The former home of the El Paso Diablos has come down, as Cohen Stadium has been demolished to make way for a new entertainment district.
Cohen Stadium had gone largely unused over the last few years, with the presence of Southwest University Park in the city’s downtown–home of the El Paso Chihuahuas (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League)–effectively rendering it obsolete for professional baseball. Its lack of use and a planned redevelopment project for the site called the Cohen Entertainment District made Cohen Stadium’s demise foreseeable, and El Paso officials voted in April to award a demolition contract for the ballpark.
Demolition crews at the Cohen Stadium site Wednesday to clear remains of the ballpark, helping to make way for the long-term vision for the property. More from the El Paso Times:
Cohen Stadium became a memory Wednesday after being torn down by crews with JMR Demolition.
The former home of the El Paso Diablos baseball team was demolished to make way for the Cohen Entertainment District, which will feature a water park, open spaces, shopping and restaurants.
On its website, the city of El Paso says, “The ambitious community-focused development will transform 48-acres of municipal land into a vibrant retail, entertainment and recreation destination that will attract sports aficionados, families, business travelers, and outdoor enthusiasts ….”
Opening in 1990, Cohen Stadium hosted multiple incarnations of the Diablos. An affiliated minor league version of the Diablos (Class AA; Texas League) played at the ballpark from its opening through the 2004 season, before relocating to Springfield, MO to become the Springfield Cardinals. An independent league club immediately followed and assumed the Diablos name, remaining there through the 2013 season.
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