Dozer Park facts for kids
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| Former names | O'Brien Field (2002–2008) Chiefs Stadium (2009–2013) |
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| Location | 730 Southwest Jefferson Street Peoria, IL 61605 |
| Coordinates | 40°41′15″N 89°35′51″W / 40.68750°N 89.59750°W |
| Owner | Peoria Chiefs Community Baseball LLC |
| Operator | Peoria Chiefs Community Baseball LLC |
| Capacity | 8,500 |
| Field size | Left Field: 310 ft (94.49 m) Left Center: 375 ft (114.3 m) Center Field: 400 ft (121.92 m) Right Center: 375 ft (114.3 m) Right Field: 310 ft (94.49 m) |
| Surface | Sod (1–1¼ inches) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | August 16, 2001 |
| Opened | May 24, 2002 |
| Construction cost | $23 million |
| Architect | HNTB |
| Services engineer | Clark Engineers MW Inc. |
| General contractor | River City Construction LLC |
| Main contractors | Prairie Construction Systems Inc. |
| Tenants | |
| Peoria Chiefs (MWL) (2002–present) Bradley Braves (NCAA) (2002–present) |
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Dozer Park is a cool baseball field in downtown Peoria, Illinois. It's the home stadium for the Peoria Chiefs, a professional baseball team that's part of the St. Louis Cardinals family. Before moving here, the Chiefs played at Meinen Field. The college baseball team from Bradley University also plays their games at Dozer Park. The stadium first opened its doors on May 24, 2002. It was originally called O'Brien Field and later Chiefs Stadium before becoming Dozer Park.
Contents
History of Dozer Park
Building the Stadium
Work on the stadium began on August 16, 2001. It cost about $23 million to build this awesome multi-purpose stadium. The stadium officially opened on May 24, 2002. The very first game played there was between the Peoria Chiefs and the Kane County Cougars.
What's in a Name?
When the stadium first opened, it was called O'Brien Field. This name came from the O'Brien Auto Team, who bought the naming rights. This means they paid money so the stadium would be named after their company.
In 2011, Dozer Park got to host a big event. It was the first time the IHSA Class 1A and 2A baseball state championship games were played at the stadium.
In 2013, something important happened for the Chiefs and the stadium. A company called Caterpillar Inc. gave $2 million to the Chiefs. In return, the stadium was renamed "Dozer Park." This name is a nod to Caterpillar's famous bulldozer machines. The new name was announced on May 10, 2013.
The Baseball Field Itself
How the Field is Built
The grass part of Dozer Park's field is called sod. It has a special design to keep it healthy. The roots of the grass go deep into a mix of 90% sand and 10% peat. This sandy mix helps the soil stay loose and not too squished.
Underneath the sand and peat, there are 6 inches (about 15 cm) of gravel. Hidden in the gravel are drainage pipes. These pipes run from home plate all the way to center field. A big pump then sends any extra water into the city's sewer system. This means the field can handle a lot of rain without getting flooded. It can even drain up to 5 inches (about 12.7 cm) of rain in an hour!
Special Areas of the Field
The pitcher's mound and the batter's boxes are made mostly of clay. Clay is used here because it packs down very well. This makes these areas strong and resistant to wear and tear from players. The rest of the infield dirt area is a mix of about 40% clay, 30% silt, and 20% sand.
Keeping the Grass Perfect
During homestands, the field's grass is mowed every single day. It's kept very short, about 1 to 1¼ inches (2.5 to 3.2 cm) high. It takes about an hour and a quarter to mow the outfield grass. A special walk-behind mower is used for the infield areas. The field itself cost around $450,000 to build.
Luxury Suites at Dozer Park
Dozer Park has 20 special rooms called luxury suites. These are private areas where groups can watch the game. They are often used for entertaining guests.
For example, one suite owned by a lawyer named Jay Janssen is very fancy. It has a large rug, special lights, and cherry wood cabinets. It also has a marble-topped table and a granite bar overlooking the field. There are comfy leather chairs and stools. The kitchenette in the suite even has a full-sized refrigerator and oven.
Caterpillar, Inc., the company that helped name the park, has a double suite. They use this big suite to host their customers and important guests. It's a great way for them to enjoy the game and entertain people.
Food and Snacks
When you visit Dozer Park, you won't go hungry! There are five main concession stands around the park. You can also find mobile carts selling snacks and drinks. The company that handles all the food at the Chiefs' games is Professional Sports Catering.
