Some images just scream The United States of America, such as baseball, hot dogs, and fireworks! Experience all of these on three consecutive nights during the upcoming Fourth of July Holiday Weekend, as well as every Friday evening this summer, with a trip to Hammond Stadium at the CenturyLink Sports Complex to see the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, the Low A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins!
All three Independence Day Weekend games against the Bradenton Marauders of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization begin at 7 p.m. As soon as each game ends, the fireworks spectacle immediately explodes over the right-center field wall, without dragging out any suspense for the youngsters or the young-at-heart! The crowd joins the stadium Public Address announcer in a countdown from 10 to 1, then the display bursts clear and loud, with the Mighty Mussels blaring rock-&-roll music over the speaker system to accompany the shows.
If your comparison is the fireworks extravaganzas off the Fort Myers Beach pier on The Fourth of July, the Mighty Mussels shows are generally lower on the horizon, with the exception of its Grand Finale blasts. The fireworks do not last as long, ranging in length from 7 to 9 minutes, though this year’s Fourth of July performance will be approximately twice that much. What you may sacrifice in length, however, you make up for in proximity, as you feel as though the shells are exploding right over your head, for a very audience-participation type of sensation!
Part of the charm of minor league baseball in general and the Mussels in particular are there are so many fun activities and things to do throughout the evening, in addition to the game itself, that you literally have to tell many fans, and especially the kids, who actually won! This is particularly true on Fireworks nights, where no one roots for extra innings that might possibly delay the displays in favor of additional baseball. Parents hope for a regulation game as well, as game time is at 7 p.m., meaning most fireworks shows begin at roughly 9:45 p.m. and are done by 10, getting the children back home and to bed at a reasonable hour. While Sunday games ordinarily start at Noon, due to the 4th falling on that day this year, the Mussels will move the first pitch on Independence Day to 7 p.m., to host their fireworks extravaganza that evening.
Light Up The Night
In addition to The Fourth of July Holiday Weekend shows, remaining 2021 fireworks displays will be on Fridays, July 16 against the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Miami Marlins organization; July 23 versus the Daytona Tortugas of the Cincinnati Reds system; August 6 playing the Dunedin Blue Jays; August 27 once again against the Bradenton Marauders; September 10 while hosting the Palm Beach Cardinals; and September 17 when the Mighty Mussels take on the Tampa Tarpons, the affiliate of the New York Yankees.
The Mussels are home two more weeks in July; due to the pandemic, the Low A Southeast League plays 6-game, Tuesday through Sunday homestands this season, hosting the Jupiter Hammerheads from July 13 through 18 and the Daytona Tortugas from July 20 through 25. The Mussels offer a different promotion each game, with “2-for-1 Tuesdays” for domestic drafts, sodas, and hot dogs; “$1 Hot Dog Wednesdays”; “Thirsty Thursdays” with $1 and $2 beers; fireworks follow Friday games; “Saturday Giveaway Nights,” and Sundays featuring a Brunch for just $10 on top of the price of your ticket from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with kids running the bases after the game. Tickets range from $9 to $12; purchase them online at www.milb.com, at the box office that opens 60 minutes prior to each game, or over the telephone at 239-768-4210, with parking $10-per-car. The Mighty Mussels play at Hammond Stadium at the CenturyLink Sports Complex at 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway. Play-by-play announcer John Vittas broadcasts each Mussels home game worldwide and will do many 2nd Half road games as well, beginning 15 minutes prior to the first pitch at www.mightymussels.com, through the MiLB First Pitch App, and at www.milb.com/fort-myers/fans/audio-listen-live.
