Let's keep cheering on the Yakima Bears

This editorial appears in the June 22 Yakima Herald-Republic

The names don't exactly roll off the tongue: Clayton Suss, Tyson Van Winkle and Brad Gemberling. But how these three play on the field, along with the rest of their teammates, will have a lot to do with the future prosperity of the Yakima Bears baseball team.

While it seems each year is crucial, the summer of 2009 appears particularly loaded with intrigue. Not only are the Bears, a short-season Class A franchise affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks, trying to put a winning team on the field for the first time in five seasons, but the enterprise is also trying to turn a profit, something that has also been missing for the past eight.

That's not all the Yakima Bears want to see changed. The team is also looking for a serious upgrade to its less-than-friendly confines of Yakima County Stadium, which is 16 years old and beginning to show its age. Yakima County commissioners have agreed to help out by footing the bill for a feasibility study to see if renovation or replacement is the way to go. It's not inconceivable to see luxury boxes in the Bears' future. Everything is up for consideration, as well it should be.

Although season ticket sales are down a bit from last year, the Bears front office says other incentive packages have been selling briskly.

The organization certainly knows how to merchandise its team. Despite being in the smallest market in the Northwest League, the Bears actually increased ticket sales last year by 3 percent after drawing 72,207 fans to watch a team with the league's worst record at 28-48. No small feat.

Promotions like fireworks shows certainly help drive ticket sales. So does welcoming celebrities to toss out the first pitch and sign autographs. Tuesday night's home opener is expected to be a sellout, thanks largely to the presence of former Seattle Mariner fan-favorite Edgar Martinez.

"Gar" will bring in the fans, but can the Bears keep the seats filled during the remainder of the season? There are only so many bobbleheads the team can give out.

Professional sports adds a certain pizzazz to any community. With the Yakima Valley's long tradition of supporting and fielding quality teams, both baseball and softball, the Yakima Bears seem to be the perfect fit. And with a lease to play in Yakima inked through 2015, the Bears franchise has shown its commitment to a future in Yakima.

Hopefully, families will make a night at the Bears one of their "stay-cations" this summer. Not only does a professional sports team offer quality entertainment at an affordable price, it also extends our community's quality of life.

That's something always worth rooting for.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Bob Crider, Spencer Hatton and Karen Troianello.