Hot Rods hold fan fest ahead of 2025 season

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – We’re just under a month away from the start of the season for Bowling Green Hot Rods baseball, and Saturday afternoon, despite the rainy weather, fans piled into Bowling Green Ballpark for the annual fan fest to prepare for the first home game of the year.

At the event, fans were able to pick up season tickets, purchase individual tickets, and check out new merchandise and concession items that the Hot Rods have to offer in 2025.

With the home opener being just 24 days away, we spoke to a few longtime Hot Rods fans to see how this event gets them excited for the year.

“ Well, I just see all the Hot Rods fans, pick my tickets up and kind of get fired up for the season,” said Phil Burkeen.

“ It brings a sense of family, brings a sense of community and it brings a sense of joy and just plain fun,” said Ann Willis.

Hot Rods General Manager and COO Kyle Wolz recently took in some Tampa Bay Rays spring training games, which featured many past, present, and future Bowling Green players, and he believes that the team is well on track to have another strong season, with potential to repeat as champions of the South Atlantic League.

“ Looks like we’re going to have another strong team and hopefully go for back-to-back championships,” Wolz said. “Winning three out of the last four, four out of the last six championships, it’s been a great blessing in partnership with the Rays and we’re looking forward to a great baseball season here in Bowling Green.”

Wolz also shared that many fan-favorite promotions will be returning to the diamond this season, and some fun new additions can also be found at Bowling Green Ballpark.

“This year, the Bowling Green Bootleggers are back, the Bowling Green Cavemen, the Bowling Green Hot Dogs, so some unique identities at the ballpark, new celebrity appearances, with some returning ones with Shooter McGavin toward the latter part of the season,” Wolz said. “We also have some new game times on Saturdays early in the season, later in the season at four o’clock for those families that can come out and enjoy, and on some of those games, they can see Blippi and Peppa the Pig.”

Fans who didn’t have the chance to stop by the ballpark for this year’s fan fest can stop by the Hot Rods front office any time on Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to pick up season ticket packages or purchase packages ahead of the season start.

The Hot Rods begin the season on April 4 in a three-game road series with the Greenville Drive before making their home debut in a six-game series with the Rome Emperors on April 8.