Fifth Third Bank Ballpark

Fifth Third Bank Ballpark
Former names Kane County Events Park (1991–1993)
Philip B. Elfstrom Stadium (1993–2011)
Location 34W002 Cherry Lane
Geneva, Illinois 60134
Coordinates 41°52′50.34″N 88°16′54.32″W / 41.8806500°N 88.2817556°W / 41.8806500; -88.2817556Coordinates: 41°52′50.34″N 88°16′54.32″W / 41.8806500°N 88.2817556°W / 41.8806500; -88.2817556
Owner Kane County Forest Preserve
Operator Kane County Cougars Baseball Club
Capacity 3,600 (1991)
4,800 (1992–1996)
5,600 (1997–1999)
7,400 (2000–2014)
10,923 (2015–present)[1]
Field size Left Field: 335 feet
Center Field: 400 feet
Right Field: 335 feet
Surface Grass
Construction
Broke ground May 1990
Opened April 13, 1991
Construction cost $5 million
($8.69 million in 2016 dollars[2])
$14.5 million (renovation)
Architect Populous
Structural engineer Harper & Kerr, P.A.[3]
Services engineer Bredson & Associates, Inc.[4]
General contractor Markur Contractors Inc.[5]
Tenants
Kane County Cougars (MWL) (1991–present)

Fifth Third Bank Ballpark (originally Kane County Events Park and formally Philip B. Elfstrom Stadium) is a baseball field located in Geneva, Illinois. The stadium was built in 1991 and holds 10,923 people. It is the home of the Kane County Cougars.

History

Fifth Third Bank Ballpark was originally named after Philip B. Elfstrom, the former Kane County Forest Preserve President, and the person most responsible for bringing minor league baseball to Kane County.[6]

The Forest Preserve's Elfstrom Stadium serves as the friendly home of the Kane County Cougars, an Arizona Diamondbacks affiliated Class A minor league baseball team. The stadium was constructed in 1991, and in 2001 the Cougars set a league attendance record of 523,222.[7] On May 3, 2012 or "5/3 day", the stadium was officially renamed Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.[8]

On June 18, 2012, Fifth Third Bank Ballbark was the home for the 2012 Midwest League All-Star Game. It was the fourth All-Star held in the stadium; the first was in 2000.[9]

Renovations

In 2008, the stadium underwent a $10.5 million renovation project that added a second level seating area, covered concourse, and skybox suites among other amenities. It finished in time for the start of the 2009 baseball season.[10]

In 2014, the Cougars announced that additional capital improvements would be made in time for the 2015 baseball season, including a climate-controlled cage that will also have a weight room and a video-room, allowing access for Cougars and field staff to develop and evaluate players. Also under construction is a high-definition videoboard, which will show promotions, highlights, and instant replays, as well as construction of a premium seating area on the lower-seating bowl area of the ballpark. A pavilion will also be erected to be used predominately for music during game-day, as well as events such as the Cougars' Ballpark Concert Series and non-game-day events, as well. These forthcoming renovations are said to further "modernize" Fifth Third Bank Ballpark and to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the stadium as well.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2015 Midwest League Media Guide". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2015. p. 36. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Request for Proposals Homestead Baseball Stadium Complex". City of Homestead. May 5, 1989. p. 15. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Pro Baseball Sports Facilities". Bredson & Associates, Inc. Archived from the original on April 10, 2002. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  5. ↑ Sjostrom, Joseph (October 11, 1989). "Kane OKs A Baseball Stadium". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  6. ↑ Sjostrom, Joseph (April 8, 1990). "Elfstrom`s Way Is Usually Kane`s". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  7. ↑ McCarthy, Jack (July 22, 2013). "Cougars Hit Attendance Milestone". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Kane County Cougars Ballpark Renamed Fifth Third Bank Ballpark". Chicago Tribune. May 3, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  9. ↑ Brown, Patrick (June 19, 2012). "Dickson Puts on a Show in All-Star Rout". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  10. ↑ Kennedy, James (December 5, 2008). "Elfstrom Stadium to Offer Luxury Suites Next Season". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  11. ↑ Touney, Shawn (September 2, 2014). "Cougars Announce 2015 Capital Improvement Projects". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 3, 2014.

External links

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