A new era in Green Bay baseball is approaching, as the Green Bay Booyah (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) will soon open the brand-new Capital Credit Union Park.
After years of seeking a long-term solution for replacing Joannes Stadium, Big Top Baseball announced in February 2018 that it was proceeding with plans to construct a new ballpark in Ashwaubenon, a suburb of Green Bay that is located in Brown County. In the period since, the former Bullfrogs announced last November that they had rebranded and become the Green Bay Booyah, while construction on the $14 million ballpark–named Capital Credit Union Park as the result of a naming-rights deal–has moved forward.
Capital Credit Union Park will make its debut with a busy opening weekend. On May 31, the facility will host a soccer match for Green Bay Voyageurs FC, an upstart club in USL League Two. The Booyah’s home opener will occur the following day, reflecting the true multi-purpose nature of Capital Credit Union Park. It has been a busy stretch for John Fanta and the rest of the Booyah staff as they gear up for Capital Credit Union Park’s debut, but they are looking forward to opening the facility’s gates and getting a new era underway. More from the Green Bay Press Gazette:
If this were still the Bullfrogs, playing at Joannes Park in Green Bay, Fanta would be one of two full-time employees and a staff of interns operating the Northwoods League team. Instead, Madison-based Big Top matched its investment in a new ballpark, a new soccer team and a new baseball brand with one in people.
Fanta was promoted to vice president for the Booyah and Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, after eight years in Rapids, where he helped start the team. He’s one of 12 employees Big Top has hired in Green Bay. There are also 20 interns.
Fanta is more excited than nervous.
“We’re really excited to open this new ballpark and show everybody what kind of a spectacle this will be during the summer months,” Fanta said. “We’re trying to make it fun and tie in the whole family-friendly, affordable ballpark atmosphere that everyone strives to have with minor league baseball.”
We will be at the Booyah’s home opener at Capital Credit Union Park, and will have more details on the facility after our visit.
Image of Capital Credit Union Park, posted to Facebook May 22, courtesy Green Bay Booyah.
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