The Falcons saw hundreds of thousands — if not more — fans pack the streets of Fogelberg for their championship parade.
“Number 8 is GREAT!!!” lifetimer Carlton Fisk was overheard yelling.
Indeed championship #8 was great for the Falcons as they bested the Merrimack Owls 3 games to 1 last Wednesday to take the Kansas City Baseball League Championship.
Mickey Mantle provided another one of the parade’s notable moments, unveiling a bottle of Boulevard Brewery’s Tank 7 beer that became part of the team’s celebration after wins in the second half of the season. “Tank 7 for #7!!!!,” Mantle yelled joyfully… The crowd repeating the chant.
The fans were understandably enthused for the team’s first championship since the Founders Cup earlier this year, some showing up before dawn, skipping work and school for the occasion.
“This is Christmas, New Year’s and your first-born all rolled into one,” a local resident who asked to be called ‘EJ’ said during the parade. “I’m on cloud nine.”
Due to the mass of people, the city has had to adjust. The public transportation system had to alter its routes in order to accommodate all the traveling bodies, and Department of Public Works has developed a unique strategy to dealing with the parade’s aftermath, especially considering the rioting that took place in the immediate aftermath of the Falcons’ win.
“There were a number of spontaneous block parties around the city throughout the night and we worked around the clock to clean those up,” city manager Nichole Skalla said. “This is a planned event with a specific clean-up plan to tidy up the route quickly and appropriately.”
