The Lugnuts Are Playing Baseball Again, Finally!
(In the interest of full disclosure, the author is a seasonal employee of the Lansing Lugnuts)
The long-awaited 25th Anniversary season of the Lansing Lugnuts is finally here. They open the 2021 season tonight (May 4th) at Jackson Field against the Lake County Captains.
The 25th season was supposed to be in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic stopped all minor league baseball in the U.S. and Canada.
A lot of things have changed with the Luggies since they last played in September of 2019. First of all, the Midwest League (the league Lansing has played in since the team's inception in 1996) is no more. With Major League Baseball taking over control of the minor leagues, the Lugnuts now play in what's call the High-A Central League.
Secondly, the Luggies are no longer an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They are now affiliated with the Oakland Athletics (see above). Lansing has been connected to Kansas City, the Chicago Cubs, and the Toronto Blue Jays before this season.
Thirdly, the stadium name has changed. What used to be known as Oldsmobile Park and then Cooley Law School Stadium, is now called Jackson Field. And it will be for the foreseeable future.
Fourth, Jackson Field will be cashless in 2021. Other parks around the country are trying this to try to slow the spread of COVID-19. So, bring your credit card or food card to the yard this year. It is unclear right now as to if this will be permanent.
Fifth, all series in the High-A Central League will be six-game series. That means that Lansing will play six games at home against Lake County before heading out on the road for another six-game series against Dayton.
Sixth, the Central League's regular season will be 120 games long in 2020. Instead of the usual 140. With the season starting in May, the regular season will run into late September with the Central League playoffs after that.
And finally, at least at the start of the season, attendance will be capped at around 2,200 to be in compliance with current attendance restrictions set forth by the State of Michigan. Hopefully, more people will be allowed to attend as the season goes on.
So lots of changes are coming to the ballpark. But some things are still the same, Thirsty Thursday happens every Thursday home game. The LAFCU Fireworks show is after every Friday and Saturday home game starting in June. And they always have great food promotions and in-between innings contests to keep everybody entertained. You can go to lansinglugnuts.com for all the information regarding tickets, scheduling, and promotions.