CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There’s a buzz in the Capital City as the Charleston Dirty Birds prepare to open their 2026 season Tuesday evening.
The Dirty Birds held their Media Day festivities at GoMart Ballpark Monday morning.
Owner and CEO Andy Shea said he is eager for the season to get underway.
“It’s weird to think this is my 22nd Opening Day in Minor League Baseball,” Shea said. “Every one still kind of gives me goosebumps.”
While the schedule hasn’t officially begun yet, the ballpark bustled with activity over the past weekend.
“We’ve had over 5,000 people at the ballpark in the last few days,” Shea said. “Between our first Grand Slam School Day Friday morning, our Neon Night with CARES Friday night, and then our third annual Home Run Derby, with the rain but it was still awesome.”
The season begins Tuesday with a 6:35 p.m. matchup against the Lexington Legends. Shea said there’s a reason to get to the ballpark early, as the first thousand fans will each be given a special item to commemorate Opening Day.
“We’re going to be giving away 1,000 of these Dirty Birds swags,” Shea said. “[We’ve] got a Build-Your-Own Dusty, Dusty snow globe, and Dusty fan chains.”
Shea spent the majority of his press availability highlighting all the attractions coming to the ballpark this summer.
The popular mini-golf course returns for its third year, along with a bumper car rink for kids to enjoy.
“We are one of, if not the only, team in minor league baseball to have a legit bumper car rink with bumper cars here, all game, every game,” Shea said. “It will be free for everyone to participate. Each turn will be six or seven minutes, and it’s going to be an absolute blast out there.”
Shea noted that the golf course was newly renovated this offseason, and mentioned a dedicated kids area down the left-field line near the HealthPlan Family Section.
Sunday home games will be Dusty’s Kids Club days, Shea said, and children who are part of the club receive free admission. Every Sunday first pitch will be at 12:34 p.m.
There will be several unique bobblehead giveaways for fans to circle on their calendars.
“[We’re] really pumped to add two of the best giveaways that we’ve done, maybe ever, but definitely in a very long time,” Shea said. “We’ve got our “White Chocolate” Jason Williams bobblehead, as well as our Pepsi Mothman bobblehead coming up. Jason Williams will be here. I’m still waiting to hear back from Mothman if he’ll be here.”
Williams, a Belle, W.Va. native and 12-year NBA star, will be in the Capital City on May 1 for his bobblehead night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 that evening between the Dirty Birds and the Hagerstown Flying BoxCars.
The Mothman bobblehead giveaway is set for June 26 ahead of a 6:35 p.m. game against the York Revolution.
Fans can also expect fireworks shows throughout the summer.
“As always, we’re going to have the best fireworks show in the state, really,” Shea said. “We’ve got 11 fireworks shows, including the one that will be definitely the biggest in the state on June 27th, which is our Independence Day celebration.”
The Dirty Birds organization is looking to keep its high marks. Shea mentioned that the organization won the Community Impact award in the Atlantic League last year. He added that his role as a father has helped with promotion planning.
“Part of it is being the dad of a seven and a four-year-old,” Shea said. “I’m always thinking and looking at things that are cool, thinking of things that would be awesome here.”
Shea made sure to thank all the contributors who have worked in the offseason to prepare for Opening Day.
“This is everyone coming together, all the vendors, the city of Charleston, that has helped so much with some of the improvements. Our general manager here, Ben Blum, and his team [are] really second to none.”