The hot dogs have been ordered, the water bottled, the field fertilized and the stage erected for the sold out Friday night concert by music legends Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson at Doubleday Field.

Fittingly, the pair is kicking off a tour of 22 minor league baseball parks in Cooperstown.

The concert marks the village's first foray in many years into an event at the historic ballpark that does not center around baseball.

"Bob Dylan has always brought his music to people wherever they are — in big cities or in small towns, in big arenas or in small clubs, and everywhere in between — and this tour fits right in with that approach," said Jerry Mickelson of Jam Productions, the concert promotion company who developed the idea for the tour and is presenting many of its shows. "Having produced several of Bob Dylan's concerts in these types of venues over the years, we found that the special atmosphere of a ballpark adds a unique element to his already great shows."

"What we aim to do with this tour is hit the ball out of the park, touch all the bases and get home safely," Bob Dylan commented on the website bobdylan.com.

Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson have performed at shows together over the years, but "The Bob Dylan Show" marks the first time the two popular and acclaimed artists, songwriters and performers will be touring together.

The opening act, The Hot Club Of Cowtown, hails from Austin, Tex., and performs a unique brand of Western-Swing influenced music.

Don Sullivan, of Jam Productions, confirmed Tuesday that all 11,500 tickets had been sold

Joe Harris, head groundskeeper at the field, said Monday morning that things are shaping up for the concert. He planned his final application of fertilizer to strengthen the roots of his turf on Wednesday morning so it would be ready for the porta-floor that will be used to cover the field.

"We'll probably roll it down Friday," he said.

Protecting the grass was one of the biggest concerns expressed by trustees and members of the Doubleday Field committee while making the decision to allow the concert.

The stage, he said, will be moved into place following the last game Wednesday. The extra lights and bathrooms will be positioned Thursday.

"If this was Hall of Fame weekend, I'd say I'm all set, but this being a new venture, I'm taking it one day at a time as it comes," he said.

While Harris is getting the field ready, the volunteers of the fire department are making plans to feed the sell-out crowd expected for the concert.

Concessions for the concert are being handled by the volunteers who will split the proceeds between the fire department, emergency medical squad and the new ambulance fund, according to department president Al Keck.

"It looks good. We're praying for this kind of weather Friday," he said on an almost cloudless Monday morning after the second wettest July on record. "I'll be saying a few more prayers in the hopes my greedy instincts for profit are heeded."

Keck said he has 10,000 all-beef hot dogs and buns, 5,000 servings of sausage and peppers, snack foods, ice cream and soda ready for the concession stands which will be staffed by the 118 volunteers who have signed up.

And don't forget the debut of the latest product to be emblazoned with a Cooperstown landmark - the village's own Doubleday water.

Keck said he has almost 10,000 bottles of the "life-giving Doubleday water that's been blessed by the mayor, who was kind enough to give us a first crack at selling it."

There will be three concession stands inside the stadium and two outside the stadium for pre-concert food sales.

Bob Fowler of the Otesaga Hotel has been working with the fire department to make arrangements for the concession sales.

"He deserves a great deal of credit for making this fly. We really appreciate it," Keck commented.

Polly Renckens, director of the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce, explained last week that concert organizers have decided to set up a perimeter fence about 30 feet out into the parking lot from the stadium which will allow them to have 10 gates for people to enter through.

Once inside the perimeter they can enter the regular stadium gates at the point in the stadium they wish to sit, she said. The most direct access to the field and the first and third baseline seats will be from the side gates. Access to the grandstand will be from the center gates.

"Ultimately all seats can be reached from any gate, but a little pre-planning might ensure you get the section you really want," she said.

The chamber has been working with the village on parking issues and with roughly the same number of people who were here for the Hall of Fame Induction, Renckens believes there will be enough.

All five trolleys will be operating throughout the day to bring people into the village and will be running until midnight to return people to the lots.

"We will have the upper Main Street county lot and the NYSHA and Farmers' Museum lots after the museums close. For closer accessibility try parking at one of the many residential lots that will be parking for fees or the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad parking lot on Railroad Avenue which will be used to park cars as a benefit for Hospice. The Cornell Co-operative Extension lot will also be available for a fee to benefit their programs," Renckens said.

Renckens said they expect some delays clearing traffic at the end of the concert. The parking lot behind the chamber office and the county annex building parking lots are reserved for those who have obtained handicapped passes from the chamber.

"We encourage people to bring flashlights for the walk back to parking areas," she said.

Gates are scheduled to open at 5:30 p.m. and the show will kick off with the opening act Hot Club of Cowtown at 6:30 p.m. They will be followed by Willie Nelson around 7:15 p.m. There will be a one-half hour intermission between the Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan Shows. The show is scheduled to conclude at 10:30.

Concert goers are reminded that this is an alcohol-free event and no food, coolers, lawn chairs or cameras are permitted. Cushions are recommended.