2023 Class A Freitas Award: South Bend Cubs

Image credit: South Bend Cubs (Photo by Mike Janes/Four Seam Images)

Picture this: You walk into Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs. You decide to grab a hot dog at the concession stand. 

When you go to order, you notice that behind the counter rather than a typical stadium worker, you are greeted by local cheerleaders or members of a non-profit. 

The High-A affiliate of the Cubs created a program where local organizations can volunteer to run concessions at a game in exchange for a portion of the sales made. 

The concessionaire program allowed South Bend to donate more than $134,000 to local Indiana charities by the end of the 2023 season. 

That is a key reason why the South Bend Cubs are the Freitas Award winners for Class A in 2023. 

“It’s nice when you can give money back to organizations and give them the opportunity to do the programming that they need to do,” South Bend Cubs president Joe Hart said, “and also know that they helped us be successful and provide an experience that our fans deserve.” 

The fan experience is very important to Hart and everyone in the organization. They aim to make sure that once fans enter the parking lot—and until they leave that evening—they are treated with the highest level of customer service. 

Hart noted that the organization wouldn’t be what it is today without the many seasonal workers—ticket takers, ushers and every job in between. 

South Bend ensures that stadium workers understand how appreciated they are too. When the organization won the Midwest League championship in 2019, every seasonal staff member who worked more than half of the games was given a championship ring. 

These small gestures are considered vital to running a successful organization.  

It isn’t just workers who enjoy coming to the ballpark. For the sixth time in franchise history, South Bend drew more than 300,000 fans in a season. 

While fans return because of special theme nights, promotional giveaways or for the love of the game, little do they know that they are supporting local organizations in their community along the way.