Bachelor Party At Blue Wahoos Stadium? Lifelong Pals from NYC and LA Make It Happen 

Daryl Doeschner traveled two thousand miles from his Southern California home to Pensacola, reuniting with New York childhood friends for a bachelor party.

All to stage his unforgettable bachelor party at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Yes, this really happened.

“It’s even better than I ever imagined,” said Doeschner, five hours into a recent all-day experience of playing ball and partying at the ballpark. “I am just thankful, so grateful. I can’t believe how beautiful this is.”

And it all came together four months ago.

Doeschner, who now works in Santa Monica near Los Angeles, was searching for the ultimate stadium experience to host a bachelor party for up to 30 friends. He sought out his first choice, the Field of Dreams venue in Dyersville, Iowa.

“But they were so booked and only had Fridays available, so I knew that couldn’t work for us with everyone having to take off days from work,” he said.

He searched again. He found a 2-year-old post about Blue Wahoos Stadium and its Airbnb option, which no longer exists.

“I saw the photos and was like, wow, the stadium looks beautiful, right on the water,” Doeschner said.

He contacted Shannon Hannah, the Blue Wahoos events manager about renting the stadium on June 29.

“I had no idea it would be anything this big,” she said. “We had that Saturday date available in our Blue Wahoos team schedule and he said he wanted to rent the stadium for 10 hours, so we worked that part out.

“We’ve had groups rent for a batting practice experience, or teams to have a practice here for couple hours, but nothing like this. In fact, the only bachelor parties we’ve hosted have been this year. By far it’s the largest, longest bachelor party. But with our stadium, all the things we have here, anything is really possible.”

Doeschner and his party got a major break with weather last Saturday.

Early morning rain gave way to clear blue sky. The field dried. The group arrived with boxes of various beverages, some snacks and sunscreen.

No one had ever been to Pensacola. A few stayed for a fishing experience two days later.

“These are all my best friends,” said Doeschner, pointing out the guys in the Blue Wahoos home team dugout. “They’re from California, New York, New Jersey and Ohio. Never imagined all of us in Pensacola.”

Doeschner provided his guests with team shirts of various colors and phrases. They sang the National Anthem in front of the dugout. Coolers of water were provided in the dugout.

And then it was game on. And we’re talking game after game on.

The middle-aged group of guys played softball forever, stopping only for a buffet dinner hours later of hamburgers, hot dogs, and all the trimmings, provided by the Blue Wahoos food and beverage team and served on the concourse area behind home plate.

“That was awesome,” Doeschner said.

During points of the day, guests went into the season-ticket lounge – the coolest spot on this day – to cool off and converse before returning to play.

The sunset faded into night sky and the group stayed until nearly 10 p.m. playing under the stadium lights.

“You guys (Blue Wahoos) have the most beautiful ballpark,” Doeschner said. “This is such a dream come true.”

His wedding is set for August 31 in Santa Barbara, California. The experience at Blue Wahoos Stadium will likely be a conversation starter at the reception.

“We really appreciate being here,” he said.

The bachelor party capped a week in which the stadium hosted a summer collegiate baseball championship for The Hangout league, two nights of final play in the Mulletball Kickball League, a reception and party for Naval Air Station-Pensacola flight officers who received their wings earlier in the day.

All of this during a week when the Blue Wahoos team was on the road.

“Knowing we get to work here every day and create this experiences is what is so special,” Hannah said. “The stadium is a place we want everyone to know can be utilized in so many ways.”