2017 JOLIET SLAMMERS COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT 2017: A YEAR IN REVIEW In our 5th annual Community Impact Report we highlight the community aspects, economic impact and overall contribution the Joliet Slammers have made as tenants of the Joliet Route 66 Stadium in 2017. The Slammers continue to provide affordable family fun and entertainment not just to Joliet, but to all of Will County and the surrounding communities. The Slammers take great pride in being an asset to the community and you will see in this report how we have proven to have a positive impact on the City of Joliet through three main objectives: 1. Providing affordable family fun 2. Making a real impact in the community 3. Bringing people to downtown Joliet 1. AFFORDABLE FAMILY FUN The Slammers pride themselves on providing affordable family fun to those in the Joliet area. In July 2016, Ballpark Digest did a report on what the average family of 4 would pay for a minor league baseball game. They found the average cost to be $64.97 for parking, 4 tickets, 4 hotdogs, 2 sodas, and 2 beers. Cinemark in Joliet: $92 Six Flags Great America: $322 Joliet Slammers: As low as $32 $10.50 for an adult $75 per person or $55 if under 4 feet $7.50 for a child $2 (Tue) for a ticket $15.50 for a meal deal $6 for a hotdog, chips, and a soda $6 for a small popcorn (cheeseburger/pizza/chicken strips with $4 for a hotdog $50 for a Family Four Pack fries and a soda) (4 tickets, 4 hotdogs, 4 chips, 4 sodas) $4 small drink Raging Waves: $129.96 $33 per person or $20 if under 4 feet $5.99 for a hotdog combo WHAT OUR FANS ARE SAYING The true testament to the Slammers’ hard work each season is feedback provided by fans. Here is what our fans are saying: 2. COMMUNITY IMPACT The Slammers have woven themselves into the social fabric of Joliet and all of Will County by reaching fans far beyond the confines of the ballpark. The organization is committed to providing a positive influence through community efforts. In 2017, the Slammers participated in the following community events: MLK Jr. Day of Service Culinary Kids—with Susana Mendoza, Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters Andrews High School Career Day Comptroller Bowling Opening Day Ceremonies Spanish Community Center Times Weekly Back to School Fair Morning Star Mission Salvation Army Bell Ringing Lincoln-Way High School Special Olympic Easter Meal Packaging Joliet Chamber expo Event Irene King Career Day Kids Fair-Troy Middle School Mokena Chamber Expo Meadowview Elementary Grundy County Career Fair Sator Sanchez School Assembly Assembly Career Fair-Brooks Middle School Oak Forest High School Career Fair Grundy County Family Fest Tinley Park High School Career Day Lincoln-Way Highschool Plainfield Parade Morning Star Mission Thanksgiving Meal Youth Baseball Sign-Up Manhattan Irish Parade Distribution Yorkville Public Library Joliet West Career Panel Joliet Library Star Wars Days Mini-Golf “FUN” Raiser Woodview Grade School Reading Day Chicagoland Go Green Event Andrew’s High School Job Shadow Joliet Light Up the Holidays Parade ...and more! Kinder Care Park Tour Tinley Park Expo COMMUNITY IMPACT Big Brothers, Big Sisters Bowling Event Lincoln-Way High School Yorkville Public Special Library Mini-Golf Olympics Event “FUN” Raiser Times Weekly Volunteering Back to Morning Star School Mission – Easter Fair ----------------------- Lockport Walmart Online Shopping Free Pick-up Grand Opening RELATIONSHIPS WE’VE BUILT The Slammers work with hundreds of fans and families, businesses, schools, local organizations and more every year. Our job is to maintain great relationships in the community by providing value to our fans. In return, it is with the continued support of the community that allows us to look back on successful seasons. The Joliet Slammers have been a tremendous Organizations we are active in: Chambers we are active in: Our own community community partner to our organization, the Joliet Noon Lions Grundy County initiatives: Joliet Area Historical Museum. We regularly Joliet Old Timers Baseball Joliet Slammers Kids Club collaborate on a number of Downtown activities Community Service Council Homer Glen (1,000+ members) and programs. A recent admission partnership Pitch & Hit Club Mokena Community nights at during the IHSA tournament brings dozens of Will Buy Local New Lenox Slammers games paid visitors to the Museum over that weekend, Joliet Rotary club Plainfield USF Spikes Reading which I feel we may not have otherwise had. City Center Partnership Bolingbrook program (140+ SEMO Sport Management Advisory Board Yorkville schools) Speaking personally, while my brothers and I District 86 Partnership Council Romeoville regularly take trips to watch Chicago teams, Lewis Sport Management Speaker Series we’ve found that the Joliet Slammers experience offers the same excitement and atmosphere at a The Joliet Slammers have been a great partner of the Joliet far greater level of value and convenience. It’s Chamber. The Chamber and many of our sub-groups host both all of the fun of big city baseball without the social and professional events at the ballpark, enjoying its many ticket costs, traffic, parking hassles, or wonderful facets of entertainment. We partner on downtown expensive food & drinks! events using each others expertise to create the best possible outcomes for both organizations. Joliet Chamber President Mary Jaworski Greg Peerbolte Joliet Area Historical Museum Executive Director RELATIONSHIPS WE’VE BUILT The Slammers aim to be a value-added partner to help our sponsors grow their businesses in Joliet and beyond. Each season, we work with 75—100 different corporate partners at various levels of investment with the team. The choice for area businesses to invest with us, and to see the value in what we can provide, is a true testament of the Slammers appeal. Corporate business partners: Country Financial Mark Hunt Jet's Pizza Pet Supplies Plus 22nd Century Media Crosstown Exotics Johnsonville Sausage Pilot Corporation AACCEL Emissions and Auto Repair Curdtown Cheese Curds Joliet Junior College Red Wing Shoes Advanced Urology Daily Journal KPMG Women's PGA Championship Renewal by Andersen Amtrak Diamond Financial Lakeshore Beverage Rod Baker Ford Andy's Frozen Custard Dick's Sporting Goods Lumina Pyrotechnics Sears Shaw Media Arlington International racecourse Dippin Dots Milano Bakery Silver Cross Hospital Associated Orthodontists Eagle Sports Range MK Orthopedics Skooters ATI Physical Therapy Edward Jones Mulligan's Pub Smithereen Pest Management Beaver Creek Golf Carts Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary NECA/IBEW Sport Clips Big Frog Custom T-shirts Firehouse Subs Odyssey Fun World Sunny Sky Products, LLC Blue Ribbon Products First Midwest Bank Original Hooters Times Weekly BNSF Railway Flaherty Law Pirates Cay Waterpark T-Mobile Brown and Brown Insurance Gordon Food Service Macaroni Kid Trader Magazine Brown Forman (Jack Daniels) Gatto's Restaurant Mancuso Cheese University of Saint Francis Buffalo Wild Wings Greater Joliet Area YMCA Meijer Valley View Dental Charter Fitness Green River Lines Merchants & Manufacturers Bank Verizon Cici's Pizza Hair Cuttery Mistwood Golf Club West Bend City Center Partnership Hampton Farms O'Dekirk, Allred & Associates ConEcepts Integrated Physical Medicine of Joliet ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS A big part of the impact we have in the community comes from the wages we pay our 120 employees, and the direct revenue we generate for the City and our local vendor base. EMPLOYEE WAGES PURCHASE OF OUTSIDE $602, 1737 GOODS & SERVICES STATE SALES TAX PAID $1,615,455 $71,028 HOTEL ROOM RESERVATIONS CITY FOOD & BEVERAGE TAX 700+ Rooms $7,450 PAID WILL COUNTY PROPERTY TAX 90% RETURN RATE FOR SEASONAL EMPLOYEES! $9,394 PAID CITY SERVICES My summer with the Slammers was a unique experience I will always be thankful for. I was the Social Media Intern and during my time, I learned all the aspects of what it takes $97,176 to be part of a professional baseball organization. This role led me to be a better leader in the community and in the organization as a whole. To go along with this, the staff at the Slammers are very helpful. Anytime I had a question, they would not hesitate to assist *RENT, LICENSES, POLICE, PARAMEDICS, me. Overall, I enjoyed my time with the Slammers. Go Slammers! #Slammertime WATER, ETC* - Kyle Burton ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS Immune Deficiency Foundation Monee Elementary PTO Rockdale 84 School District Troy Titans Baseball Donations were made to the following groups: Individual Advocacy Group Mosaic Lutheran Church Rockdale Fire Department Troy Titans Baseball Adryana’s Charities Dennis Meister Leukemia Fund Inter. Ass. of Rehabilitation Mothers Against Drunk Driving Rockdale School Troy Township Seniors Alvernia Manor Senior Living Disability Resource Center Jacob Zickefoose Benefit Multicultural Education Foundation Romeoville Golden Age Club USO of Illinois American Cancer Society DuPage Habitat John Jack Dempsey Benefit Muscular Dystrophy Association Romeoville HS Athletics Valley View Education Foundation American Cancer Society Dusty Roads Foundation Joliet Area Community Hospice My Fathers World Preschool Ron Papa Memorial Scholarship Victory Reins Riding Center American Legion Post 615 Elim Christian Services Joliet Catholic Academy Nate Fox Scholarship Rooting for Rivet Villa Park Chamber of Commerce American Motorcycle Riders Exceptional Children’s Charities Joliet Central Band Boosters Nazareth Academy Sacred Heart Church Village of Carbon Hill Angels of Hope Faith United Methodist Church Joliet