Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles: Local Project-"Making Spectators into Participants"
The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles(hereinafter”the Rakuten Eagles”) have promoted locally rooted communications since the team's establishment in order to be a ball club that is loved and supported by local fans. Thanks to the enthusiasm of local fans, innumerable team flags now color places like the arcade street in downtown Sendai and main thoroughfare Miyaginodori, which connects the east exit of Sendai Station with Kleenex Stadium Miyagi, in the the Rakuten Eagles' team color, crimson red.
The Rakuten Eagles are supported by the unrelenting enthusiasm of local fans, which at times becomes heartfelt passion that galvanizes the team. Even though the Eagles are a new ball club, in 2009, the team's fifth year in existence, it advanced to professional baseball's "Climax Series" playoff. The team will continue to carry out locally rooted activities to create warm ties through interactions with local fans.
From Watching the Games to Participating in the Action
The Rakuten Eagles have a philosophy that reads, "The Baseball Entertainment Company--We are a ball club that creates thrills and inspires dreams through the game of baseball." Guided by this philosophy, the organization is striving to create a new brand of spectator culture in which fans watching the games also experience the excitement that comes from directly participating.
Events are held before the games that give local fans the chance to participate, under the banner "Spectators Becoming Participants." Events include schools and choirs singing the national anthem and traditional processions that expose people to the region's traditional art forms. Many people have taken part in these events since the team was first established. In fact, the number of participants over the years now tops 50,000.
Ball Club Operations Enjoy Participation of 14,379 Volunteers
The Rakuten Eagles have a volunteer program that enables local fans to directly participate in ball club operations. It is the first such initiative in professional baseball and has been in place since the team's establishment.
The main objective of the program is to connect with the community. As of 2009, 14,379 people had participated, which is quite a large number of volunteers. Ages are wide-ranging, running from 16 to 77. Volunteers man the five Eco Stations, sorting waste and spreading the word on eco awareness.
- Other Volunteer Activities
- The ball club has three categories of volunteers. In addition to "eco volunteers" who promote eco activities, the club also enjoys the services of stadium guides, who help people navigate Kleenex Stadium during games, and medical volunteers, who provide first-aid during medical emergencies.
- Volunteer Appreciation Festival
- The Volunteer Appreciation Festival has been held since 2006 as an event for all of the ball club’s volunteers. It is held at the Eagles' Nest, a large lounge located at Kleenex Stadium in the infield bleachers behind first base. The event is mainly a chance to get together with all the volunteers who have helped that year. The Rakuten Eagles Players, not especially adept at emceeing, warmly, though not so smoothly, perform the role of master of ceremonies, and other fun and games are held. The event has drawn rave reviews from participants.
At the Volunteer Appreciation Festival, an awards ceremony is conducted to honor exceptional volunteers for that year, and special prizes unique to the Rakuten Eagles are given. In fiscal 2009, one special prize was being invited to spring training in Kumejima.
(Related link) About the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles volunteer activities
Interactions with Future Eagles Fans
The Rakuten Eagles actively interact with future Eagles fans at kindergartens, elementary schools and middle schools as a part of local outreach efforts.
- Future School
- Future School has been held since 2009 to convey to children the importance of having a dream in life. The Rakuten Eagles junior coaches, Tohoku Golden Angels(cheerleaders) and stadium announcers all serve as instructors, called "dream ambassadors," and help the upper grades of elementary school students make their dreams come true. At the sessions, the children's eyes light up as they seriously ponder their own futures.
- Job Experience and Office Visits
- To deepen understanding of jobs related to professional baseball, the team accepts elementary and middle school students as a part of their integrated learning programs. Guided by ball club staff, they learn about the business of baseball while taking a tour of Kleenex Stadium, going behind the scenes on game day to see what is normally not open to the public and learning about jobs performed by ball club staff.
- Visits to Elementary Schools and Kindergartens
- The team reaches out to future fans in the area by sending players to elementary schools and the official mascots, Clutch and Clutchina, to kindergartens. In visits by the Rakuten Eagles Players to elementary schools in particular, playing catch with the big players is a powerful experience that leaves a lasting impression on the children. The children are all smiles during the invaluable time they get to spend with the players.
(Related link) About the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles community-based activities
