Security Service Field

Security Service Field
Location 4385 Tutt Boulevard
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80922
Coordinates 38°53′39.02″N 104°42′37.12″W / 38.8941722°N 104.7103111°W / 38.8941722; -104.7103111Coordinates: 38°53′39.02″N 104°42′37.12″W / 38.8941722°N 104.7103111°W / 38.8941722; -104.7103111
Owner Elmore Sports Group
Operator Elmore Sports Group
Capacity 8,500
Field size Left Field: 350 feet (107 m)
Left-Center Field: 385 feet (117 m)
Center Field: 410 feet (125 m)
Right-Center Field: 385 feet (117 m)
Right Field: 350 feet (107 m)
Surface Grass
Construction
Broke ground January 10, 1988[1]
Opened June 18, 1988[2]
Construction cost US$3.7 million
($7.42 million in 2016 dollars[3])
Architect HNTB[2]
General contractor Bassett Construction Company[1]
Tenants
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (PCL) (1988–present)

Security Service Field, formerly known as Sky Sox Stadium, is a professional baseball stadium on the eastern edge of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The stadium is the home of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the AAA-level affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers Major League Baseball team.

History

Before the construction of Sky Sox Stadium, the Sky Sox played on a public field at Memorial Park in downtown Colorado Springs. Sky Sox Stadium was constructed in time for the 1988 season at a cost of $3.7 million and was the home of the Sky Sox for 17 seasons (1988–2004). During that time the Sky Sox won two Pacific Coast League championships (1992 and 1995). Attendance was generally good, but at the end of the 2004 season, facing declining turnout and an assortment of problems that showed the ballpark's age (capped by the center-field scoreboard, on which the ball, strike, and out indicators were non-functional), team executives decided to renovate the ballpark.[4][5] Construction is ongoing, but some changes are already apparent, such as an improved sound system, a more modern scoreboard with video screen,[6] a new walkway leading to the gates, a banquet facility at the end of the right field concourse, and a readout in the right field wall displaying the speed of each pitch. Along with these changes, the park's naming rights were sold to Security Service Federal Credit Union, a prominent local company and longtime sponsor of the Sky Sox.[7]

Along with baseball games, Security Service Field sometimes plays home to local concerts. Security Service Field is also the part-time home of the amateur soccer club Colorado Springs Blizzard of the Premier Development League. Security Service Field is owned and managed by the Elmore Sports Group. The facility seats 8,500 for baseball, but the capacity can be expanded to 10,000 for other events.

The current attendance record was set on July 4, 2004 when the Sky Sox lost to the Omaha Royals 6-5 in front of 9,505 fans.[8]

Trivia

The names of some of the great players in Sky Sox history ring the upper deck. Known as the members of the Sky Sox Hall of Fame, they are Luis Medina (played 1988–1991), Sam Hairston (played 1950–1956), Charlie Manuel (managed 1990–1992), Alan Cockrell (played 1990, 1992, 1994–1996), Norm "Bulldog" Coleman (non-player who helped the Sky Sox succeed financially, inducted 1996), Ryan Hawblitzel (played 1993–1996), Trenidad Hubbard (played 1993–1996), and Brad Mills (managed 1993–1996). All historical players have their jerseys retired and statistics shown in the Hall of Fame Bar & Grill located within Security Service Field.

Security Service Field is 6,531 feet above sea level, making it the highest professional baseball park in North America.[9] The stadium faces east, toward the plains and the Springs Ranch housing development, meaning that fans cannot see the Rocky Mountains to the west. This is due to the fact the sun sets over the mountains and would be a distraction to batters if the stadium faced west.

Covering most of the first base line is the Coors VIP Picnic Terrace. It holds nearly a thousand people and is the site of many weddings and other special occasions.[10] At the end of the right field foul line, there is a historic 8-person hot tub that is recognized as "THE HIGHEST HOT TUB IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS". Guests are served champagne and acknowledged on the main display.

Notable Events[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Bassett Construction Company Facts Sheet" (PDF). Bassett Construction Company. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Knight, Graham (August 9, 2009). "Security Service Field – Colorado Springs Sky Sox". Baseball Pilgrimages. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  3. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  4. ↑ Summers, Danny (June 6, 2004). "Sky Sox Attendance Grows, but That Still Isn't Saying Much". The Gazette (Colorado Springs). Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Sky Sox Announce New Park Name, Renovation Plan". The Gazette (Colorado Springs). February 17, 2005. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Sky Sox to Install Brand New Scoreboard". Our Sports Central. March 14, 2007. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  7. ↑ Summers, Danny (February 18, 2005). "Sky Sox Sell Stadium Name—Now It's Security Service Field". The Gazette (Colorado Springs). Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  8. ↑ Summers, Danny (July 5, 2004). "Sky Sox Strand 13, Lose in Front of Record Crowd". The Gazette (Colorado Springs). Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  9. ↑ Fox, Dan (July 11, 2006). "Security Service Field: Context Matters". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Coors VIP Picnic Terrace". Minor League Baseball. February 15, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  11. ↑ "2016 Promotions | Colorado Springs Sky Sox Promotions". Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Security Service Field.
Events and tenants
Preceded by
Spurgeon Stadium		 Home of the
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
1988 – present 		Succeeded by
current
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/6/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.