A time honored Minnesota summer tradition is seeing growth.
Minnesota town ball remains strong, and is growing, according to Minnesota Baseball Association president Mark Forsman who says five new teams joined the MBA this year.
"Two way up north, one down in southern Minnesota, and two in the (Twin) Cities," says Forsman.
The Twins have had early success this year with their Friday and Saturday "happy hours," which comes with $2 beer and hot dogs up until game time. At town ball games, that's the norm.
"You can go and get a hot dog for $3, $4 bucks, a beer for $3 bucks, you don't have to pay for parking, and the quality of baseball is really good," he says.
While it has mostly been a draw in Minnesota's smaller towns, Forsman adds that one of their ongoing goals is to continue market the town ball product in the Twin Cities, to get more fans to town ball games.
"What we're trying to do is market the Twin City area to get people to come out and just try this out," says Forsman. "Try this baseball experience in these towns because once you drink the Kool-Aid, it's kind of like you want to come back and watch it again."
Burnsville and Lakeville have both launched town ball teams this year, with Lakeville constructing a brand new baseball field set to open this summer.
