The Peoria Chiefs (Low Class A; Midwest League) have sold naming ballpark rights to Caterpillar under a 10-year, $2-million deal, with result being Dozer Park.
“The company was founded on the bulldozer,” said Jim Baumgartner, Director of Corporate Affairs. “We wanted to choose something that represents Caterpillar’s heritage but also represents Peoria. This is our hometown, and it’s the region where we’ve made tractors since the company’s inception.”
Caterpillar purchased the naming rights as part of a recently approved refinancing agreement between the Peoria Chiefs and other parties to keep the downtown stadium a viable community asset and retain professional minor league baseball in Peoria for many years to come.
“We have more than 16,000 employees and their families in the area, and this is an important tool to attract talented people to work at our company,” said Baumgartner. “The ballpark is an asset for our community and an integral part of the Warehouse District Revitalization efforts. We are committed to central Illinois.”
“We are thankful for Caterpillar’s involvement with the ballpark, and we’re thrilled to have ‘Dozer Park’ as the name,” said Peoria Chiefs President Rocky Vonachen. “Caterpillar is such a driving force in our community. The company is helping make progress possible in Peoria.”
The ballpark opened May 24, 2002 as O’Brien Field. After than naming-rights deal expired in 2009, the ballpark has been known as Peoria Chiefs Stadium.
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