Today was the kickoff of the Pirates 2010 Winter Caravan.  I made the trip to Seven Springs with a couple fellow Pirates fans and got there just as folks were being let in.

Upon entering the room I was shocked by the amount of people that had crammed into this somewhat small convention hall.  The autograph line snaked around the entire room and out the door. 

I decided just to walk around and check things out.  There wasn’t too much more to see.  On one side of the room there was a ‘Chuck-a-Luck’ wheel, a Guitar Hero station, and a raffle for various (that you had to pay $2 per entry).  On the opposite side of the room there were two more video game stations featuring a baseball game for Wii, a radio booth where Rocco Demaro set up, and a face painting station.  On one side of the room was a stage for Pirates Deal or No Deal, and the autograph line on the other.  In the middle there was a kiosk for season ticket sales.

That was about it.

I spun the wheel, which was being manned by Garrett Jones and Kevin Hart.  I came away with a Pirates Reusable Grocery Bag.  Garrett Jones and I are about the same exact size.

By the way, I read on Pirates.com the following earlier today:
PITTSBURGH — The Pirates kicked off the organization’s week-long Winter
Caravan with record-setting attendance at Sunday evening’s gathering at
Seven Springs Mountain Resort.

I think most folks were after Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones’ autographs.  They’re a step up from last year’s signees.