Minor League Fan Club

003:

Tri-City Dust Devils - Tri-City, Washington

In this episode, we travel to Tri-Cities, Washington to visit the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League. The Dust Devils are the High-A affiliates of the Los Angeles Angels.

Highlights, Key points, and takeaways from this episode:

• The Tri-Cities Dust Devils play their games at Gesa Stadium in the Tri-Cities area of Washington.
• The fan experience at Gesa Stadium is enhanced by unique features like a giant shade that provides relief from the sun and a beautiful view of the surrounding desert landscape.
• Visitors to the Tri-Cities should schedule their trips around special events like the annual hydroplane boat races and the Columbia River Rooster Tails game at Gesa Stadium.
• The Tri-Cities area is known for its wineries, and visitors can explore the local wine country while enjoying a baseball game at Gesa Stadium. The Tri-Cities Dust Devils baseball team is located in Pasco, Washington.
• The weather in Pasco is hot and dry during the summer months.
• The best seats at the stadium are along the first base side.
• Visitors to the Tri-Cities should check out local wineries and enjoy the Mexican food.
• There are many outdoor activities to do in the area, such as hiking, biking, and enjoying the views of the Columbia River.
• The ballpark offers unique food offerings, including grilled sausages, foot-long hot dogs, and teriyaki chicken bowls.
• Promotions and events at the ballpark include Dusty's Dash and Dollars in Your Dog Night.
• The team's mascot, Dusty the Dust Devil, is a fan favorite and interacts with fans during games.
• Hot Mess Burgers and Fries is a local business in the Tri-Cities area that offers delicious burgers made with locally sourced ingredients.

Ballpark Guide

Erik "The Peanut Guy" Mertens joins us as the Ballpark guide for this episode. Erik is the Manager of Fan Experience and Community Relations. He has been with the team for 24 years starting as a peanut vendor. He then became the teams' on-field emcee and recently was promoted to his current role.

Fan Guide

We are joined once again by Erik this time he is accompanied by his wife, Carina. They are going to give us some insight as fans at the ballpark and also show us around the Tri-Cities.

Business, Organization, or Event

I had to pleasure of feature Cara and Hot Mess Burgers & Fries from Kennewick, WA. Hot Mess Burgers & Fries is a food truck that serves the best smash burger and fries in the Tri-Cities.

Most of their food is made from scratch including their buns, American cheese, and sauces. The owners have over 40 years of combined experience.

The top burger at the restaurant is the Boring Mess, which is a basic patty, cheese, pickles, onions, tomatoes, and special sauce. Then they up it a notch and have the Big Mess which includes a grilled cheese sandwich inside the burger.

A lot of their food is limited meaning if you see it on the menu that week then it probably won't ever come back.

Follow the Tri-City Dust Devils:

Instagram: @tricitydustdevils

X: @TC_DustDevils

Follow Erik:

Instagram: @erikthepeanutguy

X: @Itserikmertens

Follow Carina:

Instagram: @con.carinaa

X: @carinosaleon

Follow Hot Mess Burgers and Fries:

Facebook: Hot Mess Burgers & Fries

Instagram: @hotmessburgersandfries

Follow Minor League Fan Club:

Instagram: @milbfanclub

TikTok: @minorleaguefanclub

Threads: @milbfanclub

X: @milbfanclub

YouTube: Minor League Fan Club

Website: www.minorleaguefanclub.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

04:33 Eric's Longevity with Tri-City Dust Devils

07:40 Eric's Love for Tri-Cities and Baseball

10:50 Getting to the Ballpark and Parking

11:26 The Giant Shade at the Stadium

13:22 Weather and Best Seats at the Stadium

16:48 Exploring the Stadium and Food Offerings

20:44 Dusty the Dust Devil and Mascot Activities

21:56 Erik's Peanut Patio

24:11 Eric's Role as Team Advocate

26:26 Promotions and Special Events

29:47 Unique Food Offerings at the Stadium

32:50 Exciting Promotions to Schedule

37:12 Where to Find the Team on Social Media

37:57 Closing Remarks and Farewell

38:19 Introduction and Welcome

38:58 Getting Intimate with the Fan Experience

40:19 Spending an Evening at Gesa Stadium

41:16 Favorite Drinks and Food at the Stadium

42:32 The Special Story of Ed's Fund

45:32 Other Events to Schedule Around

48:05 Exploring Tri-Cities: What to Do, See, and Eat

52:20 Regional Eats and Mexican Food

54:14 Outdoor Activities and Pub Runs

56:59 Family Activities and Places to Visit

58:50 Where to Find Eric and Karina

59:43 Conclusion and Farewell

01:00:17 Introduction to Hot Mess Burgers

01:03:34 Making Everything from Scratch

01:04:09 The Unique Menu at Hot Mess Burgers

01:06:16 The 'Boring Mess' Cheeseburger and the 'Big Mess' Sandwich

01:07:12 Limited-Time Specials

01:09:19 Creating a Friendly and Supportive Environment

01:12:18 Finding Hot Mess Burgers Online

01:13:17 Introduction and Value of the Show