We love our professional sports teams around here, but sometimes their minor league counterparts offer a low-hassle, low-cost alternative for families, with plenty of promotions, giveaways and activities to keep the kids entertained.
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Iron Pigs
Lehigh Valley, PA
Ironpigsbaseball.com
This Phillies minor-league team, founded in 2008, has plenty of theme games to choose from, including Star Wars, Harry Potter and a princess night.
On Dog Days, four-legged fans are welcome at the stadium in a designated seating area. Register for a chance to have your kid yell “Play ball!” to start the game and get two free tickets. Ticket prices range from $11 to $28.
Reading Phillies
Reading, PA
Fightins.com
A trip to the Reading Phillies means seats as cheap as $5, free parking that’s an easy walk to the stadium, plenty of promotions, from fireworks to free t-shirts, and enough in-game entertainment to engage the non-baseball fans. They offer birthday parties and picnics if you want to bring a whole gang with you.
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders
Moosic, PA
SWBrailriders.com
This minor-league Yankees team is a little farther drive, but offers plenty of promotions to tempt you, including Family Buck Night with $1 concession items for two hours before the game as well as Copa de la Diversion, a series of events that celebrate Hispanic culture. They also offer birthday parties and summer training camps. Prices range from $11 to $15 with special discounts for groups and $5 parking.
Trenton Thunder
Trenton, NJ
Trentonthunder.com
This Yankees minor-league team offers a picnic area for families and plenty of promotions, including Kids Run the Bases after every Sunday game. Kids can also join Boomer’s Kids Club for more special offers. Tickets are $11 to $15 with free admission for children 3 and under.
Wilmington Blue Rocks
Wilmington, DE
Bluerocks.com
The Blue Rocks’ Outstanding Students Program honors students who are nominated by their schools for their academic achievement. Each student gets a ticket and a hot dog and their family can buy additional tickets, which range from $8–$13.
If you want to live baseball all summer long, sign up to be a host family for one of the Blue Rocks players for the season.
MINOR LEAGUE HOCKEY
Hershey Bears
Hershey, PA
HersheyBears.com
Come September, hockey is in the air. At the minor-league ice hockey rink in Hershey, you can go early to see pre-game youth scrimmages.
Sign up before the game so the kids can meet Coco, the team mascot, and get an autographed photo and gift. Children under 2 get in free as long as they sit in someone’s lap. Ticket prices vary but range from $20-$50.
Reading Royals Hockey
Reading, PA
Royalshockey.com
The minor-league hockey franchise offers birthday parties and special theme nights, including Scout Night, Mental Health Awareness Night and an Autism Awareness sensory-friendly game with subdued music and lighting and quiet spaces. Tickets start at $60.
