Tuesday, April 9, 2013

City of Bowie Press Release on Change in Fireworks Venue




For more information:
Matt Corley, Special Events Coordinator
301-809-3078 or email mcorley@cityofbowie.org


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2013

Bowie’s Fourth of July Celebration will be at Prince George’s Stadium this Year.
The Fabulous Hubcaps will Provide the Entertainment.

The City of Bowie is teaming up with the Bowie Baysox to establish a new Fourth of July tradition in Bowie. Rather than fireworks at Allen Pond Park, this year’s celebration will take place at Prince George’s Stadium on Thursday, July 4th.

The Fabulous Hubcaps Band will kick off the event with a show beginning at 7 p.m. and fireworks will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. The Fabulous Hubcaps are a popular oldies band, with a large local following. They have performed throughout the US and are known for their fun and entertaining performances. The celebration will be free and tickets will not be required.

“We’re excited about this change and think it will be a great experience for all who attend. In many ways we had outgrown Allen Pond as a venue,” said City of Bowie Special Events Coordinator Matt Corley. The stadium provides more comfort for attendees with seating, more restrooms, and a variety of concessions. Being at the stadium also makes it an easier event to manage. The stadium was built for large crowds and has ample parking and good lighting. “Last year we had some safety concerns with people setting off their own fireworks in the crowd. The setup at the ballpark allows us to better control access, and hopefully eliminate those types of concerns; while at the same time, we expect to spend less money on staffing. I think it’s a ‘win-win’ for everyone,” said Mayor G. Frederick Robinson. “We are very grateful to the Baysox organization for working with us to organize this event.”

This Fourth of July celebration is organized by the City of Bowie and the Bowie Baysox. The Baysox organization will provide ushers, parking assistance, concessions, and other event support. There is no baseball game at the stadium on this date. Parking and admission to the event are free. The main gate to the stadium will open at 6 p.m.

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6 comments:

  1. I've owned my home in Bowie for 16 years now and I have gotten accustomed to watching the fireworks from my yard and hosting great cookouts simultaneously, hearing the Allen Pond traffic, and all the hooplah...it's been great, but CHANGE is good.

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  2. good, have all the Hoodlums go somewhere else

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  3. Glad for the change as I own a home by the Pond.Great view for the fireworks on deck,but after the event lots of traffic,illegal fireworks being shot off,bottles broken in steet,loud music from cars parked and not to mention the clean up the next day trash left thrown in yard,condoms in street,beer bottles,cigarettes,food.

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  4. I am disappointed it has been a tradition in Bowie ever since I was a child. I have always love the view of the fireworks from my home and the convenience of such things as it being in walking distance, cooking out in my yard with friends and family, and not having to spend outrageous prices for venders. people letting off fireworks was never a bother its 4th of July hello.. Though I can relate to concerns with traffic, trash, and unnecessary loud music after a certain time. ANSWERS TO THAT.. POLICE TRAFFIC CONTROL, EMPLOYEE CITY CLEAN UP-(GET THAT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOWN LOL),AND NOISE ORDINANCE INFORCED BY POLICE ON BIKES. Im sure we can find it in the budget with the taxes we pay. I guess change can be good we shall see.(new concerns traffic on 301,more drinking and driving after purchasing alcohol from baysox lol and being forced to spend on venders) Well lets just enjoy the fireworks its about the kids and the big kids in us.

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    Replies
    1. Personal fireworks are illegal in Maryland. They could result in injury, fire or worse.

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  5. The fireworks show was good, though I preferred watching from my home. I was routed to park in BJ's lot. It took 45 minutes for the traffic to start moving out of the lot. In all, it took almost an hour to get out of the parking lot. There were no police officers in the lot. At one point BJ'S turned off most of the lot lights. There were small children playing in the lot at the same time as some kid in a dark BMW doing high speed
    Doughnuts with a passenger hanging out the door. In all, the traffic situation was a lot worse than at Allen Pond. The parking lot has potential to be a very dangerous situation.

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