The Winston-Salem Dash minor league baseball team and BB&T Corp. have signed a 15-year agreement to name the team’s new stadium BB&T Ballpark. The first game at BB&T Ballpark will be the home season-opener for the Dash on April 13 at 7 p.m.
“A local corporate citizen like BB&T that has a strong track record of support for the communities it serves is exactly what we desired when we began our search for a naming partner,” Dash President Geoff Lassiter said. “BB&T stepped up to the plate when we needed them, and we’re thrilled to have BB&T as our partner in creating the premier option for live family entertainment in Winston-Salem and our surrounding communities.”
“The support of our clients and employees in the Triad has enabled us to partner with community-minded organizations like the Dash to build on the reputation of the Triad as one of the best places in the country to live and work,” said Cantey Alexander, BB&T Triad Regional President. “We would like to thank all of the Dash’s Founding Partners and sponsors and those who have purchased tickets for their support of the long-term success of BB&T Ballpark.
“BB&T is committed to the economic development of the communities it serves. Minor league baseball, even during the most difficult times in our country’s history, has been a popular, family-friendly recreational activity in Winston-Salem. BB&T Ballpark is an exciting addition to our downtown landscape. It is creating new jobs, developing business for dozens of local enterprises and serving as a catalyst for future economic development.”
In terms of economic development, Lassiter said that local construction contractors and subcontractors are being used, when feasible, for work on the stadium. Samet Corporation of Greensboro is serving as general contractor. Nearly 70 percent of the subcontractors are from Winston-Salem and elsewhere in the Piedmont Triad, and more than 90 percent are from North Carolina. When completed, BB&T Ballpark will employ more than 250 people each game day, a combination of concessionaire, game day and full-time staff. The Dash administrative office also employs nearly 30 full-time staff.
“BB&T’s partnership significantly increases the excitement, credibility and economic feasibility of the downtown ballpark,” Lassiter added. “BB&T is as committed to family entertainment as we are at the Dash, and their commitment enables us to focus all of our energy on preparing BB&T Ballpark for a magnificent opening day fan experience. We are very proud of the list of companies like BB&T that have come together to show their support for the Dash.”
Other local companies supporting naming rights areas of the stadium include: the Womble Carlyle Club, Blue Rhino Backyard, Childress Institute Kids’ Zone and Nature’s Select Knoll. Founding Sponsors of the Winston-Salem Dash include: Flow Automotive, Lowes Foods, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Natty Greene’s and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.
Other major sponsors include: Time Warner Cable, State Farm, Childress Vineyards/RCR Racing, RH Barringer, Primo Water, Keiger Printing, Brew Nerds/Kernel Kustard, Chick-fil-A, Domino’s Pizza, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Winston-Salem Police Department/Partnership for a Drug Free North Carolina, Wilco-Hess, the Winston-Salem Journal, Winston-Salem State University, Dewey’s, Coach America, HanesBrands, Quality Inn, Clear Channel, RockTenn and BE Aerospace.
In addition to baseball games, BB&T Ballpark will feature a wide range of family-friendly activities, including a Kids Zone; Bolt (team mascot); the Dash Pack entertainment team; fireworks; educational outreach programs; reasonably priced tickets for individuals and groups; world-class food selections; and an experience of unsurpassed customer service.
Quick facts about BB&T Ballpark:
- 5500 stadium-style seats in the ballpark
- 16 Luxury Suites on the Club Level of the stadium
- Founder’s Club features 3500 sq. foot club/bar for all club members
- Three concession stands and more than 28 points of sale
- State of the art LED scoreboard with video and animation capabilities
- 200-ft. LED outfield wall with video and animation capabilities
At Dec. 31, Winston-Salem, N.C.-based BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) had $165.8 billion in assets and operated more than 1,800 financial centers in 12 states and Washington, D.C. More information about the company is available at www.BBT.com.
The Winston-Salem Dash is the Class-A Advanced minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. For more information, please visit www.wsdash.com.
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