included the installation of permanent seating on what had been a bare-concrete grandstand. The concrete general-admission sections in both the first- and third-base grandstands were replaced by 1,500 brand new permanent fixed seats, giving fans a more comfortable and enhanced view of the game. The backstop behind home plate was been moved out 12 feet closer to home plate and roughly 100 seats have been created in a new seating area to give fans a field level view of the action. In addition, a seating area was been created next to the visitors dugout in front of the third base grandstand. Both the home and away dugouts were been demolished and replaced with larger and more modern dugouts that are approximately 50 percent larger with more amenities than the previous dugouts.

Finally, the fences surrounding Centennial Field were moved 10-20 feet closer to the playing field, decreasing the foul territory while enlarging the BBQ section down the leftfield line to create more fan space for a better viewing experience.

The changes extended the life of the oldest venue in affiliated baseball. The site has been home to baseball since 1904, and officially opened on April 17, 1906 with University of Vermont's 10-4 victory over the University of Maine. The current concrete and steel main grandstand was erected in 1922, to replace the original wooden bleachers, which burned down in 1913.

"It has been fantastic to see the transformation of Centennial Field over the past two seasons," said New York-Penn League President Ben Hayes. "The increased fan amenities, in addition to the resources committed to needed ballpark infrastructure, has ensured that Vermont Lake Monsters baseball will continue its great tradition of support in and around the Burlington, VT area for years to come."

"The Vermont Lake Monsters are incredibly honored to have been named the recipient of the award," said Lake Monsters Vice President Kyle Bostwick. "We are appreciative of Ray's (Vermont Lake Monsters owner Ray Pecor) commitment to Lake Monsters baseball which allowed up to do these renovations, and excited to be able to continue to provide the best in summertime entertainment to our fans."

"Today's pro-baseball environment is sometimes too focused on the latest and the greatest," Reichard said. "The renovation of Centennial Field, the oldest affiliated ballpark, should be noted by baseball fans everywhere as a cause for celebration."

In Davenport, Iowa, the River Bandits took what had been an underused concrete patio and turned it into a glass-enclosed, climate-controlled space. In a northern clime, an open space can't be used for most of the year, but the new Sky Deck boasts three sides of gorgeous glass windows, bringing the feel of being outdoors while still being completely enclosed. Four glass garage doors overlook the picturesque scene of Modern Woodmen Park and the Centennial Bridge stretching across the Mississippi River. On the other side is a spectacular view of downtown Davenport.

The Sky Deck also has a center partition that can create two separate areas for breakout sessions or smaller meeting spaces. The space can accommodate up to 250 guests for a game, and the Sky Deck is used year-round for dozens of special events, including wedding ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners, birthdays, corporate meetings and luncheons.

Add in some other improvements to the suite level at Modern Woodmen Park - bathroom renovations, new carpeting, new granite countertops in all 20 suites and a nice revamp of the air-conditioned Sports Lounge off the main ballpark concourse - and you have some very notable upgrades that cost just $715,000.

"Our new glass-enclosed Sky Deck and new bar for the club lounge both move us closer to our vision of turning Modern Woodmen Park into a year-round multi-purpose venue that is much bigger than baseball," said team owner Dave Heller. "It is the product of a great partnership between the team and the City of Davenport, and is exactly the sort of thing that has helped make Modern Woodmen Park a unique and special ballpark and the pride of the Quad Cities."

"It's really easy to see how great the Sky Deck works: it's a perfect gathering spot every day of the year, and it's obviously turned into a popular attraction for Davenport," Reichard said. "The River Bandits are known for implementing serious ballpark improvements annually, and it's clearly resonated with fans."

ABOUT THE BALLPARK DIGEST AWARDS

Each year Ballpark Digest honors noteworthy accomplishments in the baseball world, whether it be Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, independent baseball, summer-collegiate baseball or college baseball. Readers are asked to submit nominations for awards in specific categories; Ballpark Digest editors then go though the submissions (numbering some 300 pages of documentation last year). The awards cover both individual accomplishments as well as team accomplishments. This is the fifth season for the Ballpark Digest Awards. A complete listing of Ballpark Digest Awards can be found at www.ballparkdigest.com/awards.

