Hank Aaron Stadium

Hank Aaron Stadium

Hank Aaron Stadium from the outfield in 2009
Location 755 Bolling Brothers Boulevard
Mobile, AL 36606
Coordinates 30°38′45″N 88°07′01″W / 30.64574°N 88.11687°W / 30.64574; -88.11687Coordinates: 30°38′45″N 88°07′01″W / 30.64574°N 88.11687°W / 30.64574; -88.11687
Owner City of Mobile
Operator HWS Group
Capacity 6,000 [1]
Field size Left Field: 325 ft (99 m)
Left-Center: 396 ft (121 m)
Center Field: 400 ft (120 m)
Right-center: 387 ft (118 m)
Right Field: 310 ft (94 m)
Surface Grass
Construction
Broke ground December 12, 1996[2]
Opened April 17, 1997
Construction cost $8 million
($11.8 million in 2016 dollars[3])
Architect Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects[4]
Project manager National Sports Services, Inc.[5]
Services engineer Volkert and Associates, Inc.[6]
General contractor White-Spunner Construction, Inc.
Tenants
Mobile BayBears (SL) (1997–present)

Hank Aaron Stadium is a baseball park in Mobile, Alabama. It hosts the Mobile BayBears, a minor-league professional team in the Southern League. The stadium opened in 1997 and has a capacity of 6,000. The ballpark was named after Major League Baseball's home run king (1974-2007) and Mobile native Hank Aaron. It also features a commemorative plaque outside the stadium to honor each Mobilian enshrined at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Hank Aaron Stadium is unique in that the luxury suites are at field level. Thus, infield seating for the general public is elevated from the field by approximately 20 feet.

History

In November 1995, Mobile's city council voted to allocate $4 million to a new ballpark in Mobile and name it Hank Aaron Stadium. The city committed to pay for half the cost of construction and match the contribution of new franchise owner Eric Margenau.[7] Architectural plans for the ballpark were unveiled in May 1996.[8] Mobile city council member Vivian Davis Figures had suggested that the new ballpark be named after Aaron. The ballpark opened on April 17, 1997. Aaron's number 44 was retired by the BayBears and he threw out the first pitch with his parents, siblings, and extended family in attendance.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hank Aaron Stadium Info". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  2. ↑ Cuhaj, Joe; Carraway-Hinckle, Tamara. Baseball in Mobile. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing. p. 115. ISBN 0-7385-1582-5. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  3. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Stadiums". Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects. Archived from the original on March 8, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Facilities". National Sports Services. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Services". Volkert and Associates, Inc. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Hank Aaron Stadium Planned for Mobile". Boca Raton News. November 2, 1995. p. 2B. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Roosters' New Home in Mobile Unveiled". Wilmington Morning Star. May 30, 1996. p. 2C. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Aaron Stadium Opens in Mobile". The Robesonian. Lumberton, NC. April 18, 1997. p. B1. Retrieved March 15, 2011.

External links

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