MUMBAI: The Atlanta Braves unveiled the long awaited Cartoon Network Tooner Field recently in a pre-game ceremony featuring Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig and Braves chairman and president Terry McGuirk. The Cartoon Network branded interactive area is located at Turner Field‘s East Pavilion off the Grand Entry Plaza.

Tooner Field consists of eight unique areas depicting multiple Cartoon Network original characters in life-size and larger-than-life-size environments, several with baseball themes. Kids will be invited to explore and play within several one-of-a-kind activity zones, including the Codename: Kids Next Door‘s tree house headquarters, an onstage sing and dance along with Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, a giant robot experiment from Dexter‘s Laboratory, two surprising rooms to meet and create new friends from Foster‘s Home for Imaginary Friends, a kid-size Ed, Edd n Eddy maze, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy baseball toss and two cartoony sandlots inviting kids and families to play ball alongside Cartoon Network original character teammates.

(L to R): Atlanta Braves chairman Terry McQuirk, field mascot Johnny Bravo (in Braves uniform) and Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig cut ribbons to officially open "Tooner Field"

(L to R): Atlanta Braves chairman Terry McQuirk, field mascot Johnny Bravo (in Braves uniform) and Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig cut ribbons to officially open "Tooner Field"

Some of the children, who had the privilege of visiting the Tooner Field first, were from the Boys and Girls Club and CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation. These organisations are benefactors of Commissioner Selig‘s 2005 Commissioner‘s Initiative For Kids courtesy of Ameriquest, which provides more than one million tickets to children who might not otherwise be able to attend a Major League Baseball game. The program‘s national launch coincides with the Commissioner‘s Turner Field visit.

The 6,900 square foot entertainment facility will be open to attending families before and during Braves games through the seventh inning. There are also plans to have Tooner Field available to schools and community groups on non-game days. And to celebrate the new joint venture, one of Cartoon Network‘s most popular characters-Johnny Bravo-will serve as the mascot for Tooner Field.

The Atlanta Braves, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is Major League Baseball‘s winningest franchise since 1991. Since then, Braves teams have earned a record 13 consecutive division championships, five National League pennants and a World Series title.