• Stories by Subject
  • Stories by State
  • COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS

Legends Announce Whitaker Bank Ballpark to be Tobacco Free

April 3, 2018

Here is a link to the original story on the team's website.

WHITAKER BANK BALLPARK (Lexington, KY) – The Lexington Legends announced today that Whitaker Bank Ballpark, along with all city-owned and operated ball fields, will be tobacco free. In conjunction with Tobacco Free Kentucky and the City of Lexington, the news was announced at Media Day at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.

“Almost 15 years ago, Lexington became the first city in the state to enact a smoke-free ordinance. The results were almost immediate, with fewer smoking related emergency room visits and a better quality of life. This new tobacco-free policy at Whitaker Bank Ballpark and our city-owned and operated ball fields is a logical next step,” said the honorable Jim Gray, Mayor of Lexington.

Whitaker Bank Ballpark will be a smoke free environment for the first time in the stadium’s history. Baseball and tobacco have gone hand in hand for decades, with chew being the most noticeable tobacco product, but new initiatives, led by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, are trying to change that. Extended use of tobacco products including cigarettes, chew, snuff and other products have been proven to have long-term negative health effects.

“Lexington is once again taking the lead on health when it comes to protecting residents from the dangers of tobacco use,” said Ben Chandler, President and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. “By making all city ball fields tobacco-free, including Whitaker Bank Ballpark, Mayor Gray and Andy Shea are sending a powerful message to young baseball players looking to emulate their hometown baseball idols: tobacco use is unsafe, unhealthy, and not at all cool.”

Lexington has been on the forefront of enacting tobacco-free legislation in the state of Kentucky, with Whitaker Bank Ballpark and the Legends taking the next step of prohibiting tobacco products inside the gates. Previous smoking areas, such as behind the bleachers in left field, will no longer be designated smoking areas. There will also be no smoking on the suite level. All types of tobacco products such as cigarettes and vapes, are not allowed.

“We are very proud to be one of the first Minor League Baseball facilities in the country to go tobacco-free. Being one of the premiere family entertainment options in the region, we felt this move had to be made. We are honored to lead the way in making the Central Kentucky community a healthier and happier place to live,” said Legends President/CEO, Andy Shea.

Fans will be able to smoke outside the facility on the first base side, behind the Stables, in the fenced in area.

About the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky

Funded by an endowment, the mission of the nonpartisan Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky is to address the unmet health needs of Kentuckians by developing and influencing policy, improving access to care, reducing health risks and disparities, and promoting health equity. Since the Foundation opened its doors in 2001, it has invested more than $27 million in health policy research, advocacy, and demonstration project grants across the Commonwealth Follow the Foundation on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, and visit www.healthy-ky.org.

About the Lexington Legends

The Legends, a Class A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and member of the South Atlantic League, kickoff the 2018 season at Whitaker Bank Ballpark against the Charleston RiverDogs, an affiliate of the New York Yankees, on Opening Day – April 5, 2018. For ticket information, call (859) 422-7867 or visit LexingtonLegends.com. All individual game tickets are now on sale.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Tagged as : Education/Teacher Support, Kansas City Royals, Kentucky, Lexington Legends, Promoting Health/Fitness, South Atlantic League { }

Welcome to clubphilanthropy.com!

Minor League Baseball clubs have been actively involved in their communities for many years. For the first time, their activities and contributions will be chronicled on this site.

Clubs don’t publicize all of their activity, so these stories represent a mere fraction of the contributions MiLB clubs make to their communities every year.

Archives

  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009

© 2025 · clubphilanthropy.com