The seats are installed, the lights are on, and the 26-by-40-foot LED scoreboard is up and running. On April 13, a new brand of minor-league baseball will officially fire up, as members of the Winston-Salem Dash take the field for their first game inside BB&T Ballpark.

Stymied by construction delays and legal disputes, the $48.7 million project took well over two years to complete. But with construction now hitting the home stretch, the Twin City can soon lay claim to a stunning new structure on the southwestern edge of downtown.

In the months leading up to the opening, much of the attention has been on the park’s unrivaled amenities, and for good reason. Lost in the glitz, however, is the true heart and soul of the stadium — the workers who will call the park home. The following is a look at some of the names, faces, and characters that will make the opening season at BB&T Ballpark one to remember.

GEOFF LASSITER, TEAM PRESIDENT

JOB DUTIES: Simply put, Geoff is the top team official and the public face of the entire organization. His primary focus is to develop and maintain strong relationships with community and business leaders in the Triad. He’ll also deliver speeches on behalf of the team and oversee all aspects of the organization. “I’m someone who doesn’t like to sit still,” he says. “During the games, I’ll probably be walking around the stadium, making sure the experience is great throughout the facility.”

EXPERIENCE: Geoff was hired by the Dash in January to serve as team president, a role formerly held by Kevin Terry. He spent the previous eight years working a variety of roles in Wake Forest University’s Athletic Department. Most recently, he served as WFU’s assistant athletics director of marketing and special projects. “The foundation that was laid before I came to the Dash was perfect,” he says. “I’m simply trying to keep all the momentum going.”

DID YOU KNOW: Geoff prides himself on being a lifelong North Carolinian. He was a multi-sports star at Elkin High School and went on to become the captain of Greensboro College’s basketball team. With his strong local ties,  he brings a discernable warmth and hometown touch to the top of the organization.

CABELL PHILPOTT, PUBLIC-ADDRESS ANNOUNCER

JOB DUTIES: As the voice of the Dash, Cabell’s main duties will be to announce the team’s lineup, introduce batters, and note any in-game changes that occur. He’ll also introduce special groups at the ballpark over the stadium’s state-of-the-art sound system. “The team really wanted someone who could interact with the crowd from the booth,” he says. “I’m not going to be that cookie-cutter announcer that just tells you who’s up to bat. It’s really more of an active role.”

EXPERIENCE: Cabell was hired to be the P.A. announcer for the Dash last season and spent about a month calling games. “It’s really exciting to know you’re going to be the first guy to do P.A. in the new stadium,” he says. “I grew up [in Winston-Salem], so it’s something that really means a lot to me personally.”

DID YOU KNOW: While this is Cabell’s first P.A. job, he has plenty of radio broadcasting experience. Listeners of 790 The Ball — an AM station in High Point — might recognize his name, as he used to have his own sports-talk program on the station. He also works as a producer and studio host for ISP Sports.

SHELLIE VESCHIO, KIDS ZONE ATTENDANT

OB DUTIES: Whether she’s running the carousel, helping out with the speed pitch, or simply sharing a laugh, Shellie’s job is to supervise all activity inside the Childress Institute Kids Zone. The 12,000-square-foot area is behind the outfield wall on the park’s concourse, and contains a mix of games, inflatables, and rides.

EXPERIENCE: This will be Shellie’s second go-round working in the children’s area. She spent the summer of 2007 helping run the carousel at Ernie Shore Field. That same carousel was refurbished and moved to BB&T Ballpark. “I’m really excited to see it’s the same one,” she says. “I’m really a sucker for that carousel. A lot of times, I’d end up riding it with the kids.”

DID YOU KNOW: Shellie, a longtime and current employee of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., moved to Winston-Salem from Pennsylvania in 2003. She started working at Ernie Shore Field as a way to become more active in the community and quickly learned to love the job. “It’s so much fun to goof off with the kids and watch them light up,” she says. “It’s the interaction that I love.”

JOSE VALLECILLO, MAIN CONCOURSE USHER

JOB DUTIES: First and foremost, Jose’s job is to be a friendly and familiar face at the ballpark. Like all Dash employees, he’s expected to provide unsurpassed customer service while patrolling the concourse at BB&T Ballpark. Jose will greet fans and welcome them to their seats. Once the game starts, he can guide fans to where they need to be and take care of any special needs that arise. For instance, if a fan spills a drink, Jose can walk them to the concession stands and replace the drink for free.

EXPERIENCE: This will be Jose’s ninth year as a concourse usher in Winston-Salem. He originally came to the Twin City to work as a computer programmer for USAirways. After retiring, he found himself with an abundance of free time, so he decided to take a small role with the Warthogs just for fun. “I started out thinking I was volunteering,” he says. “When I found out I was going to get paid, I said, ‘This is great!’ ”

DID YOU KNOW: Jose played a lot of baseball growing up, predominantly as a second baseman. In fact, he was close to making the pros: “I got some nibbles from the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Yankees,” he says.

SARAH BARNHARDT, ON-FIELD HOST

JOB DUTIES: Sarah will be front and center at every Dash home game this year. After welcoming fans to the game, she’ll keep them entertained between the innings with a variety of on-field skits, dances, and contests. She’ll also head up the Dash Pack, a group of high-school and college-age workers who help with the entertainment. “We’ve got about a hundred different skits; stuff you won’t see in any other minor-league stadium,” she says. “You can come to different games and see something different every time.”

EXPERIENCE: This is Sarah’s first year working in minor-league baseball. A Winston-Salem native and 2008 Salem College graduate, Sarah says she was simply “looking for something different” when she applied for the job as on-field host. “I love to entertain and I love working with kids,” she says.

