51s fans enjoy ‘Party Zone’

Victoria Sun

Friday, April 6, 2001 | 10:54 a.m.

The festivities were in full swing Thursday afternoon in the designated "Party Zone" adjacent to left field at Cashman Field when it became evident to Al Meyers what a fantastic seat he had for the 51s season opener against Tacoma.

Meyers, leaning back in a white plastic lawn chair, was literally a few feet away from the 51s' bullpen and had a perfect view of the infield.

Had he felt the urge, getting pregame autographs from the pitchers wouldn't have been a problem, as only a short fence separated Meyers from the players.

"I love it," he said, grinning. "I love this party zone. It's real nice. If you don't like this, then you don't like ice cream."

The Bellagio hotel-casino rented out the new addition to Cashman Field for its employees, including Meyers, as part of an appreciation event.

Seated at another table farther away from the field were Luis Benito, Mark Sirota and Joe Pose.

The three fans said they enjoyed the party zone for socializing, but preferred to sit in the bleachers for a better view of the game. From where they were sitting, it was hard to see any of the game.

"It's nice to get something to eat down here with friends or if the game's a blowout, you can sit here and enjoy the day," Benito said. "Otherwise, I'm going up to watch.

"But, you see the players real close up. It's a nice touch."

A few thousand other fans showed up to usher in the start of the season in what was the team's first opening day game played during daylight and on a weekday. Previously, all home openers during the week were evening affairs.

Longtime Stars fans Ray Ebert, Albert Lara and Pat Throne were anxious to see if things would be any different with the team now that it changed its name to the 51s and switched from being the top farm club of the San Diego Padres to the triple-A team of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ebert and Lara were dressed in old Stars jerseys, though Ebert did buy a plastic Dodgers hat for the occasion.

"We've been waiting for this day since last year," Ebert said. "I've been jittery since this morning."

As Throne watched a black helicopter land on the field and an alien mascot named Cosmo step out of it before the game, she looked quizzically at the creature.

"I don't know what to think of it yet," she said. "I'm just here for the baseball."

Friends Bryon Norris and Fred Rivera sat in the newly constructed field seats consisting of three rows of padded chairs extending from behind home plate and toward each dugout.

Norris, a recent transplant from Chicago, was thrilled he was able to handpick his seat, which was near the visiting dugout.

"When I used to go to games at Wrigley Field, it's one of the oldest ballparks, and the seats were real close to the field," he said. "I really like these because we are close to the players."