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Coordinates: 39°56′47.06″N 83°1′41.58″W / 39.9464056°N 83.0282167°W / 39.9464056; -83.0282167
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==Future Development==
==Future Development==
As of May 1, 2008, a proposal to turn the site of Cooper Stadium into an auto racing facility was being considered.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/05/01/coop.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=102|title=Developer Could Turn Cooper Stadium Into Racetrack|accessdate=2011-06-22|date=2008-05-01}}</ref> This is not a completely new use for the facility, as the parking lot south of the stadium has been used for [[Sports Car Club of America]] and [[autocross]] racing as well as motorcycle training. On June 27, 2011, the Columbus City Council voted to rezone the site to allow for a racetrack to be built.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2011/jun/27/columbus-city-council-oks-racetrack-ar-569909/|title=Columbus City Council OK's Racetrack|accessdate=2011-06-28|last=Lane|first=Liz|date=2011-06-27|work=NBCi4 Columbus}}</ref>
As of May 1, 2008, a proposal to turn the site of Cooper Stadium into an auto racing facility was being considered.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/05/01/coop.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=102|title=Developer Could Turn Cooper Stadium Into Racetrack|accessdate=2011-06-22|date=2008-05-01}}</ref> This is not a completely new use for the facility, as the parking lot south of the stadium has been used for [[Sports Car Club of America]] and [[autocross]] racing as well as motorcycle training. On June 27, 2011, the Columbus City Council voted to rezone the site to allow for a racetrack to be built.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2011/jun/27/columbus-city-council-oks-racetrack-ar-569909/|title=Columbus City Council OK's Racetrack|accessdate=2011-06-28|last=Lane|first=Liz|date=2011-06-27|work=NBCi4 Columbus}}</ref>

Columbus Board of Zoning Adjustment approved 4-0 on December 20, 2011 for a special permit that will clear the way for developer Arshot Investment to build a half-mile racetrack, automotive research and technology center. Arshot plans to spend up to $40 million to develop the 47-acre site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/12/21/racetrack-wins-special-permit.html|title=Columbus City Approves Special Permit|accessdate=2012-05-8|last=Ferenchik|first=Mark|date=2011-12-21|work=Columbus Dispatch}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 02:56, 9 May 2012

Cooper Stadium
"The Coop","County Stadium"
Map
Former namesRed Bird Stadium (1932-1954)
Jets Stadium (1955-1970)
Franklin County Stadium (1977-1984)
Location1155 West Mound Street
Columbus, OH 43223
OwnerFranklin County
OperatorFranklin County
Capacity17,500 (1932-1959)
12,000 (1960-1976)
15,000 (1977-2008)
Field sizeLeft Field - 355 ft
Center Field - 400 ft
Right Field - 330 ft
SurfaceNatural Grass (1931-1983, and 1998-present)
AstroTurf (1984-1997)
Construction
Broke ground1931
OpenedJune 3, 1932[1]
Renovated1977
ClosedSeptember 1, 2008
Construction cost$450,000[1]
($10 million in 2024 dollars[2])
ArchitectHoward Dwight Smith[3]
Tenants
Columbus Red Birds (AA 1931-1954)
Columbus Bullies (APFA, 1939; AFL 1940-1941)
Columbus Jets (International League 1955-1970)
Columbus Clippers (International League 1978-2008)

Cooper Stadium is a baseball stadium in Columbus, Ohio and was the home of the minor league Columbus Clippers from 1977 to 2008. Cooper Stadium has had several names over the years, including Red Bird Stadium, Jets Stadium and Franklin County Stadium, but in 1984 the stadium was renamed in honor of Harold Cooper, the county commissioner who was responsible for keeping baseball in Columbus in the 1950s. The stadium is owned and operated by the Franklin County, Ohio government. It is located in the section of the city known as Franklinton. Built in 1931 by the St. Louis Cardinals, Red Bird Stadium was constructed using the same blueprints used for creating the Red Wing Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. in 1929. The Cardinals owned both teams when the respective stadiums were built. Cooper Stadium was renovated to its present configuration in 1977 to coincide with the return of minor-league baseball to Columbus after a six year absence. It presently seats 11,000 in a single deck grandstand with an additional 4,000 overflow bleacher seats. Fans would ring cowbells to get Clippers rallies started.

Over the years, Cooper Stadium has been home to the Columbus Red Birds, a farm team for the St. Louis Cardinals; the Columbus Jets; and, after the renovation was completed, the Columbus Clippers. From 1939 through 1941, Cooper Stadium (then named Red Bird Stadium) was also home to the Columbus Bullies, two time champions of the third American Football League.

The stadium has also hosted a number of other events, such as roller derbys, music concerts (including Aerosmith, Bob Dylan & Garth Brooks), and hosted evangelist Billy Graham.

The Clippers moved from Cooper Stadium after the 2008 season to a new ballpark, Huntington Park, which is located in the Arena District in downtown Columbus. On September 1, 2008, the final game was played as the Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Columbus Clippers in front of 16,770 fans, the third largest crowd in stadium history.

Cooper Stadium also hosted the OHSAA Ohio high-school boys baseball State Tournament. Rumored plans also include a $22 million overhaul to eventually become the OHSAA stadium for most outdoor events (baseball, football, soccer, lacrosse, etc.). This would then make Cooper Stadium a multi-purpose stadium.

Cooper Stadium Box Office

Future Development

As of May 1, 2008, a proposal to turn the site of Cooper Stadium into an auto racing facility was being considered.[4] This is not a completely new use for the facility, as the parking lot south of the stadium has been used for Sports Car Club of America and autocross racing as well as motorcycle training. On June 27, 2011, the Columbus City Council voted to rezone the site to allow for a racetrack to be built.[5]

Columbus Board of Zoning Adjustment approved 4-0 on December 20, 2011 for a special permit that will clear the way for developer Arshot Investment to build a half-mile racetrack, automotive research and technology center. Arshot plans to spend up to $40 million to develop the 47-acre site.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Cooper Stadium - Project Ballpark
  2. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Jagtiani, Aruna (March 11, 1998). "Smith's Architecture Discussed". Northwest Columbus News. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  4. ^ "Developer Could Turn Cooper Stadium Into Racetrack". 2008-05-01. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
  5. ^ Lane, Liz (2011-06-27). "Columbus City Council OK's Racetrack". NBCi4 Columbus. Retrieved 2011-06-28.
  6. ^ Ferenchik, Mark (2011-12-21). "Columbus City Approves Special Permit". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2012-05-8. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

39°56′47.06″N 83°1′41.58″W / 39.9464056°N 83.0282167°W / 39.9464056; -83.0282167