Fun — And $1 Beers — at the Ol' Ballpark

There is nothing like fun at the ol' ballpark, especially when beers cost only a buck.

Cheap beer at a sporting event?!

Well, it doesn’t happen every day. But when the Bradenton Marauders are playing a home game on a Thursday night, small draft beers are in fact only a dollar apiece. This is the magical evening at called Thirsty Thursday.

Sure, the small beers are small. The 10-ounce drafts aren’t much more than beer shots for the seasoned drinker. But you can get two per visit to the concession stand and can keep coming back until the end of the seventh inning, which, depending on the pace of the game, guarantees at least a couple hours of beer-fueled fun.

For those who don’t feel like running to and from the concession stand every half inning for small beers, shell out a few more bucks and get one of the 24-ounce ($6) or 32-ounce ($7) drafts. There are deals on those sizes, too: They’re two-for-one on Thirsty Thursday.

Ditto with the $7, 24-ounce margaritas, sold in the new tiki hut behind the first base seats. The tiki hut also sells flavored Barefoot Wine, and both the tiki bar and the Pitt-Stop, located near the main entrance, sell plenty of beers including Corona, Corona Light, Corona Extra, AmberBock, Michelob, Michelob Ultra, Landshark, Stella Artois, Budweiser, Bud Light, Bud Select and Bud Lime. If you like the taste but not the alcohol, McKechnie serves non-alcoholic O’Douls.

“We’re a real popular place on Thirsty Thursdays,” said Mike Starr, a tiki hut bartender. “We’re starting to get a lot of regulars. It’s like Cheers!”

Dollar beers on Thirsty Thursdays are limited to Budweiser or Bud Light. Pepsi products are also $1 on Thursdays.

But even with inexpensive beers on Thursday and a couple hundred extra people showing up to drink, the Marauders have maintained a family-friendly atmosphere. The Marauders haven’t had any problems with unruly fans in their short history.

“One of our goals for 2011 was to provide a fun atmosphere to all of our fans,” said Trevor Gooby, the Pittsburgh Pirates' Senior Director of Florida Operations. “We have tried to create some different promotions that will attract different groups of fans. We pride ourselves in being an affordable and fun entertainment option that a whole entire family can enjoy.”

In other words, bring your kids.

McKechnie Field, built in 1922, has been the spring training site of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1969. The Bradenton Marauders, the Advanced Single-A minor league affiliate of the Pirates, began their first season at McKechnie Field in 2010.

Last season the Marauders won the second-half division title, putting them in the first round of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Rays’ minor league team from Charlotte. The Stone Crabs eliminated the Marauders in a best-of-three-games series

The core of last year’s Marauders received promotions to the Pirates’ Double-A team in Altoona, Pa., this season. One 2010 Marauder, Nathan Adcock, was claimed by the Kansas City Royals in the Rule 5 draft this year and is currently pitching in the majors. But this year’s squad has several budding stars. Visit their website at www.bradentonmarauders.com.

Come watch tomorrow’s stars today. They’re playing in your backyard at McKechnie Field. If you’re seeking inexpensive beer, then Thursday definitely is your night.

This Thursday is one of 10 Thirsty Thursdays planned for 2011. The Marauders take on the Dunedin Blue Jays at 7 p.m. Click here for a schedule of home games.

IF YOU GO:

McKechnie Field is located at 1611 9th St. W. Most weekday games start at 7 p.m. except for Tuesdays, which start at 6 p.m. Sunday games start at 5 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors (60 and over) and $5 for children (12 and under) and military and students with ID. Get your tickets at the box office or click here.

AROUND BRADENTON THIS WEEKEND:

• Downtown Bradenton’s monthly street party, , is from 6-10 p.m. Thursday. Visit historic Old Main Street for food vendors, arts and crafts and more. The live music and the party on the street ends at 10 p.m., but Old Main Street’s bars — , , , and — are open late into the night.
• Thompson Square and The Harters are playing live at , 5520 14^th St. W., Friday night. The concert starts at 10 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 in advance and $17.50 the day of the show. Get tickets at , 5515 14^th St. W., Joyland or click here to order online. Thompson Square is a country music husband-and-wife team of Keifer and Shawna Thompson. The Harters, based in Arizona, are a country music group of siblings Leslie, Michael and Scott Harter.
• Realize Bradenton’s Party on the Plaza starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at the , 1301 6^th Ave. W., in downtown Bradenton. The multi-level plaza will be transformed into an outdoor living room with live music from Have Gun Will Travel, dancers, entertainers including a skateboard demonstration, fashion from Rusty Cricket, drinks from several cash bars, food from local restaurants and more. This is a 21-or-older party. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event. VIP tickets also available. Click here to order.
• If karaoke is your thing, check out , 3102 53^rd Ave. E., on a Friday night. Karaoke starts at 9 p.m. And be sure to ask for the evening’s special on shots.
• Live music at , 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., from Lois Greco band starting at 5 p.m. Lois is a blues artist whose music is also influenced by R&B, gospel, funk and rock. No cover. Dine while you enjoy the music if you’d like. Chef Ron’s all-you-can-eat Italian buffet is $5.95.