Salem-Keizer/David Green
If baseball prospects aren’t able to play on minor league fields this year, the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes hope you’ll be able to take their place.
With Major League Baseball still not back and faint hopes of a minor league season nearly gone, the Giants’ short-season affiliate in Oregon is getting creative. A stadium without fans or players doesn’t have to be empty; maybe it can be a fan’s getaway.
Volcanoes Stadium is now on Airbnb, listed at $1,000 per night and being marketed for “your youth team, or [you can] host an amazing company retreat, birthday celebration or bachelor party.” Guests who book the park can use the field during their stay and the listing offers that “full batting practice” can be set up. The home team clubhouse and batting cages will be open as well.
After the club listed its “castle” on the rental site this weekend, there have been “a handful” of bookings and further inquiries so far, CEO Mickey Walker said.
“We are excited to offer this once in a lifetime opportunity for our great fans,” Walker said in a text. “The ability to play on the same field and be in the same clubhouse as Buster Posey, Tim Lincecum, Pablo Sandoval, Sergio Romo, Ryan Vogelsong and the 106 former Volcanoes to make it to the big leagues is truly an unforgettable moment that we are happy to be able to provide.”
Minor league teams have begun turning to the lodging company as they seek ways to make up revenue in a year ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic. The heartache is especially felt with the Volcanoes, who may have played their last game as Major League Baseball is focused on realigning the minor league system and eliminating a number of teams. Salem-Keizer was originally on the list of clubs to be axed, though a source has said there is no formal list at this point.