APPLETON (NBC 26) — Hundreds of Timber Rattlers fans ditched the air conditioning and braved the high heat at Friday’s game.
"It's summer time in Wisconsin, it doesn't stay long, the tan doesn't last long and you want to take advantage of it while you can and its a beautiful night for baseball,” said Brandon Clark, Oshkosh.
For many who headed to the game they had to stay creative to keep cool in these scorching temperatures, and for many that included taking a sip of alcohol.
"About three to five beers and some Mike's Hard Lemonade because it’s refreshing on a day like today,” Clark said.
"Just tastes good, the lime, its tropical, it’s warm out here, it’s a good summer drink,” said another fan.
But as officials warn on the dangers of the heat, the Timber Rattlers say they're doing their part in making sure fans stay hydrated.
"We will allow fans to bring one unsealed bottle of water so they can have that plus we have bubblers or water fountains on the concourse that they can also refill them in. They will also be able to bring an empty water bottle. That's something that we do when the temperatures get into the 80's and 90’s,” said Chris Mehring, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Media Relations Director.
He also said they have a few air-conditioned locations across the stadium where fans are able to take a break and cool off.
"Our lodge is a place on the main concourse where they can get out of the heat. Then fans with tickets for the box seats or the patio seats can go to the Fox Club and that is air-conditioned as well,” Mehring said. "We’ll remind people, that I think people know it’s hot but we’ll just kind of remind them that we have different opportunities for them to stay cool.”
Now as far as how the players are staying cool?
“The team does have their water down in the dugouts. They will stay cool as best as they can too. They’ve got trainers on both sides reminding them to drink water and stay hydrated,” Mehring said.
And that goes for their umpires as well.
“We have water available for the umpires because they get hot too and can’t really get out the field. We’ll get water out to them and we’ll have water available to the players,” Mehring said.
So the next time you head out to a ball game, just remember to continue to keep these things in mind in order to prevent any heat exhaustion.
At Friday's game and the rest of the weekend, in honor of National Dairy Month the Timber Rattlers have changed their name to the Udder Tuggers.
The players will be on the field with their cow-print uniforms shedding awareness on Wisconsin’s dairy industry.
Before the game began, the Winnebago Farm Bureau and others were outside the stadium answering any questions the public might have. They had games and baby calves to educate children as well.
Mehring said they will be having a jersey auction that ends Sunday. Money raised will go to the Rattlers’ Give Back charity, along with possibly others.
“As Alice I get to talk to everyone about the importance of agriculture which is a huge part of Wisconsin and Wisconsin history. And not a lot of people are connected to agriculture like they used to be so I like to serve as a connection for them for them to reconnect with their agriculture roots,” Julia Nunes, 73rd Alice in Dairyland.
