LoBue says 3 things keep ‘em coming to ballpark

For Albuquerque Isotopes owner Ken Young and everyone who works for the Pacific Coast League baseball team, it’s customer service, customer service, customer service.

Rio Rancho’s Nick LoBue, entering his 11th season as assistant general manager, said that’s what he expected Young, the owner of the franchise, to again emphasize when he spoke to employees at the ballpark before the season opener.

The 2013 season opened Thursday, when the Iowa Cubs visited the ballpark for the start of a four-game series. Manager Lorenzo Bundy is back for his third season; former manager Tim Wallach’s son, Matt, a catcher, is on the roster, as are a dozen guys who played in Albuquerque all or part of the 2012 season.

“I expect this (season) to be one of our best,” LoBue said, sitting behind his desk, crammed with paperwork, a green chile bobblehead and family photos — he’s the proud grandfather of six now — and anticipating another great season. “This is one of the best staffs we’ve ever had.”

Heck, the team even has an official Tabasco sauce.

The team has new corporate sponsors, 80 percent of previous corporate sponsors returning, some new features at the ballpark — including a “30-foot Orbit jumpee” — newly installed, lush-green grass (“a major capital investment,” says LoBue) and, sparking fans’ interest, an all-time high 15 fireworks nights.

There’s also a new humidor, designed the keep game balls at 50 percent humidity and 72 degrees for use in the games, played at altitude. A humidor first came into play at Coors Field in the early 2000s, says General Manager John Traub, and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox installed one last year. Now, the L.A. Dodgers, the Isotopes’ parent club, want one for their triple-A club.

Isotopes players and managers come and go, that’s a fact of the business. LoBue and Traub — and Young — want the customers to come and come.

And they do, to the tune of about 600,000 annually. Attendance took a slight dip last year, even though the ‘Topes made the postseason.

“Our attendance does not fluctuate much if they make the playoffs or not,” LoBue said.

Often, people leaving the ballpark don’t remember which team won, who the Isotopes were playing, or who hit home runs.

“It’s a getaway from the daily grind,” LoBue explained. “And, by the way, there happens to be a ballgame. They’re here to have a good time, enjoy the show.”

Strangely, LoBue said he still remembers what some fans considered their best experience at the ballpark, when “We had a great fireworks display … and lost, 15-4.”

Even stranger: LoBue rarely sees any of the games’ action, as he’s either in his office, which affords a minor view of home plate, or hanging out at the customer service kiosk behind home plate.

It’s all part of what he terms, “the art of the deal,” which gets back to the thrice-repeated “customer service.” And customers are more than fans; they include sponsors, advertisers and almost anyone else who comes in contact with the Isotopes at their gorgeous ballpark.

Borrowing from an old phrase, it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how much fun you have at the ol’ ballpark that really counts for minor-league baseball fans.

IsoTopics: The Isotopes play game 3 of their season today at 1:35 vs. the Iowa Cubs. A four-game series with Omaha rounds out the eight-game opening homestand Monday-Thursday, with games at 6:35 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and 12:05 p.m. on Thursday.