Lugnuts' game among local fun events

By Chloe Gregg
Associate Editor

These next few weeks are busy with events at Jackson Field in Lansing, home to the Lansing Lugnuts.

Three big events are coming to the stadium for fans to enjoy, including the Legends Celebrity Softball Game, Nitro Circus, and Beerfest at the Ballpark.

The first event, according to Lansing Lugnuts Assistant General Manager Zac Clark, is the “Legends Celebrity Softball Game” on Friday, Sept. 24.

The game will feature a number of former star athletes, including TJ Duckett and Mateen Cleaves from Michigan State University, Nate Robertson and Armando Galarraga from the Detroit Tigers, Darren McCarty from the Detroit Red Wings and Billy Sims from the Detroit Lions.

There are two ticket options for this event: $35 for VIP tickets and $15 for general admission. VIP entry begins an hour earlier than GA entry, at 5 p.m.

For people who come in between 5 and 6:30 p.m. there will be a meet-and-greet during which fans can meet their favorite star. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. and will last seven innings.

“The athletes will be signing autographs,” Clark said. “Each fan can bring in one item to get signed per athlete. So, if you’re a fan of Mateen Cleaves and you want him to sign a basketball, and you’re a fan of TJ Duckett and you want him to sign a football, you can bring each of those items in.”

On Friday, Oct. 1, Jackson Field is hosting the anticipated Nitro Circus on its “You Got This Tour.” This is an adrenaline-charged event that will feature stunts and routines done on BMX, FMX, skates, scooters and more.

VIP gates and the VIP program will start at 4:45 p.m. The regular gates for general admission opens at 6 p.m. Tickets range in price from $29 to $79.

The first half of the show will run from 7 to 8 p.m. After a 30-minute intermission, the second half of the show will start at 8:30 p.m.

“The VIP program is something that they (Nitro Circus) call ‘Mic Up,’” Clark said. “They will mic up the athletes and as they go through their tricks, the VIP crowd that’s in early will be able to ask athletes questions, such as ‘How do they do the tricks? How do they come up with the tricks?’ The athletes will be able to show them some of the tricks and show them how they do some of (the tricks).”

The third big event, Clark said, is “Beerfest at the Ballpark” on Friday, Oct. 15. This event has been held at the park before, but Clark warns fans that this year will be a little bit different and scaled down from previous years.

This event has three different ticket options, including VIP for $40, General Admission for $30, and Designated Driver for $10. This event is only for individuals ages 21 and up. Gates for VIP opens at 5 p.m., and at 6 p.m. for GA and DD.

“Everything will take place inside of the stadium,” Clark said. “It’ll be a 360-degree use of the concourse for our vendors.”

For more information on these events and to buy tickets, visit the Lansing Lugnuts website.