Photo contributed

Even though the Fresno Grizzlies season ended in early September — and is still over two months away from opening day — the organization has been working behind the scenes to ensure that 2025 is just as exciting as 2024, with several new promotions and off-the-field events.

The Grizzlies will have 33 unique promotions across 66 home games throughout the 2025 season, which opens on April 4.

On Jan. 29, the Grizzlies unveiled their season theme: “It Happens Here.”

“We’re really excited that “It Happens Here” has the opportunity to have so many variations,” said Jonathan Bravo, the director of marketing and communications for the Fresno Grizzlies. “It is exemplified in a couple of those creative assets we passed along, where fun happens here, community happens here. And we really believe that magic happens here.”

Last season, the Grizzlies led the California League with more than 256,000 total attendance. Not only did they lead the league in attendance, but the Grizzlies had the entire top 14 in single-game attendance for the entire league.

Returning fan-favorite promotions include Marvel Superheroes Night and Star Wars Night, both featuring newly designed jerseys. According to Bravo, the Star Wars-themed uniform is expected to appeal to fans of the original trilogy.

These specialty jerseys, along with others from themed events, will be auctioned to benefit local charities.

A new promotion this year will be Dino Nugget Night, which will include themed food, a Dino Nugget plush giveaway, and the team taking the field in Dino Nugget-inspired jerseys.

“Minor League Baseball is fun and wacky, right?” Bravo said. “As it should be, and where else are you going to find that? You’re not going to find an MLB team playing with a Dino Nuggets-inspired uniform. So we should take advantage of that. We should have fun with it. We get to be out here at Chukchansi Park, night in and night out. It should be really special to us.”

This season, the Grizzlies will celebrate the 10th anniversary of their famous alternate identity as the Fresno Tacos. The team will debut a redesigned Tacos uniform that pays homage to the region’s taco trucks and small businesses. Bravo said the new Fresno Tacos jersey is his favorite promotional jersey.

“To be able to bring that story full circle in its 10th year and remind the fans that it really is about these small businesses here in the Central Valley. It’s just something we couldn’t be more proud of,” Bravo said.

Some of the returning festivities include Opening Night and the Fourth of July. Opening Night is often one of the most anticipated events of the season, and the Fourth of July game will once again feature one of the largest fireworks displays in the Central Valley.

“It’s hard to go wrong and hard to beat opening night and the Fourth of July,” Bravo said. “I mean, those are the two most electric nights that you’ll have up here at Chukchansi Park. Opening Night truly is the culmination of all the hard work of the off-season. It’s really hard not to get a little choked up about it, thinking about it.”

Bravo added that the Fourth of July at Chukchansi Park is a tradition like no other.

“Fourth of July being on a Friday this year is really special,” Bravo said. “It’s the biggest fireworks show in the Central Valley, and we are able to welcome our fans once again for what is now every single year that the Fresno Grizzlies have been in downtown, having Fourth of July at home. It’s a Central Valley staple at this point.”

Chukchansi Park also hosts several large community events, such as Tequila Fest, where rapper Ludacris will perform on May 17, and Taco Truck Throwdown.

Beyond promotions, the Grizzlies continue to invest in their facilities. Recent renovations include upgrades to the playing field, lighting and clubhouses to enhance player development and fan comfort. Plans are also in place to construct new batting cages beyond the right field wall.

The Grizzlies also remain committed to its community outreach efforts, mainly through the Wild About Reading program. The initiative encourages literacy by visiting schools and engaging students with reading challenges and rewards. After pandemic-related disruptions, the program has been reinvigorated, reaching thousands of students across the Central Valley.

Bravo said he wants Chukchansi Park to be a place where anyone can have an enjoyable experience.

“We want our fans, both baseball fans and people who just want to come out and have a good time, to feel welcome,” Bravo said. “We truly believe that there’s something for everyone out here at the ballpark.”