What says summer better than a cold beer and hot dog while watching the Henderson Flash turn two?
Until Tuesday, officials with the Flash could count on hot dogs and double plays each summer. But not beer.
The Henderson City Commission changed that, approving a request at Tuesday’s city commission meeting to allow the club to sell beer this summer at Park Field, the summer league team’s home since 2021.
Clay Bolin, the Flash president, said Tuesday that he hoped beer sales would bump attendance–and grow revenue–thus allowing the club to be more self-sufficient. Bolin recently requested, and was granted, $30,000 from the city commission to pay for needed repairs in restrooms at Park Field. He said he hoped not to have to make such requests much longer.
The plan for selling beer would initially include a beer garden surrounded by temporary fencing, Bolin said. He said beer drinkers would need to stay within the area and couldn’t take beer out of it. They’d also need to get a wrist band and show proper identification, he said.
Later, the club officials plan to build a deck where the beer garden will be located, Bolin said.
He said it’s planned to place the beer garden in the foul ball area on the first base side of the field, between the Flash dugout and bullpen.
City Manager Buzzy Newman said the club would need to file for a special event license from Alcohol Beverage Control. The club is working with an already licensed partner to file for a license specific to Park Field.
Newman also asked that the Flash close a road that cuts through the ballfield area of Atkinson Park when games involving children are taking place at other fields. This would allow for traffic to flow along the big circle around all the ball fields and be safer, he said.
The Flash compete in the North Division of the Ohio Valley League, a wooden bat league comprised of collegiate players. The Flash recruit collegiate players to join the team and stay with host families during the summer season.
The Flash have won the North Division of the OVL in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. They finished the 2023 season with a 29-15 record.
On Thursday, May 30, the Flash will host a meet-the-team night, home run derby and a Henderson Fire Department versus Henderson Police Department softball game. The festivities begin at 6 p.m.
On Friday, May 31, the Flash open the regular season with a home contest against the Hoptown Hoppers that begins at 6 p.m.
