April 16, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fair and Mat-Su Miners Sign Long-Term Lease Agreement

Agreement Extends Through April 30, 2025

The Mat-Su Miners have called Hermon Brothers Field on the Alaska State Fairgrounds home since 1976 and, under a recently signed lease agreement, they’ll be calling it home for many years to come.

The new agreement, which was signed by both the Miners and the Fair on February 17, 2012, allows the Miners continued use of Hermon Brothers Field at the cost of just $1 a year through April 30, 2025. At that time, the lease can be extended for an additional five years through April 30, 2030. 

“Baseball was one of the first activities associated with the Fair. Having the Miners here ties us to the roots of the original Fair,” said Ray Ritari, Fair general manager. “The Miners have been here since 1976, and there is no intent of them ever leaving.”

“The Mat-Su Miners and the Fair are working together in the same direction,” said Denise Christopher, the Miners’ marketing and community relations director. “This agreement shows the longevity of our relationship. It shows that they’re not going anywhere and we’re not going anywhere.”

Christopher added that the long-term lease will help the Miners obtain more grants to do additional events and co-promotions with the Fair.

“There are lots of fun things for fans to look forward to,” she said. “The Miners want to have more of a presence at the Fair, and we want the Fair to have more presence at the games.”

“It opens up opportunities for the future,” Ritari added.

While the agreement calls for only a $1 a year in rent, Christopher said the Miners look for ways to add value through in-kind contributions. For example, the Miners allow the Fair to use the team’s 15-passenger vans and the bleachers during the Fair. The team is also donating two ATCO trailers, which the Fair plans to use for storage.

“We help each other,” Christopher said. “It’s a give and take thing, and it works.”

For more information, please visit alaskastatefair.org or matsuminers.org, or contact Ray Ritari, Fair general manager, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 907.745.4827, or Denise Christopher, Miners’ marketing and community relations director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 907.745.6401.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                         FOR MORE INFORMATION:

February 23, 2012                                         Contact Melinda Taylor at 777-7248

NECA/IBEW PURCHASES NEW SCOREBOARD

FOR HERMON BROTHERS FIELD

(Anchorage, AK)—February 23, 2012—The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547 (IBEW 1547) have agreed to purchase a replacement scoreboard for Hermon Brothers Field.  The original sign was damaged in mid November of 2011 during 100 mile an hour winds.

The new scoreboard will be purchased by the NECA/IBEW Labor Management Cooperation Committee (LMCC).  “We’re happy to help,” said Mike Hodsdon, Business Manager of the IBEW Local 1547. “Hermon Brothers field is an institution here in the Valley. We knew someone had to step up to the plate to ensure the sign was replaced.” Added Larry Bell, incoming Manager of the Alaska Chapter of NECA, “We’ve got to have baseball in the Valley during the Summer. We’re happy that the replacement of this sign is one of the many projects that the IBEW and NECA will work on together this year.”

The new state of the art sign is more than fan friendly the last one; it includes the names of the teams, the number of the batter, scores during each inning as well as hits, runs and errors to be shown during the games. The scoreboard is expected to be in place by the end of April.

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The NECA IBEW Labor Management Cooperation Committee (LMCC) is an innovative labor-management partnership between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 1547 and the National Electrical Contractors Association – Alaska Chapter. LMCC is dedicated to helping workers and employers explore creative joint approaches to be more effective in solving mutual problems in raising industry standards.

NECA – Alaska Chapter                              IBEW Local 1547

712 W. 36^th Avenue                                      3333 Denali Street, Suite 200

Anchorage, Alaska 99503                           Anchorage, Alaska 99503

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