DID YOU KNOW: Away from the field, Sarah works as a stand-up comedian. She’s currently working with a local organization trying to bring more stand-up and improv comedy to the area.

DOUG TANIS, HEAD GROUNDSKEEPER

JOB DUTIES: Doug will be in charge of maintaining the playing field, grass berms, and exterior areas of BB&T Ballpark. On game days, he’ll get to the stadium around 9 a.m. to mow, ready the infield dirt, and put the baselines down. After postgame-cleanup duties, he’ll head home around 11 p.m. On non-game days, he’ll tackle bigger projects, such as re-sodding and aerating the field. “Everyone else’s job speeds up when the game starts, but mine actually slows down,” he says. “I get a chance to unwind and enjoy the game.”

EXPERIENCE: This is Doug’s fourth year as a groundskeeper in Winston-Salem. Before coming here, he worked for the Lakewood, N.J. Blue Claws, a minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. He says his crew is striving to have the best ballpark in the country this year. “There’s really no such thing as having a minor-league-quality field. We want to have the best field at any level of baseball.”

DID YOU KNOW: While others may hide from the summer heat, Doug embraces it: “Being outside is the best thing about my job. Sure it gets hot, but I can’t complain about spending my whole summer outdoors. I love it.”

TERRY GRAY, TICKET TAKER

JOB DUTIES: As the first face many will see at BB&T Ballpark, Terry says one of his biggest responsibilities is simply to “smile.” After checking and scanning tickets, Terry will point fans in the right direction while informing them of items they are and aren’t allowed to bring into the stadium. He’ll also supervise the other ticket takers who distribute “Play Ball,” the Dash’s free nightly program booklet.

EXPERIENCE: This will be Terry’s fourth year taking tickets. He started out as an usher for the Warthogs, but soon switched to ticket taker. “I love meeting everyone who comes into the stadium. You get to know most of the season-ticket holders really well; they almost become like family.”

DID YOU KNOW: Terry spent time working as a security officer at Ernie Shore Field while with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department. When he retired from the sheriff’s department four years ago, he decided to return to the stadium as an employee.

BOLT, TEAM MASCOT

JOB DUTIES: He pumps up fans, dances on dugouts, and poses for pictures. As team mascot, Bolt’s chief duty is to ensure every fan at the ballpark has a good time. He also visits local elementary schools to get students excited about the Dash’s MVP Education Program.

MEASURABLES: Bolt stands 7-foot-2 and weighs “about five fifth-graders” according to team officials. Don’t let his obtuse physique fool you, though. Bolt is said to possess rocket-like speed. He comes equipped with a purple Mohawk, lightning-bolt ears, and eight furry fingers.

DID YOU KNOW: Bolt doled out a club-record 143 high-fives in a home game against Frederick in April 2009. He also boasts a .000 winning percentage in musical chairs, going 0 for 13 last year.

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Diamond of a Park

According to team president Geoff Lassiter, BB&T Ballpark will “shock” fans when they first arrive. “The experience is going to knock people’s socks off,” he says. “It’s really going to be unlike anything Winston-Salem has seen before.” So what sets the ballpark apart? It’s a lengthy list.

CHILDRESS INSTITUTE KIDS ZONE. Located behind the centerfield wall, the 12,000-square-foot Kids Zone will contain a mix of games, inflatibles, and rides, including the carousel from Ernie Shore Field.

360-DEGREE CONCOURSE. The wraparound concourse lets fans walk around the entire field and watch from different angles. It’s one of only a handful of 360-degree concourses in the nation.

OUTFIELD WALL. Unlike most minor-league parks, including Ernie Shore Field, the outfield wall at BB&T Ballpark contains many different heights and angles (much like Boston’s Fenway Park).

LED DISPLAY BOARD. The leftfield wall at the ballpark won’t be a wall at all, but a 6-by-185-foot LED board showing animations and advertisements. Where most minor-league walls are plastered with ads, the display board will rotate one ad per inning, creating a cleaner look.

WOMBLE CARLYLE CLUB. Open to Founder’s Club ticket holders, the 250-capacity club serves meals before and during games, and features an outdoor dining area.

HOSPITALITY/GROUP AREAS. In addition to the Womble Carlyle Club, the park features 16 luxury suites, two rentable party decks, and two dugout-level suites. It also contains the Blue Rhino Backyard, a picnic-style sitting area near right field that holds up to 300 people.

TOP ENTERTAINMENT. According to team officials, BB&T Ballpark will feature “entertainment with a side of baseball.” The organization has more than 100 unique skits rotating on a nightly basis. In addition, Bolt is played by a nationally known mascot performer (not an intern like at most minor-league parks).

SKYLINE SHOTS. With home plate angled toward Winston-Salem’s downtown, fans will get a great view of the Twin City skyline, creating an authentic major-league feel.

*****

BB&T BALLPARK:
BY THE NUMBERS

Total ballpark acreage:
8.5

Miles of Electrical Wiring:
10

Number of Bricks:
210,000

Outfield Wall Height:
8 to 20 feet

Wall Distance:
399 feet at the longest point

*****

Get Your Tickets
Season tickets are offered in packages for 7, 14, 17, 18, 35, and 70 games.

• Carolina Plan tickets include all-you-can-eat burgers, hot dogs, and chicken sandwiches. All non-alcoholic beverages are also included.
• The Founders Club ticket package includes the best seats, an all-you-can-eat upscale buffet that changes on a nightly basis (alcohol included), and access to the Womble Carlyle Club before the stadium opens for a pre-game dinner.
• Six “Friends & Family” nights throughout the season includes four tickets to the game, four Dash hats, and four Chick-fil-A value meals for $29.95 (or about $7.50 per ticket).
• For more information on ticket packages and pricing, call 336-714-BATS or go to wsdash.com