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We were bummed we couldn't hold a #DbacksFanFest like you're used to this year, so we wanted to do something "virtually" to still connect before the season.
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) March 7, 2021
The result: #DbacksMadness. A 2-day online/TV/radio event. Details to come, but we're excited and we hope you are too!
As someone who hasn’t been to the Fan Fest in years, for one reason or another (such as the dumb decision to relocate it to Salt River Fields), I’m keen to see how this works. Frankly, as someone who doesn’t care about autographs and photo ops, the point of being there in person had vastly declined (not least since the effective death of the Yard Sale). So why not just make the whole thing online? Here are the details:
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced the inaugural D-backs Madness (#DbacksMadness) presented by Chevrolet, an online and on-air virtual and social event that will take place on Saturday, March 20 and Sunday, March 21. Many of the top D-backs players, coaches and executives will take part in live and recorded events on the team’s social media channels, broadcasts on FOX Sports Arizona and 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station and on site at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
“In years past, we have been able to hold a FanFest where our players and staff could interact with our fans and this year, that is not possible in the same way,” said D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall. “Instead, we have created a series of online and on-air interactions and content for fans to enjoy as we gear up for Opening Day at Chase Field.”
Behind-the-scenes content will be shared on all D-backs platforms including dbacks.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Reddit. Saturday and Sunday’s games will be carried live on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station and Sunday’s broadcast will be on FOX Sports Arizona (soon to be rebranded Bally Sports Arizona). Prior to Saturday’s game, 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station will have a special two-hour pregame show from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with additional programming information to be announced.
Immediately following Sunday’s television broadcast, FSAZ will air a virtual reunion of the 2001 World Series championship team while the 20th anniversary logo of that historic title will be unveiled online. Upon the completion of that on-air reunion, the D-backs’ Facebook page will host a live Town Hall with D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall, General Manager Mike Hazen and Manager Torey Lovullo.
The two-day virtual event coincides with the first two days of the NCAA Tournament and the team will launch its own “baseball bracket” where fans can vote on their favorite elements of the National Pastime. Several players will showcase their shared fandom of college basketball with a friendly game of H.O.R.S.E. and Lovullo will unveil his own tournament bracket. Similar to years past, the event is expected to include live Spanish-language engagements with David Peralta, Ketel Marte and Eduardo Escobar on losdbacks.com and the team’s @LosDbacks accounts on Facebook and Twitter.
During each of the two games at Salt River Fields, the first 1,000 fans age 21 and older will receive a commemorative glass cup, courtesy of Coors Light, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the 2001 World Series championship. The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation will host “D-backs Memorabilia Madness” which includes a limited number of authenticated game-used, team-issued and autographed items such as jerseys, broken bats, baseballs and more available on dbacks.com/giveback for a donation. In addition, fans will be able to bid on unique autographed items from current D-backs stars in an online auction that will benefit the Foundation.
For updated information as it becomes available, visit dbacks.com/madness.