Excite Ballpark facts for kids
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| Former names | San Jose Municipal Stadium (1942–2019) |
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| Location | 588 East Alma Avenue San Jose, California United States |
| Coordinates | 37°19′14″N 121°51′44″W / 37.32056°N 121.86222°W |
| Public transit |  VTA Bus: 73 |
| Owner | City of San Jose |
| Operator | San Jose Giants |
| Capacity | 2,900 (1942) 4,200 (current) |
| Field size | Left Field: 320 feet (98 m) Left-Center: 365 feet (111 m) Center Field: 390 feet (120 m) Right-Center: 365 feet (111 m) Right Field: 320 feet (98 m) |
| Surface | Baby Bermuda Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 1941 |
| Opened | March 8, 1942 |
| Construction cost | US$80,000 ($1.43 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Works Progress Administration |
| Tenants | |
| San Jose Giants (CL) 1988–present San Jose Bees (CL) 1983–1987 San Jose Expos (CL) 1982 San Jose Missions (CL) 1979–1981 San Jose Missions (PCL) 1977–1978 San Jose Bees (CL) 1962–1976 San Jose Pirates (CL) 1958 San Jose JoSox (CL) 1956–1957 San Jose Red Sox (CL) 1947–1955 San Jose Owls (CL) 1942 San Jose State Spartans (NCAA) 1970–present |
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Excite Ballpark is a cool baseball park in San Jose, California. It used to be called San Jose Municipal Stadium. This stadium is home to the San Jose Giants, a Minor League Baseball team. They are connected to the famous San Francisco Giants.
The San Jose State University Spartans college baseball team also plays here. Even local high school teams use it for their championship games! Beyond baseball, Excite Ballpark hosts concerts, weddings, and car shows. It's a busy place for the community.
You can find the ballpark close to Spartan Stadium, where the San Jose State football team plays. Across the street are practice fields for soccer, baseball, and softball. Part of the stadium's parking lot is now Solar4America Ice, an indoor ice rink. This rink is where the San Jose Sharks National Hockey League hockey team practices.
Contents
Discover Excite Ballpark
A Look at Its History
How the Ballpark Was Built
San Jose Municipal Stadium was built between 1941 and 1942. It was a special project by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The stadium cost about US$80,000 to build. It was one of the first stadiums made completely from strong concrete. The ballpark opened in 1942 with a game featuring the San Francisco Seals.
Seating and Fun Features
Fans at Excite Ballpark sit very close to the action. There are four main seating areas. The first seven rows are special box seats. You can find general admission seats in the upper rows of the main grandstand. There are also bleachers down the left and right field lines. For a unique experience, there's table seating along the third base line at "Turkey Mike's BBQ Area."
The stadium has kept much of its original look. However, some parts have been updated. In 1994, the bathrooms and team clubhouses were renovated. Three more rows of box seats were added in 1996. The dugouts were made bigger in 1999.
Changes Over the Years
The outfield walls are covered with advertisements, just like old stadiums from the 1920s and 1930s. Above the scoreboard in right field, there's a big video screen. Another scoreboard shows scores from other California League games.
During breaks in the game, fans enjoy fun activities. These include a tire toss and a footrace for kids around the bases. A popular game called "Smash 4 Cash" lets players try to smash an old truck's headlights to win a prize. The yearly Independence Day celebration is very popular. It includes fireworks and brings huge crowds to the stadium.
In 1997, the bullpens (where pitchers warm up) moved from along the foul lines to the outfield. These new bullpens created special "home run porches" in left and right field. The outfield fence was replaced in 2007. It was also moved closer to home plate in some areas.
Famous Players Who Played Here
Many players who later became big stars in Major League Baseball played at this stadium. Some famous names include George Brett, Rod Beck, Joe Nathan, Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, and Brandon Crawford.
Modern Amenities and Mascot Fun
Today, Excite Ballpark has many cool features. You can visit the San Jose Giants Dugout Store for team gear. There are special group areas like the Martinelli's VIP Deck and the First Base Party Patio. Kids love the Astro Jump Family Fun Zone. And of course, there's Turkey Mike's BBQ for tasty food. The stadium also has a large HD video board.
The San Jose Giants have a fun mascot named Gigante. He loves to interact with fans at the ballpark and around the community.
More About Excite Ballpark
In 2019, the San Jose Giants made a deal with Excite Credit Union. This agreement renamed the stadium Excite Ballpark. It is one of the oldest baseball parks still in use for Minor League Baseball games.
During the 2020 baseball season, which was shorter due to a pandemic, the Oakland Athletics team used Excite Ballpark. They used it as a special training site for their players.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I baseball venues
