Chamber Celebrates 100 Years in City
HIGH POINT — The number “100” figured prominently in a community celebration Wednesday. High Point Chamber of Commerce supporters and fans of the new baseball team — the High Point Rockers — gathered to mark two occasions involving the number. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the High Point Chamber of Commerce, which has evolved into Business High Point.
And Wednesday marked 100 days until the first home game for the Rockers, which will become part of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The team’s inaugural home game will take place May 2 at the 5,000-seat stadium under construction downtown.
The celebration at the Business High Point office at N. Main Street and State Avenue gave those who attended a chance to nab Rockers T-shirts, win tickets to games and meet representatives of the team.
A festive crowd gathered in the lobby of the Business High Point office Wednesday afternoon. Three large, gold numbers formed the number “100” as visitors mingled.
Business leaders and supporters of the Rockers have staged regular events to keep the team fresh in people’s awareness, dating back to December 2017 when a demolition day drew more than 1,000 people to an event to knock down buildings at the stadium site.
The Rockers recently held a series of job fairs for positions with the team and at the stadium that drew more than 350 people, said Assistant General Manager Christian Heimall.
On any given day during the season, workers will fill 150 jobs a day on game day, Heimall told The High Point Enterprise.
“That doesn’t include special events, like July Fourth, where we’ll need more,” he said.
Team Manager Jamie Keefe said he’s receiving calls from players interested in signing up for the inaugural team.
Players like the appeal of taking the field in a new stadium and enjoying home games in a pleasant weather climate, Keefe told The Enterprise. Many of the players contacting him to make the 25-man roster are from the area, state or South and look forward to returning through the Rockers.
pjohnson@hpenews.com | 336-888-3528 | @HPEpaul
