Fifth Third Field, home of the Toledo Mud Hens / page 2
So, when the chance came to build a build with all the bells and whistles downtown, the city (which oversees the non-profit organization that runs the team) jumped in feet first. The result is a slightly larger version of Dayton’s ballpark, the Class A facility in southern Ohio that has also no lack of admirers.
The similarities are obvious. The upper deck (complete with club seats) stretches from the right-field corner halfway down the left-field line, Toledo’s Fifth Third has slightly more capacity (8,943 seats to Dayton’s 7,230).
While Dayton opted to go for a berm in right field, Toledo went for more picnic areas built up past the high outfield fence (14 feet in right). The result is fans can sit at a picnic table or stand, still be close to the action and stare down at the outfielders, a rarity in minor league baseball. As a result, the park feels cozier than most. One of the reasons is this is there are buildings basically behind you as you stand and watch the game. The ballpark is sandwiched into a city block but doesn’t feel like it.
"I like to think this park is a smaller version of Jacobs [Field in Cleveland] or Safeco [Field in Seattle]," Napoli said.