Ticketpalooza at The Diamond today

Today is baseball fans' first crack at season tickets for Richmond's Class AA franchise, which will begin play next season. Club operators could have announced the date and simply unlocked the door to The Diamond's ticket office.

"That's not fun," said Bill Papierniak, the franchise's general manager.

Richmond will experience its first Ticketpalooza. Full season-ticket packages will be sold ($568) in a carnival atmosphere at The Diamond. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at no charge for participants, there will be games, inflatables, a petting zoo, pony rides, karaoke, pumpkin painting and other activities.

Said Chuck Domino, the franchise's chief executive manager: "You have to generate good will in the community. We're going to do that, and we have the [management] team that can do that."

Sale of single-game tickets and ticket packages that don't include the entire home schedule will start later in the fall.

-- John O'Connor