Excite Ballpark facts for kids
| Muni Stadium | |
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| Former names | San Jose Municipal Stadium (1942–2019) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Owner | City of San Jose |
| Operator | Baseball Acquisition Company |
| 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 or Muni Stadium. It's the home field for the San Jose Giants, a Minor League Baseball team. They are connected to the famous San Francisco Giants.
The stadium also hosts the San Jose State University Spartans college baseball team. Even local high school teams use it for their championship games! Besides baseball, you can find concerts, car shows, and other fun community events here. Many different minor league teams have played at this stadium over the years.
Excite Ballpark is very close to Spartan Stadium. That's where the San Jose State Spartans football team plays. Across the street, there are practice fields for soccer, baseball, and softball. Part of the stadium's parking lot was even turned into an indoor ice rink called Solar4America Ice. This rink is where the San Jose Sharks National Hockey League hockey team practices.
Contents
Stadium History: How It Was Built
San Jose Municipal Stadium was built between 1941 and 1942. It was part of a special project called the WPA. The stadium cost about US$80,000 to build. It was one of the first stadiums made completely from strong concrete. The stadium opened in 1942 with a game featuring the San Francisco Seals.
Experiencing a Game: Seating and Fun
Fans at Excite Ballpark sit very close to the action on the field. There are different places to sit. The first few rows in the main area have special box seats. You can also find general admission seats on benches higher up. Along the left and right sides of the field, there are bleachers for general admission. There's even a "Turkey Mike's BBQ Area" with tables along the third base line.
The stadium looks much like it did when it first opened. But some parts have been updated. In 1994, the bathrooms and team clubhouses were improved. More box seats were added in 1996. In 1999, the dugouts, where players sit, were made bigger.
The outfield walls are covered with advertisements, just like old stadiums from the 1920s and 1930s. There's a big video screen above the scoreboard in right field. It shows replays and fun stuff. Another scoreboard shows scores from other California League games. Between innings, fans can enjoy games and entertainment. These include a tire toss, a kids' race around the bases, and "Smash 4 Cash." In "Smash 4 Cash," players try to break the headlights of an old truck to win a prize! The stadium's Fourth of July celebration is very popular. It includes fireworks and draws huge crowds.
Changes to the Field Layout
In 1997, the bullpens were moved. Bullpens are where pitchers warm up. They used to be along the foul lines. Now, they are in the outfield. The visitor and home bullpens create special "home run porches" in left and right field. In 2007, the outfield fence was replaced. It was moved closer to home plate in some areas. The bullpens were also moved again at that time.
Famous Players Who Played Here
Many players who later became big stars in Major League Baseball played at San Jose Municipal Stadium. Some of these famous players include:
- George Brett
- Rod Beck
- Joe Nathan
- Tim Lincecum
- Matt Cain
- Madison Bumgarner
- Buster Posey
- Brandon Crawford
Modern Stadium Features
Excite Ballpark has many cool features for fans today. These include:
- The San Jose Giants Dugout Store, where you can buy team gear.
- Special group areas like the Martinelli's VIP Deck and First Base Party Patio.
- The Astro Jump Family Fun Zone, which sounds like a lot of fun!
- Turkey Mike's BBQ for tasty food.
- A huge, clear HD video board that is 36-foot (11-metre) wide.
The San Jose Giants' mascot, Gigante, is often seen having fun with fans. He also visits different places in the community.
New Name and Recent Use
In 2019, the San Jose Giants made a deal with Excite Credit Union. This deal changed the stadium's name to Excite Ballpark for three years.
During the short 2020 baseball season, the Oakland Athletics team used Excite Ballpark. They used it as a special training site for their players.
