Minnesota Twins spring training in Fort Myers at Hammond Stadium in April 2022
Celebrating 30 years of the Islands Night tradition held at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce has set the 2023 date for Wednesday, May 3. This year, the chamber combines Islands Night with its Annual Meeting, presenting annual awards between innings.
The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels faces the Dunedin Blue Jays for an evening of baseball and island camaraderie on May 3. A parade precedes the game starting at 6 p.m. and will feature businesses and organizations from Sanibel and Captiva islands.
It will be one of three “specialty jersey” games of the Mussels’ season. Team players will wear a custom jersey designed by Sanibel artist Rachel Pierce featuring the island’s iconic lighthouse – in its three-legged, post-hurricane stance – against a colorful swirl of sunset sky. The chamber will auction off the players’ jerseys following the game, proceeds to benefit island civic organizations.
“We are super stoked to bring on Sam Bailey’s Islands Night once again despite the upheaval the island experienced this past year,” said John Lai, chamber president and CEO. “Originally named for an island father, Islands Night remembers Sam Bailey, a sports star in his own right. As the late co-owner of the now fourth-generation Bailey’s Store on Sanibel, his name lives on as an island legend. We have every reason to celebrate together and honor our beloved lighthouse that still stands for island strength and stability. Thanks to Rachel and to all our sponsors.”
Sponsors to date include Sanibel Captiva Community Bank at the Homerun level; J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and Servpro of North Naples, Sanibel, Captiva, and Fort Myers Beach as Double sponsors; and MacIntosh Books + Paper as a Single sponsor.
The chamber is seeking additional sponsors for the 2023 Islands Night on three levels: Triple ($2,000), Double ($1,000), and Single ($500). Sponsorship benefits include unlimited game tickets, a spot in the parade, and various degrees of publicity, depending on level of sponsorship. Sponsorship donations also benefit island charities.
Find more details at the sanibel-captiva.org Calendar of Events or contact Aaron Walton at [email protected] or 239-472-8759 for information about sponsorship or participating in the pre-game parade.
ABOUT SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. The Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. The Chamber website receives more than 1.3 million website visits per year. For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact John Lai, president and CEO, at 239-472-2348 or [email protected].
