Schaumburg Baseball Stadium
| Schaumburg Baseball Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Former names | Alexian Field |
| Location | 1999 South Springinsguth Road Schaumburg, Illinois 60193 |
| Broke ground | July 10, 1998[1] |
| Opened | May 27, 1999[2] |
| Owner | Village of Schaumburg |
| Operator | Schaumburg Park District |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Construction cost | $19 million ($26.5 million in 2012 dollars[3]) |
| Architect | Sink Combs Dethlefs |
| General Contractor | Turner Construction |
| Capacity | Baseball: 8,107[4] |
| Field dimensions | Left - 355' Left-center - 368' Center - 400' Right-center - 368' Right - 353' |
| Tenants | |
| Schaumburg Boomers (Frontier League) (beginning May 2012) Schaumburg Flyers (Northern League) (1999-2010) Chicago Tornadoes (Pro Cricket) (2004) Wheaton Thunder (CCIW), 2009-2010 Roosevelt Lakers (CCAC) (2011-present) |
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Schaumburg Baseball Stadium is a stadium in Schaumburg, Illinois formally known as Alexian Field. It is primarily used for baseball, and was the home field of the Schaumburg Flyers minor league baseball team from 1999 through 2010. It is now home to the Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League which will begin play in May 2012.
Schaumburg Baseball Stadium opened in 1999 and holds 6,000 people. Its field dimensions mimic those of Chicago's Wrigley Field, and the land the stadium is built on was originally purchased in the mid-1980s as a hopeful site for the New Wrigley Field, had the City of Chicago and the Chicago Cubs not come to terms to bring night baseball to the North Side. Some pro lacrosse as well as professional and amateur softball has also been played at Schaumburg Baseball Stadium due to the late start (mid-May) of the Northern League's season.
The Stadium itself is located west of I-355 off the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway. Originally and once again called Schaumburg Baseball Stadium, the Alexian Brothers Medical Center in nearby Elk Grove purchased the naming rights to the ballpark in 2000. The Stadium was host to the Schaumburg Flyers from its opening through the end of the 2010 season. At that point, the village and park district which owned the stadium began eviction proceedings against the Flyers for failure to pay $ 551,800 in back rent. On February 24, 2011, a Cook County court ruled the Flyers could be evicted, ordered the now defunct team to pay the back rent, and the naming rights contract was terminated when there was no professional baseball played in the park in 2010.
From 2009-10, the Wheaton College Thunder, a Division III baseball program, played its home games at the Schaumburg Baseball Stadium, and in 2011, the Roosevelt Lakers, an NAIA baseball program, played its home games at the stadium as well.
Later that year, in September 2011, Chicago attorney Patrick A. Salvi was awarded ownership of a Frontier League franchise that will begin play in May 2012. Salvi is also the owner of the American Association's Gary SouthShore RailCats. The franchise will be known as the Schaumburg Boomers named after the "booming dance" of the male Greater Prairie Chicken.
[edit] References
- ^ Karuhn, Carri (July 10, 1998). "A Groundbreaking Day For `Mini' Wrigley Field". Chicago Tribune. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1998-07-10/news/9807100137_1_stadium-wrigley-field-field-dimensions. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
- ^ Mandernach, Mark (May 23, 1999). "Schaumburg Flyers Ready To Play Ball". Chicago Tribune. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-05-23/features/9905230048_1_big-dates-baseball-fans-schaumburg-flyers. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
- ^ Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2008. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
- ^ Stadium - Boomers Stadium
[edit] External links
- Official Site of the Schaumburg Boomers
- BallparkReviews.com Photos and Review
- Roosevelt Lakers web page
- Wheaton Thunder web page
Coordinates: 41°59′34.18″N 88°7′5.12″W / 41.9928278°N 88.1180889°W
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