Bradner Stadium, longtime home to NY-Penn League baseball in Olean, will welcome back baseball when the Olean Oilers (summer collegiate; NYCBL) play this season at the renovated facility.
The renovated Bradner Stadium is a community effort, with lot of volunteers and the Oilers involved. What was a community eyesore has been transformed into a modest stadium that can host baseball, soccer and football.
The Oilers home opener is June 6, but organizers say more work is planned for future Bradner Stadium upgrades. From the Buffalo News:
The next phase of the facility, which will make it more complete and offer full amenities, will be the creation of a field house, housing locker rooms for players and officials, restrooms and a concession stand. The building is being proposed for the east end of the stadium, behind the bleacher area, according to Tom Windus, city public works director.
The challenge will be raising $500,000 for the facility. The current project already was allocated $1.5 million in city funds in March 2013.
Part of that plan will happen on May 30, when the field at Bradner Stadium will become a festival grounds for the second annual Bradner Bash. The festival will raise money to continue renovations on the facility. This year, the family-friendly event will take place from 5-11 p.m., with Jamestown-based Porcelain Bus Drivers performing in the evening.
Bradner Stadium is one of the more interesting venues in baseball: opening in 1928, the triangle-shaped facility put a diamond in one corner, leading to short fences in right and faraway fences in left.
Image courtesy Olean Oilers.
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