DAVENPORT, Iowa — It's opening day at Modern Woodmen Park, which means it's time to get back to the ball field.
The Quad Cities River Bandits went up against the South Bend Cubs on Friday, April 5. The first game of the season is bringing fans old and new.
Joe, Josh and Jaden are students at Augustana College.
"Anytime there's music playing, or we see some of the players out there, we like to just clap along, or dance, sing," Josh said.
Joe has been coming to River Bandits games for two years, but this is one of the first for Josh and Jaden.
"We're all on the Augustana track and field team, and it's kind of become a tradition to come out here as much as we can," Joe said.
Josh and Jaden are freshmen — they said coming to ball games has been a great way to get to know the area.
"Being new to the Quad City area, it was one of our first experiences here," Josh said. "It's a great environment here, love to see the bridge in the distance, makes sense why they won number one stadium in America."
Last month, Modern Woodmen Park was named the best minor league ballpark in the U.S. by USA Today.
Above the bleachers, other fans have been around the block a few times. Jerry Gregory is a lifelong baseball fan. He's been watching the River Bandits for 15 years, and grew up watching the Milwaukee Brewers.
"It's opening night," Gregory said. "I mean, I don't care how cold it is, it's opening night, you have to be here."
Gregory said he likes to watch minor league players rise through the ranks.
"What I like to do, I like to watch everybody, and see them make it to the big leagues," Gregory said. "When I watched the Houston Astros play in the World Series that one year, like six of those players have played here that I have seen, and that's just so awesome."
Before the game started, News 8's Charles Hart, one of the Good Morning Quad Cities anchors, threw one of the first pitches.
The next River Bandits game is on Saturday, April 6 and is also against the South Bend Cubs.
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