With the West Virginia Power's home opener scheduled for Thursday, Appalachian Power Park is welcoming a few upgrades this season.
The park is in phase one of a multi-year project to digitally improve the stadium, said Adam Marco, director of marketing and media for the team.
This year, for example, fans of Charleston's minor league baseball team will notice digital signs in the concession areas.
"It allows us to . . . showcase special promotional items and also have the ability to make everything a little bit nicer, from a behind-the-scenes standpoint," Marco said in a phone interview Tuesday. "It allows us to update things on the fly."
The sound system also has been improved, and a digital sound board has been installed, Marco said, "due to the fact that the original equipment had been there since the park was built in 2005."
Marco said those upgrades were paid for by the team.
For ticketholders who plan on watching the game with a group, a new screen near the park entrance will help direct them, he said.
"While our stadium is now in its 12th year, technology has improved, and now it's time to improve the way we go about things," Marco said.
The gates will open at 6 p.m. Thursday for the Power's game against the Lexington Legends at 7:05 p.m.
The first 1,000 ticketholders to arrive will receive ear bands, for colder weather, and a magnetic schedule will be given to the first 2,500 fans to arrive, Marco said.
There also will be fireworks after Thursday's and Friday's games.
After Saturday's 2:05 p.m. game, the park will host the annual BrewFest CharleyWest, where fans can enjoy a variety of West Virginia craft beers and listen to live music from The Company Stores.
To purchase Power tickets, visit www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t525.
Reach Elaina Sauber at elaina.sauber@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-3051 or follow @ElainaSauber on Twitter.