A ballpark should be more than just a ballpark: it should be designed to be an integral part of the community. With distinct neighborhoods and design decisions that tied the ballpark’s look into historic downtown El Paso, Southwest University Park is Best New Ballpark of the Year in the 2014 annual awards from Ballpark Digest. […]
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2014 Team of the Year: Fort Wayne TinCaps
After six years, most minor-league baseball teams start to lose some steam, but we’re seeing the opposite at Parkview Field, where the Fort Wayne TinCaps are setting attendance records and becoming more entrenched in the local community. That makes the TinCaps Team of the Year in our annual awards. (more…)
2014 Ballpark Renovation Over $2M: Durham Bulls
Durham Bulls Athletic Park was already a must-visit for any baseball fan: the iconic ballpark is the heart of baseball in North Carolina. That experience was upgraded smartly in 2014 with a $20-million renovation, a thoughtful effort that earns DPAP and the Durham Bulls recognition for Best Ballpark Renovation over $2 Million in the 2014 […]
2014 Ballpark Renovation Under $2M: Simmons Field
If there is a model for a historic and fun renovation for a ballpark, it’s the 2014 makeover of Simmons Field, which was transformed into the home of the Kenosha Kingfish (summer collegiate; Northwoods League). Preserving the historic grandstand and playing field while adding some whimsical touches led to a renaissance of baseball in the […]
2014 Ballpark Improvement: Quad Cities River Bandits
Providing great views of the ballpark and one of the best Minor League Baseball experiences, a new Ferris wheel at Modern Woodmen Park, home of the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League) is our choice for Best Ballpark Improvement in the annual Ballpark Digest awards. (more…)
2014 Best New Food Item: The Big Apple
Five pounds of apple crisp, apple dumplings, ice cream and caramel, all served up in a batting helmet. What baseball fan could possibly pass up on such a treat? For serving such a delight at the ballpark, the Fort Wayne TinCaps’ BIG APPLE was named Best New Food Item in the annual awards from Ballpark […]
2014 Editor’s Choice Award: Granderson Stadium
When Granderson Stadium opened this spring on the UIC campus, it was more than just a debut of a college ballpark: it was a needed addition to the community baseball scene. That dual use earns UIC an Editor’s Choice Award in the 2014 annual awards from Ballpark Digest. (more…)
2014 Summer-Collegiate Promo: Kalamazoo Growlers
Who doesn’t want to see their smiling face on a baseball jersey? When the Kalamazoo Growlers sought to make a mark in their first season in the Northwoods League, team management came up with an imaginative Salute to Selfie promotion that put fan faces on game jerseys. For that, the Growlers are recognized for Best […]
2014 MiLB Promotion of the Year: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Prostate cancer isn’t the sort of thing that lends itself to a baseball promo, especially one tinged with humor and a little whimsy. But the Myrtle Beach Pelicans managed to build the year’s best MiLB promo around a prostate exam for VP/GM Andy Milovich – while singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during a […]
2014 Organization of the Year: Big Top Baseball
Running two baseball teams is enough of a challenge for the best of organizations. So when Big Top Baseball, already successful with ownership of the Madison Mallards and the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, decided to launch a new Kenosha team and take over operations in Green Bay, many bad things could have happened – but they […]
2014 Logo/Branding of the Year: Akron RubberDucks
It was an edgy approach to a new team identity, but the unveiling of new Akron RubberDucks (Class AA; Eastern League) logos and marks certainly led to a successful 2014 for the team — making them our choice for Best Logo/Branding in our annual awards. (more…)
2014 Broadcaster of the Year: Steve Klauke
In 1994, he became the inaugural voice of the Salt Lake Buzz (renamed the Bees during the 2005-2006 season). This past season, on June 24, he called his 3,000th game for Salt Lake. Today, Ballpark Digest honors Steve Klauke as the 2014 Broadcaster of the Year to kick off the annual BPD Awards. (more…)
2013 Ballpark of the Year: PNC Field
Another 2013 Ballpark Digest Award to announce: We’ve named PNC Field, home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Class AAA; International League), as our Best New Ballpark of the Year. Building a new ballpark on the base of an old one is an enormous challenge: what made sense in the 1980s may not make sense for a […]