A Day in The Office – “Guest Worker” in the Tennessee Smokies Front Office

It was early Spring 2021. I was busy starting work on multiple Haunted House design projects, specifically a brand new ballpark experience I was designing for the Newly Dubbed Burlington Sock Puppets (which is a story for another time). Coming off the (non) baseball season of 2020 (the covid year), multiple Minor League teams were looking at new ways to bring attention to their clubs, even if it was outside of baseball.

Fresh in my inbox, was an invitation from a member of the Smokies staff to come work out of the stadium for a day, along with information on how to get others involved in this new experience if I was willing to share it. This, is when I knew my multi faced employment in sports has caught up with me, having specific teams/individuals figuring I may be on the road, and always looking to cross off another stadium on my bucket list. Of course I said yes beyond immediately, and made my way down south a few work weeks later. 

After an amazing drive through beautiful scenery, tall mountains, and I believe a place called “flea land” (?), I arrived at the Smokies’ front office. Also going on at the stadium at the same time, was a home, or roofing company?? I believe it said “manufactured homes” company, having an employee outing at the stadium on the same day, using the lower bowl & field for that, hosting games on the field with the mascot much like you’d see between innings, and what seemed like a buffet on the concourse.

After walking through that mob of people to the elevator, I was showed to the suite level, passing by some more offices and a meeting room, and brought to a large suite that will serve as my “office” for the 9-5 work day. It was a very interesting work day, and not just because I had an amazing background as pictured below, to soothe me into my happy place while I designed 3D Halloween decor and walkthroughs (we’ll get to the other reasons in a moment).

All in all, it was an amazing day, complete with sitting in the stadium seats out front of the suite and soaking up the sun, eating the provided lunch on a comfortable leather couch, watching what I could on the flat screen TV I casted my laptop onto, and getting to enjoy the workers on the field run down the base paths in a giant pair of underwear after playing dizzy bat and spinning (maybe) to a fault, because I do not remember anyone actually crossing the finish line.

HUGE Thank you to the Smokies organization, I’m glad I got to experience the stadium before they move to a new home, which I will definitely make sure to come and check out one day!