We have a new name for the home of the River City Rascals (independent; Frontier League): CarShield Field.
CarShield, a vehicle service company, is purchasing the naming rights for the facility formerly known as T.R. Hughes Ballpark. The long-term agreement between CarShield and the Rascals not only gives the ballpark a new name, but jumpstarts a series of changes around the 18-season old venue.
Improvements will begin during the 2016 season with the opening of a sports bar and lounge inside the stadium, as well as a remodeled Budweiser Party Patio with new amenities. The partnership will allow the Rascals to bring world-class athletes and performers to CarShield Field during the 2016 season, including Tony La Russa, Chris Carpenter, and The Bachelor’s Chris Soules.
CarShield employs over 200 employees in St. Charles County and provides high quality after-market vehicle protection plans to customers nationwide. CarShield and its administrators have helped extend auto repair coverage for millions of car owners.
“The enthusiasm that CarShield has shown throughout this process was nothing short of inspirational,” Rascals President Dan Dial said. “Their passion for this partnership has been apparent throughout, and we are very confident we are bringing on a teammate who will enhance the product for our fans and our community.”
In its seventeen year history, T.R. Hughes Ballpark has been host to many major events such as a presidential rally, the Shaq vs Pujols Home Run Derby, and the MSHSAA Baseball Championships. Over 2.5 million people have visited the stadium, making it the premier destination for minor league sports in St. Louis and the surrounding area.
“We’ve always been huge fans of the Rascals and the ballpark. When the opportunity presented itself to help benefit the team and the community, we knew we couldn’t pass it up,” said Nick Hamilton, part-owner of CarShield. “The entire CarShield family is beyond excited for this partnership and looks forward to further strengthening our ties to the community.”
The new CarShield Field will kick off with an outstanding opening weekend featuring an appearance by long-time Cardinals manager Tony La Russa on Saturday, May 21. Opening night is Friday, May 20 and will center around an escalating jackpot giveaway in which one lucky fan will walk away with thousands of dollars based on the number of tickets sold to the game. The weekend, presented by Mercy, will conclude with the Mega Candy Drop, where a helicopter will fly over the field after the game and drop 20,000 pieces of candy to kids age 3-12. The event is free and only requires a ticket to the game to participate.