Cooley Law School Stadium
| Cooley Law School Stadium | |
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| Lugnuts Stadium | |
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| Former names | Oldsmobile Park (1996–2010) |
| Location | 505 East Michigan Avenue Lansing, MI 48912 |
| Broke ground | April 3, 1995 |
| Opened | April 3, 1996 |
| Owner | City of Lansing |
| Operator | Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction cost | $12,800,000 ($18.7 million in 2013 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | HNTB Corporation (Kansas City) |
| Structural engineer | J&S Structural Engineers[2] |
| General contractor | Clark Construction[3] |
| Capacity | 7,527 (+ 6,000 lawn seating) |
| Field dimensions | Left field: 305 feet (93 m) Center field: 412 feet (126 m) Right field: 305 feet (93 m) |
| Tenants | |
| Lansing Lugnuts (1996–present) Michigan State Spartans (1996–present) |
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Cooley Law School Stadium (previously known as Oldsmobile Park) is a baseball stadium in Lansing, Michigan, home field of the Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball team. The Michigan State Spartans college baseball team also plays select home games at Cooley Law School Stadium. The stadium is situated in downtown Lansing in the Stadium District on a relatively narrow strip of land between and below two streets (Larch and Cedar streets) downtown Lansing. The stadium was initially named Oldsmobile Park after its largest sponsor, Oldsmobile, the General Motors automobile line that was discontinued in 2004.
It is primarily used for baseball, though it is also used as an ice skating rink and a movie theater, among other things. Due to the dimensions of the city block in which the stadium was constructed, the right and left field fences 'notch' sharply into distances of 305 feet (93 m) at each foul pole.
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History [edit]
Groundbreaking for the stadium took place on April 3, 1995, and it was officially opened exactly one year later on April 3, 1996. Its first game was between the college baseball teams of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Two days later, the Lansing Lugnuts had their first game at the venue against the Rockford Cubbies.[4] The stadium replaced a block of storefronts along Michigan Avenue. Originally budgeted $10 million for construction, the construction costs rose slightly to $12.8 million.[5] Across the street from Cooley Law School Stadium is the Stadium District, a large complex made up of small businesses. Condominiums, completed in spring 2009, are also located in the Stadium District.
On February 22, 2010, Lansing mayor Virgil Bernero announced that the stadium would be renamed Thomas M. Cooley Law School Stadium, a result of the park's new sponsorship agreement.[6] In March 2010, Lansing-based Jackson National Life Insurance Company purchased the rights to name the field "Jackson Field" for 1 year. Thus, the full name of the venue is Jackson Field at Thomas M. Cooley Law School Stadium.[7]
Field dimensions [edit]
- Left field: 305 feet (93 m)
- Center field: 412 feet (126 m)
- Right field: 305 feet (93 m)
Gallery [edit]
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Cooley Law School Stadium view from the outfield
References [edit]
- ^ Staff. Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2012. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ "Sports Facility Experience". J&S Structural Engineers. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
- ^ "Cooley Law School Stadium Information". Lansing Lugnuts. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
- ^ "Cooley Law School Stadium Facts". Park Guide. Cooley Law School Stadium. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
- ^ "Homepage". Official Website. Lansing Lugnuts. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
- ^ Domsic, Melissa (February 22, 2010). "Lugnuts Ballpark Soon Will be Cooley Law School Stadium". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved February 22, 2010.
- ^ "Jackson National Lands Lugnuts Field Naming Rights". Lansing State Journal. March 22, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
External links [edit]
Coordinates: 42°44′5″N 84°32′43″W / 42.73472°N 84.54528°W
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