Canal Park (Akron, Ohio) facts for kids
 |
|
 |
|
| Location | 300 South Main Street Akron, Ohio 44308 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°04′41″N 81°31′20″W / 41.077924°N 81.522202°W |
| Owner | City of Akron |
| Operator | Akron Professional Baseball Inc. |
| Capacity | 7,630 |
| Field size | Left Field: 331 feet (101 m) Left Center: 376 feet (115 m) Center Field: 400 feet (120 m) Right Center: 375 feet (114 m) Right Field: 337 feet (103 m) |
| Surface | Kentucky Bluegrass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | January 5, 1996 |
| Opened | 1997 |
| Construction cost | US$32 million ($58.3 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Populous |
| Project manager | H. R. Gray |
| Structural engineer | DLZ, Inc. |
| Services engineer | Bredson & Associates, Inc. |
| General contractor | Summit Construction Co., Inc. |
| Tenants | |
| Akron RubberDucks (EL/Double-A Northeast) (1997–present) | |
Canal Park is a cool baseball stadium in Akron, Ohio, USA. It's the home field for the Akron RubberDucks. This team is part of the Double-A Northeast league. They are a "minor-league" team, which means they are a step below the major leagues. The RubberDucks are connected to the Cleveland Indians major league team.
Canal Park opened in 1997. It was designed by a company called Populous. This is the same company that designed the Cleveland Indians' stadium, Progressive Field. The stadium gets its name because it's right next to the Ohio and Erie Canal. This canal runs behind the left-field wall.
Contents
What Makes Canal Park Special?
Canal Park has a unique design for a baseball stadium. It has one main seating area with a walking path, called a concourse, at the very top. This means you can walk around and still see the game!
All the regular seats for RubberDucks games cost the same price. It doesn't matter how close you are to the field. The seats stretch all the way from one foul pole to the other. This is farther than many other stadiums at this level. Most sections have about 20-25 rows of seats.
Cool Features for Fans
Above the concourse, there are 25 special luxury boxes. These are private rooms where groups can watch the game. The press box, where reporters sit, is also up there.
Along the right-field side, there's a covered walkway. You can find a restaurant and the RubberDucks' team shop here. It's a great place to grab a bite or buy some team gear.
There's also a picnic area in left field. Groups of 24 or more people can rent this spot for a fun outing.
Beyond Baseball Games
Canal Park isn't just for baseball! It also hosts other fun events. Local high school and college baseball teams sometimes play here. The stadium is even part of the Akron Marathon race.
In 2015, the RubberDucks announced that Canal Park would host the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game. This is a big event where the best players from the league come together.
The Big Scoreboard
In August 2006, Canal Park got a brand new digital scoreboard. It replaced an older one that used light bulbs. The new board was 18 feet tall and 25 feet wide. It could show full-color animations!
The entire scoreboard structure is huge, measuring over 56 feet tall and 68 feet wide. It was the largest free-standing scoreboard in all of minor league baseball at the time.
Scoreboard Upgrade in 2013
In January 2013, the team's new owners decided to make the scoreboard even better. They installed a new, bigger scoreboard. It was 26 feet high and 68 feet wide. This awesome upgrade cost $1.65 million. It was ready just in time for the 2013 baseball season. They also added a smaller display board near the picnic tables.
Akron RubberDucks Baseball History
The Akron RubberDucks, who used to be called the Akron Aeros, have played at Canal Park since 1997. They are part of the Eastern League and are a Double-A team for the Cleveland Indians.
Team Successes
Over the years, the team has had many successful seasons. They have often finished at the top of their league. For example, in 2003, they won the Eastern League Championship Series! They also won the championship in 2005 and 2009. This shows they are a strong team with a history of winning.
Fan Attendance Records
Canal Park is a popular place for fans to watch baseball. On July 24, 2015, the RubberDucks had their biggest crowd ever. A total of 8,301 people came to watch the game! The stadium often ranks among the top in the league for attendance.
