By Sally Tippett Rains
You may have seen The Rawlings Experience-STL on the “Rains on the Cardinals” podcast, or on some of the local morning television shows or you may have heard about it on 101 ESPN Radio broadcasting “live” from the Grand Opening at Westport Plaza. Now you can see it for yourself. The Rawlings Experience -STL is open to the general public and serves as a free attraction for local residents as well as tourists visiting the St. Louis area. Among the VIPS on hand for the ribbon cutting were County Executive Sam Page, Bill DeWitt III and Ozzie Smith.
The ribbon cutting took place on the outdoor plaza in front of the Westport Plaza Gold Tower by the giant baseball.
Because the Rawlings Gold Glove dinner always takes place in New York and the Rawlings awards are so high profile, many don’t realize that Rawlings is based in St. Louis. Their corporate offices were moved from another location to their new location in the gold high-rise tower above the store.
“Many don’t realize that Rawlings’ world headquarters has been located in St. Louis since the company’s inception in 1887 first as a retail store, then with corporate offices, so we knew we had a prime opportunity to increase our presence in our own backyard, a historical baseball town that spans generations,” said Mike Thompson, chief marketing officer for Rawlings. “We couldn’t wait to unite the greatest brand in baseball with the greatest fans in baseball here in St. Louis by giving them a glimpse into Rawlings’ compelling history and future.”
Fredbird was on hand earlier, and the official Ribbon Cutting was at 10:30 and now The Rawlings Experience is open to the public.
“This has been at least two years of work from when it was a conception to opening our doors,” said Lindsey Naber, Rawlings Senior Director of Brand Marketing. Naber and her team including Thompson; Eric Reinsfelder, Senior Executive and Marketing Professional; and others from the Marketing team: Morgan Ripper, Mark Kraemer and Jason McCartney have been working non-stop to get everything ready for the Grand Opening. Reinsfelder was the emcee ceremonies.
This exciting new facility has been beautifully done and does justice to all of the many museum pieces that have been collected by Rawlings over the years. It was all hands on deck for the employees of Rawlings all the way up to the executives. This past week they have been moving things, opening boxes, cleaning, setting up exhibits, putting clothes on shelves and clothing racks.
All their hard work paid off in the end as the Grand Opening was a big success.
Fans loved getting their photo with the “gold glove” that was outside. This is a nod to the Gold Glove awards that are given out every year at the Rawllings Gold Glove Dinner.
There is also a large white baseball in the lobby.
There will be activities going on all day. When you get to Westport look up for the Rawlings patch near the top of the building. Park in the surface lots or garage at Westport Plaza, 111 Westport Plaza Drive.
Rawlings executives, sports celebrities and community leaders will be on hand most of the day.
Visit the Glove Vault with a lineup of current and historic Rawlings Gold Glove Awards and see limited edition gloves, including a Swarovski Crystal-embellished masterpiece. This special glove was mafe wirh 15,000 crystals. And it’s for sale.
Swing for the fences in the indoor Batting Cages for baseball and softball bat tryouts. Learn about custom glove and bat creation options. Photo op spots at The Rawlings Experience include a 10-foot-tall Rawlings Gold Glove and a giant replica of an official MLB Game Ball.
Ozzie Smith was there from noon to 2 p.m. and Ted Simmons came in the afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. A steady stream of fans continuously came in througout the day. Simmons (shown right) stood by the Giant Gold Glove and took photos as well as talked baseball with fans.
If you were unable to make it to the opening it is now open every day. For those living outside of the St. Louis area, it is going to be a tourist destination, a must-see for sports fans visiting St. Louis.
Here are the hours for The Rawlings Experience: Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays 10-6, Monday-Thursday 10-8 p.m. It is free to enter.
There will be a combination of types of people who take advantage of the venue. Tourists and St. Louisans who are looking for something to do will enjoy milling around looking at all the exhibits. They will enjoy the many oversized items and stunning case displays, but others who enter the doors will be serious softball players or baseball players.
One of the best things about The Rawlings Experience is the hands-on experience. You can try out your bat whether it is baseball or softball– they have batting cages so you can actually feel how your new bat will feel.
Another interesting area is where they make custom gloves. There was an expert on hand demonstrating how gloves are laced.
Along with the museum pieces and signature gloves, bats and balls, and uniforms, Rawlings is offering a clothing line.
“We have partnered with The Normal Brand,” said Lindsey Naber. “We have casual clothing that I think the fans will like.”
The Normal Brand is a local company owned by three brothers from Kirkwood, Missouri. Their website says, “We’re brothers who make clothes. Headquartered in St. Louis. We make Normal clothes much better.”
Additional highlights of the Experience will be the ‘Rawlings Glove Vault’ showcasing the past, present and future of gloves with a lineup of current and historic Rawlings Gold Glove Awards®, which has one-of-one limited-edition gloves and a special glove embellished with hand-applied Swarovski® crystals.
The Swarovski Crystal baseball glove will be a crowd-stopper. This is a one-of-a-kind item made with 15,000 crystals. It is the only one that exists and it is actually for sale.
The Swarovski glove sits on a pedestal in the Gove Vault just waiting to see who will buy it.
From the angel wings bat area where you can get your photo taken with bats that form the shape of giant angel wings, to the unique ceiling made of bats to the specially made Rawlings table to the leather bats, The Rawlings Experience – STL is full of excitment. Just visiting the venue is an adventure.
To go to the website for The Rawlings Experience: CLICK HERE
Address: 462 W Port Plaza Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
This photo gallery contains photos of The Rawlings Experience- STL and what it looks like without the crowds. Make plans to go, there is a lot to see.
This photo gallery was taken during the Grand Opening
