CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce members on Friday were treated to a sneak peek of the progress made at the future home of the Rocket City Trash Panda’s in Madison. Emo Furfori, director of communication relations and corporate sponsorships for Ballcorps, LLC was the guest speaker at the Chamber’s May Community Luncheon at East Side Baptist Church. He was pleased to announce that the new stadium is on schedule and will be ready for the Trash Pandas’ opening day in April 2020.
The Rocket City Trash Pandas are the AA affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels and are currently playing their final year as the Mobile BayBears.
Furfori announced, “We will have the Angels team here for an exhibition game. We are still working that out.”
There are many events planned for the new stadium in Madison and the area around the park.
The enthusiasm created since the announcement of Minor League Baseball returning to Huntsville has been record setting; Furfori explained, “We started a ‘name the team’ contest. It lasted for three months and we broke every record that Minor League Baseball saw for name the team contests. Most of you know this by now, but Trash Panda is a nickname for a raccoon. Ralph Nelson did not know that. He said, our CEO and fearless leader, said ‘Over my dead body will we call this team the Trash Pandas.’”
The Rocket City Trash Pandas continued to set records as the name was revealed, when the logo was revealed and when the merchandise became available. Orders have come in from all 50 states and more than 50 foreign countries. The next great reveal will be at 5 p.m. June 20 at Big Springs Park when the team’s uniforms will be unveiled.
The new stadium and surrounding development, Town Madison, are being designed by the same firm that designed the new Atlanta Braves stadium. The new ballpark will seat 7,500 for a ballgame and 14,000-15,000 for concerts. There are 11 different types of seating available, including a centerfield swimming pool. The stadium is designed with a 360-degree concourse, kids’ play area and a variety of food vendors. Tickets will start at $8.
The latest big news is the Margaritaville Hotel that will soon break ground on the south side of the stadium. Furfori hinted that Jimmy Buffet himself might be playing at the park in the future. The park will be open and hosting events year-round. The area around the park will have apartments, brew pubs, a movie theater and shopping and is located off of I-565 between Wall-Triana and Zierdt Road in Madison.
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Cullman’s Leldon Maxcy, left, and Emo Furfori, director of communication relations and corporate sponsorships for Ballcorps, LLC, right, pose for a photo at Friday’s Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce May Community Luncheon. Maxcy, owner of Leldon’s Scrollsawing/ Leldon’s Wooden Art, created the compass and Trash Panda logo held by Furfori. (Christy Perry for The Cullman Tribune)
