​Jul. 14—ROCHESTER — Mayo Field was out of Dippin’ Dots.In the context of a 24-run baseball game in which 500 of more than 1,100 fans have meal vouchers at one concession stand, running out of the pelletized ice cream treat might not seem like a big deal.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor Thor Johnson, Honkers director of operations, it was just a challenge of the 75-year-old facility. This is the last year the Honkers will use Mayo Field; they’re planning an off-year in 2027.”The biggest thing is just the space,” he said.The game was the fifth of a six-game homestand. A lack of storage, refrigerator and freezer space makes it difficult to have enough items on hand for long homestands, Johnson said. Simply overstocking isn’t an option. The strategy then becomes a combination of planning and trying to predict what might run out first.”We pack the shelves the best we can, but usually during a long homestand, we do have to do extra orders,” Johnson said.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA single road game at the Waterloo Bucks gave staff and interns a day to rest, restock and prepare for a single home game against the Bucks. Sheridan Ellsworth, community relations coordinator, is one of the first to arrive at Mayo Field before the game. The back of her car was full of five bags of Caroll’s Corn popcorn.Ellsworth has more good news for Taylor Jeppson, who is working concessions for a Tuesday game.”We got an order in today,” Ellsworth said, pointing to a box of nacho cheese. The stand ran out Sunday, which was the sixth day of the homestand.Players and staff typically arrive at the ballpark at about 3:30 p.m. for a 6:35 p.m. game. Players change and set up the net for batting practice.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEllsworth and staff set out snacks in the Honkers locker room. Usually it’s a combination of granola, fruit or protein bars and meat sticks. The choices are limited by what’s available on the shelves and the fact that the small locker room isn’t air-conditioned. Using his height, Johnson reaches the upper shelves in a storage and cleaning room adjacent to the team locker room to retrieve a box of snacks to add to the options.”I think that’s one of the reasons they hired me,” he jokes about his height.On the other end of the grandstand, the former visiting team locker room is no longer used by visiting teams. Northwoods League umpires use it to change into their uniforms and the rest of the space is used for storage. Pallets of Honkers branded bottled water sit in the dimly lit room. Field equipment is kept in the adjacent storage area and the room smells of gasoline. Visiting teams change in the visitors’ dugout or the visitors’ bullpen along left field.Ellsworth unlocks the storage/umpire locker room door. She twists the knob and shoves her shoulder into the stubborn door to force it open. She leaves it slightly ajar.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”I leave it open because it sticks,” she said.A bit later, Ro