by Anthony DeMatteo
Staff Writer
A new look on the diamond will be complimented by a new look on the World Wide Web this season for the Jacksonville Suns.
While the Suns welcome new players and a new hitting coach, 13-year major-league veteran Luis Salazar, they also unveil a redesigned Web site.
The new www.jaxsuns.com incorporates a fresh design with a link for purchasing season tickets and other ticket packages.
“That will be up in the next day or two,” said Suns General Manager Kirk Goodman of links to tickets. “We’re hoping that it’s going to drive more ticket sales. Last year, they could only look at what was available.”
The site, which includes revised graphics and player stats, is the result of a collaboration with MLB Advanced Media, which has a partnership agreement with minor league baseball to provide Internet content for its official site, www.MILB.com.
“They’ve done a great job,” said Goodman. “Our site was overdue for a change and this one includes so much technology that opens up opportunities for us.”
Goodman said the Suns – the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers – are exploring using a closed-circuit television system at the Baseball Grounds to stream video on the Web.
“We are looking into using that closed-circuit, in-house video and making it so that you can pay to watch the games on your computer,” said Goodman. “Lots of multimedia things are going to come online soon. We’re never going to stop improving this.”
Other features of the site will include an improved promotional calendar, souvenir store, catering menu for skyboxes, employment application, fan polls, surveys and a new Suns newsletter.