Moon dirt and a famous chicken seemingly have nothing in common. They will this summer, however, according to the promotion schedule announced by the St. Joseph Mustangs.

The Famous Chicken will appear on opening night May 28, bringing to Phil Welch Stadium his style of entertainment that began in 1974 during his affiliation with a San Diego radio station.

“We’re leading with our best,” Mustangs general manager Rick Muntean said.

But best is certainly not the last, nor the wackiest, according to the promotions schedule.

Muntean was known for some off-the-wall promotions in the past few years with the Kansas City T-Bones, and he appears to be doing the same with St. Joseph’s college summer league team.

Theme nights include Elvis Night, Mullet Night and “We Love St. Joe Night,” July 13, in which fans get free admission and a free hot dog.

The promotion that is really “out there,” however, will occur on July 17, when the Mustangs celebrate the 40th anniversary of man’s landing on the moon.

To commemorate that historic event, the team will give away nine acres of the moon — one per inning — to fans that night.

Muntean said some will likely be given away to contest winners, while other pieces of the lunar real estate will be disbursed more randomly. Either way, it’ll be official.

“You get an actual contract we’ll put your name on that says you own an acre on the moon,” Muntean said. “If you want to go and build a house on it, that’s up to you.”

Muntean explained that the prizes could prove to be valuable, citing the words of the last man to walk the surface of the moon, astronaut Harrison Schmitt.

“He says that someday we will take moon dirt and be able to run all the energy on the earth with, like, an ounce of moon dirt,” Muntean said, “so it actually could be valuable someday.”

Giveaways will include a collectible poster on opening night, a magnet schedule on the second night, instant lottery tickets on June 6, insulated drink holders, cups and other merchandise.

“We’ve got at least one (promotion) a night; there’s some nights there’s five,” Muntean said.

Workers race against the clock

Workers are taking advantage of every bit of dry weather this week as they race against the clock to complete Phil Welch Stadium’s renovations in time for the May 28 opener of the Mustangs.

As Missouri Western players hauled out equipment on Wednesday, their season having been completed, Mustangs front office personnel were bringing in equipment.

“The rain has been a huge factor in this,” Mustangs president and owner Dan Gerson said. “Every time you’d get a couple of dry days, we’d get that rainy day, and it’s just been really tough.”

Work is proceeding, however, with city personnel installing the warning track on Wednesday. Gerson has workmen scheduled for today to do field work — seeding, resodding and adding dirt for the baselines and other areas.

“The condition of the field is OK, but that’s why I’m doing all the work on it, to make it a great playing surface,” Gerson said. “The way it is now to the way it is on May 28th, it’ll be night and day.”

Muntean said more concrete work along the right field side was being done Wednesday. When it is completed, the team can construct a concession area there.

“The next area we’ve got to work on is the left field area,” Muntean said. That area will have a children’s area equipped by Rainbow Play Systems and a horse corral.

Single-game ticket sales to open

While season ticket sales are continuing, the focus will begin to shift toward single-game ticket sales.

Individual game tickets will become available Monday for hospitality area seats, general seating and a limited number of box seats.

Sports reporter Rick Dunaway can be reached at rickd@npgco.com