It must be spring: 4 snapshots from the Charlotte Knights
A sellout crowd filled BB&T Ballpark in uptown Friday to watch the hometown Knights take on – and actually beat soundly – their affiliated older brother from the big leagues, the Chicago White Sox. It was the first exhibition game played by a Major League Baseball franchise in Charlotte since the Orioles visited in 1984.
#CharlotteKnights crush parent club Chicago White Sox 10-2 in exhibition #ChiSox #MLB http://t.co/Xw3GzfF2rE pic.twitter.com/3oJgVJUtuP
— Charlotte Observer (@theobserver) April 4, 2015
If you weren’t there, it was a perfect night. A huge crowd came and actually stayed for most of the game. The weather was ideal Carolina spring. The stadium, picture perfect.
Uptown Charlotte is clearly showing off today since the @whitesox are in town. pic.twitter.com/JhejwnrGlv
— Russell Burton (@russellLburton) April 3, 2015
Here are 4 snapshots from the night
(1) A place to be seen: The last time a MLB franchise visited the Queen City, many of those who attended Friday’s game were still in diapers or yet to be born. The new Knights stadium is clearly a stop on the young professionals circuit. It’s impossible not to bump into a excellently dressed 20-something drinking a craft beer in the concourse.
⚾️ @shellyea @hunterpattenhimself #charlotte #knights #baseball #citylights
A photo posted by Mandalin Phillips (@mandalinphillips) on Apr 3, 2015 at 6:11pm PDT
(2) The beer. If you cannot find a brew you like at Knights stadium, you’re honestly just too damn picky. On display this season: Birdsong Brewing Company, D9 Brewing Company, NoDa Brewing, The Unknown Brewery Co., Triple C, The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. Pick a 12-ouncer or mason jar.
Something would be horribly wrong if #Charlotte #baseball didn't include #craftbeer http://t.co/Nfc56mPscX #ncbeer #clt
— Beer Esquire™ (@BrewStuds) April 5, 2015
(3) Party atmosphere. By the seventh inning stretch, the crowd was screaming “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” in unison (thanks, craft beer). Jim the usher did his part to maintain enthusiasm.
(4) Jim. Jim might be the most entertaining spectacle of BB&T Ballpark. He interpretively dances to Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” and 2 Unlimited’s “Get Ready for This.” Among his other antics are fist-bumping foul ball catching fans and running up and down sections with his arms extended seeking high fives. So if you post up on the drink rails near the entrance of sections 117 and 118, be prepared to join in on the “Charge” chant or get scolded.
The Knights’ season opener is Thursday against the Norfolk Tides, 7:05 p.m. A standing room only ticket costs $8 – leaving plenty of money for that pilsner.
Photo by Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer
This story was originally published April 6, 2015 at 4:33 PM.