As the Kannapolis Intimidators (Low A; Sally League) near the end of their run at Intimidators Stadium, fans are reflecting on their fond memories of the ballpark.
When it opened as Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium in 1995, the ballpark became the home of the Piedmont Phillies, who had relocated from Spartanburg, SC. The franchise underwent a few name changes along the way–rebranding as the Piedmont Boll Weevils before the 1996 season, then later adopting the current Intimidators name prior to the 2001 campaign–while continuing to call the ballpark its home.
Following this season, the franchise will shift to a currently under construction ballpark in downtown Kannapolis. The team’s final regular-season home game at Intimidators Stadium (pictured above) is scheduled for August 29 and, leading up to the date, fans such as longtime season ticket holder JoAnn Fugitt are discussing what their time spent at the facility has meant to them. More from the Salisbury Post:
Her twins have always attended games, including when she was pregnant with them. She said her doctor thought she was on bedrest, but instead she was at a game. She gave birth to twins Wes and Eli three weeks after the end of a season.
Fugitt has bonded with fellow fans over the years, some of whom have since passed away. She said a Mr. Reed came to every game and would leave at the sixth inning to go home before his wife’s bedtime. Another fan called Santa Claus sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”
She says the dedicated fans are her baseball family….
“I love this place,” Fugitt said. “I know change, I know it’s supposed to be real nice. I’m not saying it’s not going to be, but I love this place.”
Planned as part of a larger downtown redevelopment initiative, the new Kannapolis ballpark is slated to open at the start of next season. The facility has been expected to offer a seating capacity of 4,930, with 3,218 fixed seats. Other seating options will include luxury suites, a party deck, berm seating, dugout box seats, a picnic terrace, an outfield bar, right field boxes and 6,000 square feet of club/banquet space.
Image courtesy Kannapolis Intimidators.
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