Host A Railroaders Player!
In the world of professional baseball, there are a number of individuals and groups who ensure the players have a positive experience as they pursue their dream of playing at the game's highest level. One of the most crucial roles are our Host Families! Host Families are an essential component in any team’s success – both for our players and the organization. Nearly all our players are not from the surrounding area, with several coming to Cleburne from foreign countries. A welcoming home and caring family go a long way in ensuring a rich, positive experience for our Railroaders.
What You Provide
We don’t ask for much – simply a clean bedroom with a bed made for an athlete with access to a bathroom and laundry. We also ask that you live within about 15 minutes of the ballpark. Beyond that, it is up to you as a family. Host families are welcome to invite the player to be a part of their family meals or TV time or other activities. In most cases, as your relationship with your player grows, you will find him to be “one of the family.” These guys will keep odd hours with late-night games and a crazy travel schedule, one more request would be to have an “open fridge” policy for after-hours eating!
The time commitment would be from approximately May 1 through September 10 (this will vary pending the player’s schedule, length of stay with the team, playoffs, etc.)
How the Railroaders Staff Help
Whether at home or on the road, the Railroaders get a pre-game snack and a full post-game meal. If a player requires transportation, we will try to place them near a player who has a car, so they can carpool to the stadium. Once the player arrives, we will address with them the expectations of their host families and we would encourage you to do the same. If any issues arise, we will solve the problem, move the player, or send the player home. These are all seasoned vets of baseball who have more than likely stayed with host families over the years. They all should have a high level of respect for the sacrifice you as a family are making for the summer.
The Benefits of Hosting
We believe hosting a Railroaders players will be a very rewarding experience and hope you build a long-lasting relationship with your player and end up playing a role in their pursuit of a career in professional baseball. Not to mention, Railroaders players can be excellent role models for young children and teenagers and are often great company for the summer. Other perks include, but are not limited to:
- Full season ticket for each member of the family living in your household
- 10% off Railroaders concession items
- 20% off all Railroaders merchandise
- Railroaders Host Family t-shirts
- Pre-season meet and greet in May, mid-season mixer
- Invitations to Railroaders special events
- On-field recognition at a Railroaders home game
If you and your family are interested in being a host, please fill out the form below and we will contact you!