KANE COUNTY – The upcoming season is already a success though not one baseball player with the Kane County Cougars has stepped into the batter’s box at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva.
On May 18, the Cougars will begin a three-game homestand against the Chicago Dogs. The announcement of the first home game of 2021 brings back the reality of Cougars baseball and offers another activity in helping us return to normalcy.
The Kane County Cougars have not played a game since September 2019. Because of COVID-19, the Cougars lost their season last year. Cougars Vice President and General Manager Curtis Haug is himself excited by the very positive reaction of the fan base, sponsors, vendors and everyone involved in Cougars baseball after the new schedule was recently unveiled and not only shows the Opening Night game against the Dogs but the other 52 home games.
“The fact we are outside in the fresh air makes a huge difference and bolsters people’s confidence when they think about coming out to a sporting event like this,” Haug said.
Haug remembers how COVID-19 restrictions on businesses hit the Cougars about one year ago.
“We furloughed about 90 percent of our staff,” Haug said. “We are now in March and by the time we open in May and move into the summer months we’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as restrictions become a little more lenient,” Haug reasoned.
Some of the furloughed workers were brought back and are preparing for the new season, “but going through a year like that, we couldn’t bring everyone back,” Haug said.
Despite the loss of an entire season, the management of the Kane County Cougars offered the stadium facilities to the community for such events as high school and college games, blood drives, and dog competitions.
“We have a special needs group up in our super suite right now. We did all sorts of things to help the community,” Haug said.
Groups would be reminded to use common sense, continue social distancing and meet state guidelines. But the invitation had an energy that clearly displayed Haug’s character.
“Hey, this is a big ballpark, come out here, adhere to the guidelines and have fun,” he said.
The 2021 season opens with a whole new group of players. According to Haug, the prices at Northwestern Medicine Field will not be touched.
“We are going to have some things for COVID-19 health and safety that we’ve not had here in years past,” he said.
Surveys over the past 29 years have rated the cleanliness of the ballpark extremely high.
“We keep it at the highest level and will continue to do that whether it’s our bathrooms, our concession stands, the concourse, or seating area,” Haug said.
In just the past few weeks, Chicago baseball teams announced the size of the crowd they’ll allow under social distancing limitations at Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field at about 20 percent of capacity. Wrigley Field could host up to 8,274 fans while Guaranteed Rate Field could be limited to 8,122 fans. Although 20 percent may seem rather low based on averages of seasons past, this is a big step from 2020 when the only sounds in the ballparks were that of the ballplayers shouting support for their team from the dugout.
“We don’t have an exact percent at this point. The Cubs and White Sox had to get that in place because they open in April. I’m guessing we’ll get something like that in early May,” Haug said.
The Cougars players will undergo COVID testing on a regular basis. Haug knows the players are very aware and are in regular conversation with management over COVID-19.
“We’ll make sure everybody is safe in the clubhouse, and that our fans and staff are safe. That is the number one priority and that’s what we’ll do,” Haug said. “The players want to have a season, they want to play, and they’ll be careful.”
The weather should warm up very soon and Haug knows it’s a good sign. People are thinking about baseball and they’re happy to have a schedule of Cougars games for 2021.
“It’s amazing what you take for granted. I can’t tell you how many people are saying they can’t wait to come out here and get a cold beer, a pork chop sandwich, and enjoy the fireworks and maybe run the bases after the game,” Haug said. “Northwestern Medicine Field is just a beautiful place to come watch baseball.”
Northwestern Medicine Field, home of the Kane County Cougars, is located in Geneva, south of Route 38 and off of Kirk Road at Cherry Lane. For more information, info@kanecountycougars.com
