Remember when kids went outside, touched grass and played in the dirt?

Kids Gather Around to Catch the Mustangs for an Autograph

In a world where we spend more time on screens than not, and family time is diminishing, one may question how long we as a society can continue on this path before children no longer go and play outside or use their imaginations to create intricate worlds where their parents aren’t just parents, they also become part of the playful experience. 

What’s a better way for kids to go outside, touch grass and play in the dirt than at a baseball field?

Historically speaking, baseball has been a sport that brings people together in a way unlike any other, and in St. Joseph, the Mustangs have taken advantage of this, providing an exciting environment away from screens for people to experience togetherness with their families. 

The key to this success lies in the high priority given to the stories being built by each person who steps into Phil Welch Stadium. 

Ky Turner, Mustangs owner, recognizes the importance of each story his guests bring to Phil Welch and makes it the centerpiece of a Mustangs experience. 

“More times than not, we do not remember the scores of a game. They will remember how they were treated and their interactions with a player or staff member. That story doesn't have to stop when the game is over. How can we help someone? How do we build a lasting relationship? How do we provide a lasting memory that is positive and makes them smile? We try to give everyone a reason, their own reason, to want to come to a game,” Turner said. 

Before piecing together the intricate web of a game day experience, Turner knows the biggest challenge is getting people in the gates. 

“Everyone deserves an opportunity to enjoy a Mustangs baseball game. It's not about selling tickets, it's about creating an experience that is repeatable and something that makes them want to come back,” Turner said. “The question that we ask ourselves whenever we make a decision is, ‘Is this what's best for our guest?’ That is the leading factor when making a decision. People are an unknown variable, which is both the beauty and the beast of what we are trying to accomplish. We love baseball, but we are in the business of people. Our job is to appeal to young children to elderly adults, those who might be baseball purists or those who might not really enjoy the game. It is a tall task, but a challenge that we enjoy.”

As Turner’s team builds the Mustang experience, which includes pre-game activities, mid-inning mini games, exciting post-game opportunities like fireworks and kids running the bases, the guests are at the forefront of their minds. 

“A lot of strategic thought and effort go into every detail of what and how we do things. While we are not perfect, we are very passionate about what we do. Our goal is to try and view the game through our own eyes, but also our guests' eyes, so that we can create an experience that is something everyone can enjoy,” Turner said.

Two members of the community who have seen the effect the Mustangs have had on St. Joe, Pat Murphy and Hazel Hall, say the reason Turner and his staff are so successful is the focus they place on providing an environment where families can enjoy themselves. 

“We like baseball and [we’ve watched] all the other teams that played here before, and when the Mustang started, we started coming to see them as well. We come to every event, every game, every opening day, because it's a family event and offers entertainment. They have all kinds of things for the kids and even for the adults to enjoy,” Murphy said. 

Community is what ties it all together for the Mustangs. It’s how they survive and thrive as a traditional form of entertainment in a time where entertainment is just seconds away at our fingertips on a multitude of devices at all times.

“The Mustangs are locally owned…and we are in tune with our community. The different games that are played on the field between innings, the ability to approach all of the players after the game, the various promotions that differ each night, as well as the support of the local business, community and residents in general are all key ingredients [to what we’re building]. It's enjoyable to come to a game and to see a classmate, neighbor, friend or family member. Oftentimes, people will make friends with a nearby person in their seating section, and it becomes a shared experience,” Turner said. 

Maybe it’s the mid-inning dance breaks with interns dressed as the Village People leading the crowd in the YMCA, or maybe it’s the opportunity for a father-daughter first pitch or perhaps it’s the pie a parent receives in the face after their child wins a game of on-field charades that gives Turner and his team the success with the St. Joe community that they do. However, one thing is certain: the Mustangs bring back community and family time. It reminds people there’s a way to have fun with their friends and family other than hiding inside while being glued to a screen, and gives kids a reason to go outside, touch grass and play in the dirt. 

- Morgan Albrecht