Edward A. LeLacheur Park

Edward A. LeLacheur Park
Location	450 Aiken Street Lowell, Massachusetts 01854
Broke ground	1997
Opened	June 22, 1998
Owner	City of Lowell, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Operator	University of Massachusetts Lowell
Surface	Grass
Construction cost	$11.2 Million ($16 million in 2012 dollars)
Architect	Populous (formerly HOK Sport)
Capacity	4,767 Seated/5,000 with Standing Room
Field dimensions	LF-337, LCF 368, CF-400, RCF 368, RF-301, 12-foot-high (3.7 m) outfield walls
Tenants
Lowell Spinners University of Massachusetts Lowell

Edward A. LeLacheur Park is a baseball park located on the banks of the Merrimack River in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is home to the New York-Penn League Lowell Spinners, the Class A Short Season Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. LeLacheur Park is also home to the University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks baseball team, which competes in the Northeast 10 Conference at the NCAA Division II level.

History

The park was built between a partnership with the city of Lowell and the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Named after a local civic leader who spearheaded the initial redevelopment of Lowell, the park was built adjacent to the residential section of UML. Populous (formerly HOK Sport) designed the park. It offers views of the Aiken Street Bridge, Lawrence Mills And Fox Hall. The seating bowl is raised above the field. A concourse surrounds the top of the park. The refreshment, merchandise stands and bathrooms are located here. The design enables an open view while waiting in line.

Two seating expansions have been considered since the park opened. One plan would have added 600-1000 seats on the third base side. The expansion would match how the first base side is angled towards the infield. The other proposal was to add a smaller version of the Green Monster with seating for approximately 200 people. This would also would have shortened the field and raised the wall to 20 ft (6.1 m). Due to lack of funds, neither have been built.

The stadium also features the Giant Hood Milk Jug from Fenway Park and all Red Sox retired numbers.

The ballpark held its first concert on July 10, 2008 when Boston-based celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys played there with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

Attendance

The Spinners have had several consecutive sold-out seasons at LeLacheur Park.

Yearly Attendance

• 1998 - 174,020
• 1999 - 180,077
• 2000 - 190,000
• 2001 - 190,000
• 2002 - 190,000
• 2003 - 190,000
• 2004 - 190,000
• 2005 - 190,000
• 2006 - 193,363

External links

• Lowell Spinners home page
• Edward A. Lelacheur Park Views - Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues