Reno's Triple-A baseball team is back in town to host the Salt Lake Bees but for the next four days, they won't be called the Aces. They will be the Reno Ghost Riders.
It's part of the "What Could Have Been Weekend." When people were voting for the team nickname, the Aces were far and away the big winner, topping names like the Rattlers and the Ghost Riders.
For this series, they will be wearing black, green, and gray.
"Our fans are going to see our guys wearing completely different uniforms, completely different logos, and it's a fun thing to really do in the middle of the summer, coming right out of the All-Star break," Aces Vice President of Communications TJ Lasita said.
Even the Aces mascot, Archie, will be getting a break, with the Ghost Riders bringing in a new mascot. As for the nickname, people seem to like the change-up.
"I think it's pretty cool," Coln Gamboa said. "I think the Ghost Riders is a pretty legit name for them."
"I think it's cooler than the Aces," Karen Guzicki said. "I like that movie."
"I think it would be cool but I think the community might not have wanted Ghost Riders, so I think Aces is a better fit," Robert Durbin said.
Other fans say they have their own ideas for a team nickname.
"They would be the Vikings," Johnathan Pena said.
"Something that unites the team and gives the fans something," Gary Guzicki said. "Like, they don't want to root for the Dandelions. They want to root for the Dragons."
If sales are any indication, fans are looking forward to watching the Ghost Riders and seeing the rare apparel.
"They want to see what's it's like to see Brett Butler or Conrad Schmidt wearing Ghost Riders across their chest," Lasita said. "It's a little bit different. So, the response, here in the team store, has been fantastic and at the ticket booth as well."
Each game will have a different highlight, including beer specials, a bobblehead giveaway, a mini helmet giveaway, and fireworks.
Friday night, you can also help the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. The food drive is called "Strike Out Hunger." To participate, just bring nonperishable food and you'll get a raffle ticket to try and win Aces tickets and memorabilia.
"The players' wives and girlfriends have kind of spearheaded this effort and they're going to be outside the ballpark, with barrels, collecting different kinds of food products that we can donate," Lasita said.
Once the Ghost Riders wrap up the series, their uniforms will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to the Aces Foundation.
For more information, go to http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t2310
Written by Paul Nelson
