BlueClaws To Go Cashless As They Announce Season

By Chris Christopher LAKEWOOD - Fans

who attend Jersey Shore BlueClaws home games at the ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood can leave their money home.

The facility, like other major event venues, will be a cashless and fully digital venue beginning this season.

This includes transactions involving tickets, food and beverage, merchandise, parking, boardwalk games and all others as part of either a Jersey Shore game or event.

“From the outset of the pandemic (it cost Jersey Shore its 2020 season), this is something that we have been thinking about, but we first wanted to make sure the best plans and protocols were in place to make this a smooth transition for our fans,” said president-general manager Joe Ricciutti. “We have spoken with numerous peers in the industry and all of our vendors and partners expect this to be a seamless process that makes things even easi- er for fans as they come to our games.”

The decision to go cashless follows 29 of the 30 major league baseball teams and stadiums, including that of the Philadelphia Phillies, the BlueClaws’ parent club.

“Two-thirds of our food and beverage transactions are already made with credit and debit cards,” Ricciutti said. “Moving to a cashless system will make transactions times faster and fans will be able to get back to doing what they came to the ballpark to do - enjoy a baseball game and take advantage of the boardwalk games, mini golf and (BlueClaws - See Page 4)

By Bob Vosseller OCEAN

COUNTY –

─Photo By Bob Vosseller Toms River volunteers Laurie and Keith Huryk came out for the annual Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweep event in Ortley Beach on April 1 but the torrential rain caused its cancelation. have been rescheduled for April 15. Information on them can be found at cleanoceanaction.org/ beach-sweeps. Another is scheduled for October 21.

Area beaches were set to be cleaned as part of the annual Beach Sweep but an April Fool’s Day prank by Mother Nature had them be washed instead.

Clean Ocean Action had scheduled sweeps throughout the area on April 1 but now they

On the morning of April 1, volunteers arrived at Ortley Beach and started to set up for the day. They decided (Beach - See Page 14)

BlueClaws

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es from across the BlueClaws’ season,” Ricciutti said. “We know these games are going to sell out. We don’t want anyone to miss out.” everything else we offer.”

Fans can access their tickets at any time on their mobile device by logging into their TicketReturn account, which existing customers already have and new customers create as part of the purchase flow. From there, they can have their tickets scanned at the gates or transfer tickets to either a family member, friend or colleague.

“TicketReturn is one of the premier ticket vendors in the industry and its mobile platform makes accessing and transferring tickets a very simple process for fans,” Ricciutti said.

Inside the ballpark, credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay will be the only form of payment for food and beverage transactions, Claws Cove transactions and at The Boardwalk and the Manasquan Bank Mini Golf Course.

Fans will have access to a Reverse ATM inside the ballpark through which they can convert cash into a debit card. The debit card can be used inside and outside the ballpark. Parking will also be cashless and fans can pay using either a credit card or a debit card as they arrive.

Numerous fan promotions are at bat throughout the regular season.

April 11 was billed as Opening Night at the Jersey Shore. The team is scheduled to play 132 regular-season games, including 66 at ShoreTown, which again figures to be a fun house for of all ages. The calendar includes 11 fireworks nights, beginning April 11 and every Friday beginning June 2 and July 4. “These nights represent the best fan experienc-

Continued From Page 1 (BlueClaws - See Page 5)

Among the new beverage options for fans is the Heavy Reel Brewing Taphouse behind Section 109. The area will include Heavy Reel brewing selections that will rotate throughout the season. The promotion is built off the success of Reel Claw, a BlueClaws-branded IPA launched last year.

Two of Jersey Shore’s 14 sellouts were Marvel Super Hero Nights and this year the team will host three - May 19 with Black Panther, June 24 with Spider-Man and Aug. 5 with Captain Marvel. As part of Minor League Baseball’s partnership with Marvel, Jersey Shore will wear a special Marvel-designed cap with special merchandise also available. The BlueClaws will host Summer Concert Series games June 10 (The Snakes), July 8 (Asbury Fever) and Aug. 19 (Splintered Sunlight).

A large Jumbo Adirondack Chair will be in right field. Everyone is encouraged to take pictures and share, using the hashtag #blueclaws to be entered to win special prizes from Focus Camera, the promotion’s presenter. It’s the second season of the Blue Wave Bar, a second-level full service restaurant open to fans at each game. The menu includes some items, including seafood, that aren’t available anywhere else in the ballpark. Kids will continue to run the bases after every game.

Daily promotions include Thirsty Thursday with $2 Coors Light cans and Sunday FunDays with Kids Eat Free where members of the BlueClaws Kids Club eat free.

The BlueClaws’ latest Player Development