MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Freebirds held their official launch party Thursday, May 14, at Bryant Field, unveiling a series of upgrades aimed at putting baseball back on the map in Marysville.

From shaded gathering areas and a new party deck to kid-friendly play spaces, expanded concessions, an Automated Ball-Strike system and a new “$1 million wall” promotion, team officials said the changes are part of a broader effort to make Freebirds games a full summer entertainment experience for local families.

“The value of minor league baseball, I think, is that parents can come to a baseball game and let their kids roam free, knowing they’re safe and secure and have a place to play,” said Harrison Shapiro, president and general manager of the Freebirds. “They’re not going to sit and watch a whole game, and the parents can go over to the patio and have a drink. That’s the critical experience we have to nail for fans to enjoy their time.”

Willy the mascot greets fans during the Freebirds’ May 14 launch event at Bryant Field in Marysville.

That family-focused approach can be seen throughout the ballpark. Near the food vendor area, sun sails have been installed for shade. Concessions include pretzels, hot dogs, burgers, Bishop’s corndogs, apple cider slushies and pretzel dogs.

Up the stairs on the right side of the field, the new party deck gives adult fans a place to gather, drink and watch the game from a closer vantage point. The bar area will offer beer, wine, cocktails and street tacos.

On the opposite side of the field, the Freebirds added a kids zone featuring a covered cornhole court, bounce house and inflatable strike zone. The play area is included with admission and monitored by attendants and security. Portable cooling systems also will be used during hotter games.

“We’re trying to give a little bit of Savannah Bananas, but with pro baseball and our team,” said Celeste Brown, the Freebirds’ director of partnerships. “And it’s not just aimed at baseball fans. We’re aiming for families who want to find something local, enjoyable and affordable to do over summer.”

Fans watch the scoreboard display pitch information from the Freebirds’ Automated Ball-Strike system during the May 14 launch event at Bryant Field.

That sense of fun also carries into the team’s rebrand, announced earlier this year with two chicken mascots, Yuba and Sutter, and a bright color scheme designed to feel both retro and modern.

“We really wanted it to be a wild, avant-garde brand and totally different while at the same time being very family-friendly and kid-oriented,” Shapiro said.

The team’s new asymmetrical jerseys are intended to reflect the “wackiness” of the Freebirds’ chicken mascot and help the team stand out. Team manager Frank Gonzalez said the look is part of a broader effort to make the team more recognizable throughout the region.

“My God, look at the color. It’s awesome, right?” Gonzalez said. “We’re excited about getting this team really recognizable in the community, not only here, but all the way to Sacramento.”

A numbered board for the Freebirds’ new $1 million wall promotion sits on the hospitality deck before being installed at Bryant Field.

One of the most unique additions at Bryant Field this season is the use of MLB’s Automated Ball-Strike system, or ABS. The technology uses a tracking system to determine whether each pitch is a ball or strike.

While ABS is being used elsewhere as a challenge system, the Freebirds are using it more broadly at home games. Shapiro said the point is not to replace umpires but to make the game easier for fans to follow from anywhere in the ballpark.

“I firmly believe that if you come to a baseball game and you don’t have the money to sit right behind home plate, you get a lesser experience because you can’t really see where those pitches are,” Shapiro said. “It’s not as fun to watch. By putting it up there, it changes the dynamic of how you consume a baseball game, which I think is very special.”

Calla Kra-Caskey, who was helping promote the Freebirds, said Major League Baseball typically uses ABS only for challenges, similar to replay reviews in other sports. The Freebirds, however, are using the system to call every pitch at home games.

Cornhole boards sit under a shaded tent near the Freebirds’ new kids play area during the May 14 launch event at Bryant Field.

“The Freebirds are the only professional team using it completely at all of their home games,” Kra-Caskey said. “That means it calls every pitch, not just the questionable ones.”

Fans also will have a chance to win big this season through the Freebirds’ new “$1 million wall” promotion. Each ticket will be tied to a 2-by-2-foot board on the outfield wall. If a Freebirds player hits a fan’s board during the game, that ticket holder wins a prize. If the same board is hit twice in one game, one ticket holder connected to that board will be randomly selected for a chance to win $1 million.

Freebirds co-owner Lon Hatamiya said the upgrades reflect the ownership group’s commitment to continue improving Bryant Field each year.

“There’s no more exciting time than coming out to the ball field,” Hatamiya said. “We want to make sure everybody locally feels the same way, and that when they come out here, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the kids. When they see the field, they want to come back. That’s our commitment to the community.”

Marysville Community and Economic Development Director Dan Flores takes a swing at the batting station in the Freebirds’ new kids zone May 14 at Bryant Field.