Cougars stadium open for business, even when the team isn't

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GENEVA – For the past two decades, people have wondered almost each year what Jeff Sedivy plans to do when he heads south for the winter.

But Sedivy, general manager of the Kane County Cougars minor league baseball club, has always disappointed his listeners.

"They think that when their pocket schedule runs out, that means we close up the place and go to Florida or something," Sedivy said. "Unfortunately, we're here trying to find ways to make ends meet when there are no more games to be played."

This fall and winter, though, Sedivy and others associated with the Cougars believe their job of paying the bills through the winter might just be a little easier, thanks largely to a new collection of rooms with a view.

In May, the Cougars completed a $10.5 million renovation at Elfstrom Stadium.

The project capped nine months of frantic construction, as the Cougars added an upper deck above the concourse. The deck, running along the first and third base lines and wrapping around behind home plate, includes 14 skybox suites, two rooftop patio areas and a large "super suite" behind home plate with seating for about 200 guests.

In all, the addition adds room for another 600 spectators.

The addition also included new office and administrative space for the Cougars.

While the new office space is nice, it is the new skybox space that should most aid the Cougars, Sedivy said.

The Cougars have launched a new campaign to draw in those seeking a place to hold their next function, be it a fully catered business meeting, banquet or smaller personal celebration.

While the ballpark itself is closed when the Cougars are not in season – and the rooftop decks are generally recommended for Cougars game days – the suites are open year round to those seeking a rental space with views of the field.

Sedivy said the late completion date hampered the franchise's ability to market the space during the season.

But with the season long over, the team has shifted its focus to filling its space this fall and into the spring.

Sedivy said some dates have filled up already for next year. But he said the team has just really begun spreading the word.

"There is a lot of really good, quality entertaining space available here," Sedivy said. "And it's not limited to the baseball season."

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