Exactly half of the 2008 South Atlantic League season is in the books, and the Augusta GreenJackets are in the middle of the three-day break that surrounds the league's All-Star Game.

Augusta general manager Nick Brown, in his fifth year with the GreenJackets, agreed to answer questions about a variety of topics concerning the Augusta GreenJackets.

Q: From fireworks nights to "Bark in the Park," promotions are a huge part of what goes on at Lake Olmstead Stadium. What has been your favorite so far this year? What seemed to be the favorite with fans?

A: I would say superhero night was my favorite, mainly because it was an event several years ago that wasn't as successful, yet we stuck with it and it has grown each year. In addition, its gives me great pleasure seeing so many children get a thrill out of the characters. Fireworks are always a fan favorite, but "Bark in the Park" was the newest promotion that we received the most positive feedback from.

Q: There are plenty of things working against the GreenJackets when it comes to getting fans to come to the ballpark (heat, rain, etc.). What have you done to keep attendance up?

A: There are two things we can't control: the weather and the performance on the field. We contribute our attendance still rising to the foundation we started setting three years ago. We focus on customer service and providing the cleanest and safest place a person could bring their family to. If we take care of those little things, the bigger things will take care of themselves.

Q: Minor league organizations tend to come and go and have a high turnover rate. After 201/2 years of minor league baseball in Augusta, how have the GreenJackets managed to stick around so long?

A: There has to be commitment from the ownership and the front office to make these types of partnerships work. It's safe to say Augusta has been lucky with both of those two aspects over the past two decades.

Q: This is the third year under the ownership of the Ripken Baseball Group. How happy/unhappy is the ownership with the direction the team and organization is going?

A: Everyone with Ripken Baseball is happy in the progress we have made in just 21/2 years. Our first season, we had the second-largest increase in attendance in all of minor league baseball, which is over 160 teams, and we set a franchise attendance record last season. We just have to continue to grow the game of baseball any way we can, either with children playing the game or people being entertained by the great game of baseball.

Q: Is Cal Ripken Jr. coming to any games this season?

A: As of right now, we do not have a set date, but we have circled a few dates on the calendar that may work out. It would not surprise me to see Cal down here before the end of the year. Cal has repeatedly said he enjoys coming to Augusta, because Augustans truly do know what southern hospitality is all about.

Q: Affiliation is an important part of a minor league team. What does the future hold for the GreenJackets and their affiliation with the San Francisco Giants?

A: Our PDC, player development contract, does expire after this season, but we have had initial talks with the Giants already. It appears the Giants are eager to come back to Augusta, and we have been very happy with our affiliation over the past four years. From a performance standpoint, it's hard to argue with the success we have had on the field over the past three years.

Q: Centerplate was recently replaced as the concessions manager at James Brown Arena. The company is still in charge of concessions at Lake Olmstead Stadium. How have they done?

A: Well, it is still an ongoing process with Centerplate, and we all would have hoped they would be better at meeting our standards by now. If there is one complaint we get from our fan base, it would be the concessions and their performance. All I can say is we realize it's a problem, and we have had numerous meetings with all levels of Centerplate management to discuss our concerns and try to find the solutions.

Q: What's the latest news on the possibility of the GreenJackets moving to a new ballpark in downtown Augusta?

A: As of now, there really isn't any new information. The feasibility study was released several months ago, but there are so many items that have to be looked at and addressed before anyone can move forward. I think all parties involved are taking their time and doing their homework to make sure we all make the best decision necessary for the entire community.

Q: What is the financial status of the GreenJackets? Has it improved compared to past years?

A: The season isn't over, so it would be premature to state whether we have improved or not. However, I can say that we have sold more season tickets than any franchise here in Augusta, past or present. In addition, our group ticket efforts are on pace to be ahead of last year's.

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?

A: I would like to say that this is my 15th season in minor league baseball, and this is by far the most fun I have ever had. I am lucky enough to have the hardest working staff in the league, and it shows with our improvement each year. It is always nice when your peers and other teams recognize your hard work and pay you and your staff compliments. The staff should get all the credit for our improvement over the past two seasons and making us the premier sports franchise in Augusta.