ABOUT BALLPARK DIGEST/AUGUST PUBLICATIONS

The leading Website covering the culture and business of baseball since its inception in 2002, Ballpark Digest (www.ballparkdigest.com) has been called an "indispensable" guide to baseball and ballparks by The New York Times; it's been used as a source by publications and Websites ranging from The Wall Street Journal to Epicurious.com. August Publications is a publisher based in Middleton, Wis. Besides Ballpark Digest, August Publications websites include SpringTrainingOnline.com, ArenaDigest.com, YellowstoneInsider.com and NewWest.net.

# # # # #

DAVENPORT, Iowa (NOV. 18, 2013) - While the Quad Cities River Bandits franchise and Modern Woodmen Park expand their array of entertainment, the team is growing its logo mark lineup, as General Manager Andrew Chesser revealed new logos at a press conference in the sports lounge of Modern Woodmen Park Monday afternoon.

The updated primary logo, largely similar to the team's leading mark of the past six years, now has two arches of the iconic Centennial Bridge that is a signature of the ballpark's backdrop and synonomous with the Quad Cities. The team and Main Street Amusements also unveiled a new logo for the amusements that began arriving at Modern Woodmen Park last season and will continue into next season. The team's raccoon mascot, Rascal the River Bandit, is carrying a baseball while riding in a gondola of the Ferris wheel set to open next spring.

"The new logos tell more of the story of the Quad Cities and the River Bandits, while building upon the marks that make the River Bandits brand so popular," said River Bandits co-owner Dave Heller. "We are incorporating the natural setting by the Mississippi and newest developments with amusements to highlight what makes Modern Woodmen Park unique and the country's Best Minor League Ballpark."

One of the new alternate logos has a baseball with bandana - a continuing theme from the original River Bandits logo of 1992-2003 - splashing into the water of the Mississippi River. It is the first River Bandits logo to signify the river itself. Another alternate logo has the clawed hand of the team's raccoon mascot catching a baseball. In the third alternate logo that will go on batting practice caps, the raccoon is swinging a bat.

"These logos are a fresh look at the River Bandits, incorporating both our community and history as an organization, as well as the growth still ahead," Chesser said. "We are excited to see these new logos around the ballpark and the community as we approach next season."

One Step Printing in Davenport provided displays of the new team logo at Monday's press conference. Team merchandise items with the new logos were also on display.

Merchandise items with the new logos are now available in the River Bandits team store - open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday at Modern Woodmen Park - as well as the online team store at www.riverbandits.com.

The River Bandits, the Class-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, will open the 2014 Midwest League season at Modern Woodmen Park Thursday, April 3. A full schedule of home and road games for 2014 is available at www.riverbandits.com, and ticket plans for the 2014 season are now on sale.

UP NEXT: Lock in your season ticket plan - with new lower prices - for the 2014 season! A deposit of $25 per seat by December 31 enters you in a drawing for a free suite rental at an April 2014 home game. Call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000 or visit www.riverbandits.com to download the season ticket order form. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. The team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, just saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.

*****

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are approaching their seventeenth season and their fourth in the Central Hockey League.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The i wireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.com.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards. 

Are you looking for a way to volunteer, have fun and give back to the community supporting 600+ students age 9-14?

~ 150 Volunteers (adults and students in college & high school) are needed for supporting the 5th annual Quad Cities FIRST LEGO League (FLL) regional qualifiers on December 7 in Moline at John Deere Middle School for Illinois teams and December 14 & 15 in Davenport for Iowa Teams at the Putnam Museum.  In total, the combined tournaments will have 87+ FLL teams with over 600 students with the expected number of attendees over 2,500+ people.  The top teams from the qualifiers will go on to the State Championships in Iowa & Illinois. 

No previous experience or technical background is required for many of the volunteer positions.  Positions requiring a technical background  and /or requiring pre-work with training  are noted including for judging and referees.  

Volunteers will be provided food, beverages and a great experience supporting our local youth!

Link to further information including registering to volunteer. (Please register by 15Nov or sooner)

Thanks for your support!

Feel free to forward this note to others interested in volunteering including students in high school and college.