The Low-A Midwest League has cancelled an upcoming series at Modern Woodmen Park, as Mississippi River flooding is once again altering Quad Cities River Bandits home games.
The River Bandits just played a home series at Duane Banks Field, home of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City. The team was scheduled to host the Great Lakes Loons at Modern Woodmen Park, but Midwest League President Richard Nussbaum announced a cancellation of the series.
“Despite heroic efforts by the City of Davenport we cannot play the games scheduled for Thursday, May 9 through Saturday, May 11,” Nussbaum said in a press release. “It is amazing how Modern Woodmen Park has been protected from the unprecedented flood waters, but it is simply not safe or practical for the teams, River Bandits Staff, and most importantly our fans to access the Stadium. It is our sincere hope and prayer Mother Nature will cooperate and the River Bandits will be able to play at home against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Friday May 24, 2019.”
Overall, the River Bandits have been forced to move 12 of their first 15 scheduled home dates to other ballparks, with another home date lost due to rain
Over a history that dates back to the ballpark’s opening in 1931, the current Modern Woodmen Park’s location along the banks of the Mississippi River in Davenport, IA has left it prone to the effects of flooding. It is an issue that has posed challenges for decades–as the Quad-City Times thoroughly detailed in a recent story—but a renovation unveiled for the 2004 season introduced a flood wall system (later expanded in 2010) that keeps the ballpark and its playing surface dry even during river crests. As a result, the ballpark itself has remained undamaged by recent flooding, but the water levels are preventing safe access. Another factor in the shift of early-season games thus far has been improvements to the Canadian Pacific Railroad line that runs alongside Modern Woodmen Park. During past flooding incidents, the River Bandits and Davenport officials could install a temporary bridge over the tracks to bring fans to Modern Woodmen Park, but improvements to the line have kept trains running and prevented the bridge’s installation.
RELATED STORIES: River Bandits Shift May 6-8 Home Series; Floods Hamper Modern Woodmen Park Access; Scenes from a ballpark flood in Davenport