Diamondbacks unveil new food items, synthetic grass, virtual meet-and-greet for 2019

New food, new grass and a new "virtual" experience highlight the changes fans can expect at Chase Field ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks' 2019 season opener.

The D-backs will open their 2019 regular season on the road Thursday at the Los Angeles Dodgers; their first home game will take place April 5 vs. the defending World Series champions, the Boston Red Sox. Tickets can be purchased here.

The new food items available at the ballpark this season are as follows: (Go here for a directory of concessions at Chase Field)

-Chicken and Donuts: Popcorn chicken and donut holes covered in powdered sugar, with maple syrup on the side. $11 at Gonzo's Grill.

-505 Fry Bread Taco: Fry bread with ranch beans, carnitas, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and 505 Southwestern green chile sauce. $14 at Taste of Chase.

-Vegan Camelback Burger: Plant-based burger with brown sugar-truffle ketchup, avocado, lettuce, jalapeño relish, herb mustard, cucumber and onion flakes on a vegan bun. $14 at Paradise Valley Burger Co.

-Strawberry Cheesecake Shake: Soft-serve ice cream with strawberry milk, New York cheesecake, graham cracker crumbs, whipped cream and chocolate. $10 at Sizzle & Cheese and Taste of Chase.

-Big Jalapeno Popper Dog: Foot-long hot dog with fried jalapeños, roasted jalapeño cream cheese, onions and bacon. $15 at Big Dawgs.

In addition, three 18-inch hot dogs will be available at various times during the season:

-All Day Breakfast Dog: Schreiner's hot dog with cheddar cheese, bacon, fried eggs, hash browns, country gravy, Tapatío hot sauce and green onions. $30 at Big Dawgs (April and May only)

-Reuben Some Dirt On It Dog: Schreiner's hot dog in a rye bun, topped with Reuben mac and cheese, fried pickles, secret sauce and green onions. $30 at Big Dawgs (June and July only)

-S.I. Cover Dog: Schreiner's bratwurst in an onion bun, topped with Jalapeño-Granny Smith apple coleslaw, fried mac and cheese, barbecue aioli, beer pickles and green onions. $30 at Big Dawgs (August and September only)

Chase Field also has new synthetic grass this year. It's called "Batting a Thousand" Natural Turf, and it requires significantly less water than the previous grass at the ballpark.

Per the D-backs:

This system provides high durability and maintains adequate infill levels across the field. The Bolt fiber provides excellent ball roll, friction and natural grass aesthetics, ensuring that the playing surface at Chase Field will appear nearly identical to that which has been in place since the stadium opened in 1998.

The Geofill® Performance Infill within the blades forms a firm surface similar to natural soil with lower energy rebound levels identical to high-performance natural grass. The result is a more natural playing posture and motion from the players, creating less fatigue as their bodies will not have to overcompensate for the “bounciness” of the surface. The B1K surface also creates natural baseball bounce, allowing players to charge the ball confidently while fielding. The D-backs’ commitment to sustainability also played a role in the change, as the Geofill infill is made from natural materials that are environmentally friendly. In addition to conserving cooling energy by keeping the roof closed during the daytime, the transition to a synthetic playing surface is expected to provide 90% savings -- nearly two million gallons -- in water consumption each season by requiring less water to maintain the system.

Finally, the D-backs have installed a Cox Virtual Meet and Greet at the Chase Field centerfield concourse that allows fans to virtually interact with past and present D-backs players, including David Peralta, Archie Bradley, Yoshi Hirano, Luis Gonzalez and Randy Johnson, along with D-backs manager Torey Lovullo, team president Derrick Hall and mascot Baxter.

The 90-second experience allows fans to obtain a digitally autographed photo with the player they select via text message or email. The D-backs encourage fans to share their photos on social media using the hashtag #RattleOn.