GoMart Ballpark facts for kids
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GoMart Ballpark
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 GoMart Ballpark
Location in West Virginia
GoMart Ballpark
Location in the United States
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| Former names | Appalachian Power Park (2005–2022) |
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| Address | 601 Morris Street Charleston, West Virginia 25301 |
| Coordinates | 38°20′56.5″N 81°37′30.4″W / 38.349028°N 81.625111°W |
| Owner | City of Charleston |
| Operator | Palisades Baseball |
| Executive suites | 14 luxury seating boxes |
| Capacity | 4,500 |
| Record attendance | 10,103 vs Lexington Legends (June 9, 2005) |
| Field size | Left Field: 330 ft (101 m) Center Field: 400 ft (122 m) Right Field: 320 ft (98 m) |
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| Construction | |
| Broke ground | March 18, 2004 |
| Opened | April 14, 2005 vs Hagerstown Suns |
| Construction cost | $25 million ($37.5 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | HNTB |
| Services engineer | Henderson Engineers, Inc. |
| General contractor | BBL Carlton, LLC |
| Tenants | |
GoMart Ballpark is a cool baseball stadium in Charleston, West Virginia. It's the home field for the Charleston Dirty Birds, a professional baseball team. The stadium opened in April 2005 and can hold 4,500 fans. It cost about $25 million to build.
The baseball field has specific measurements: the left field wall is 330 feet away, center field is 400 feet, and right field is 320 feet. It's a great place to watch a game!
Contents
History of GoMart Ballpark
Building a New Home for Baseball
In the early 2000s, people in Charleston wanted to keep professional baseball in their city. The old stadium, Watt Powell Park, was getting too old. So, plans began for a brand new ballpark.
On March 18, 2004, construction started on the new stadium in downtown Charleston. This was a big moment for baseball in the city. It meant a fresh start after 56 years at the old park.
From Appalachian Power Park to GoMart Ballpark
Many local groups and the state government worked together to make the new stadium happen. A company called Appalachian Power bought the rights to name the stadium. So, it was first known as Appalachian Power Park.
The city's baseball team also got a new name. Over the years, Charleston had many teams like the Statesmen, Senators, and Alley Cats. In 2005, the team became the West Virginia Power. They played their first game at the new park on April 14, 2005. They won 8-3 against the Hagerstown Suns with 5,354 fans cheering them on.
The ballpark became very popular and hosted exciting events. It held the South Atlantic League All-Star Game in 2009 and again in 2019. These games brought lots of fun activities and big crowds.
In November 2022, the stadium got a new name. A local store chain, GoMart, bought the naming rights. That's how it became GoMart Ballpark!
Fun Events at the Ballpark
In April 2023, a huge crowd of 5,500 people filled GoMart Ballpark. They came to see an exhibition game between the famous Savannah Bananas and the Charleston Dirty Birds. The Bananas are known for their super fun and unique style of baseball.
Most Popular Games at GoMart Ballpark
GoMart Ballpark has seen many exciting baseball games since it opened. The table below shows the ten games that had the most fans in the stadium's history.
| Rank | Date | Opponent | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 9, 2005 | Lexington Legends | 10,103 |
| 2 | April 30, 2025 | #16 West Virginia University vs Marshall University | ‡9,639 |
| 3 | May 27, 2008 | Lake County Captains | 9,140 |
| 4 | June 3, 2008 | Lexington Legends | 7,976 |
| 5 | June 21, 2007 | Kannapolis Intimidators | 7,458 |
| 6 | June 26, 2008 | Lexington Legends | 6,897 |
| 7 | July 4, 2015 | Delmarva Shorebirds | 6,833 |
| 8 | July 4, 2005 | Lexington Legends | 6,744 |
| 9 | July 9, 2009 | Delmarva Shorebirds | 6,730 |
| 10 | August 17, 2006 | Hickory Crawdads | 6,676 |
‡ College baseball contest
High School and College Baseball Games
GoMart Ballpark is a popular spot for high school baseball. It often hosts the WVSSAC West Virginia High School Baseball State Tournament. Many state championship games have been played here since the mid-2000s.
College Teams at the Ballpark
From 2006 to 2018, the Marshall Thundering Herd college team played their home games here. Marshall University didn't have a good baseball field on its own campus.
The ballpark also hosts a yearly rivalry game between West Virginia University and Marshall University. This game always brings in a lot of fans from both schools. It's a big highlight of the college baseball season in West Virginia.
- The WVIAC Baseball Tournament was held at GoMart Ballpark many times.
- The Mountain East Conference Baseball Tournament has also been hosted here.
- The University of Charleston and West Virginia State teams play their rivalry games at the ballpark too.
| List of notable college baseball games at GoMart Ballpark | ||||
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| Date | Home Team | Opponent | Score | Attendance |
| May 3, 2013 | West Virginia Mountaineers | #10 Oklahoma Sooners | 3-4 | 3,279 |
| April 18, 2017 | Marshall Thundering Herd | #21 West Virginia Mountaineers | 4-8 | 4,217 |
| April 5, 2023 | Marshall Thundering Herd | #24 West Virginia Mountaineers | 9-15 | 5,047 |
| March 12, 2024 | West Virginia Mountaineers | Marshall Thundering Herd | 11-2 | 5,084 |
| April 30, 2025 | Marshall Thundering Herd | #16 West Virginia Mountaineers | 7-6 | 9,639 |
Concerts and Other Fun Events
GoMart Ballpark isn't just for baseball! It hosts many other exciting events.
In 2008, parts of The World's Strongest Man competition were held at the stadium. TNA Wrestling also held wrestling events there in 2012.
The stadium has hosted concerts with famous musicians like Def Leppard, Bryan Adams, Randy Travis, and Wiz Khalifa. It's also been used for boxing matches and charity events.
Light the Night Holiday Festival
In December 2023, the Charleston Dirty Birds started a holiday lights festival called Light the Night. It was a huge success, with thousands of visitors enjoying the festive lights.
The second annual Light the Night in 2024 was even bigger! It had over 2 million lights, plus new attractions like a carousel, carnival rides, and an ice-skating rink.
Cool Stadium Features
New Playing Surface
For the 2023 baseball season, the stadium got a new playing field. The old grass was replaced with a special synthetic turf. This new surface is great for playing baseball.
The Locomotive Horn
The ballpark has a real train horn! It was given by Norfolk Southern Corporation, whose train tracks are right next to the park. The horn makes a loud sound, just like the old stadium used to have.
The "Toast Man" and "Rowdy Alley"
One unique thing about the park is a special electrical outlet behind home plate. It's for a famous fan nicknamed the "Toast Man," Rod Blackstone. He brings a toaster to games! When a pitcher strikes out a batter, he yells "You are toast!" and throws slices of toast into the crowd.
Behind the opposing team's dugout is an area called "Rowdy Alley." Here, fans like Billy Bob and the Rowdys cheer loudly and playfully tease the other team. They use fun props like duck umbrellas and noisemakers to entertain everyone.
Party Deck and Wall of Fame
In 2007, a "party deck" was built near the right field foul pole. It's a special area where up to 250 people can enjoy all-you-can-eat hot dogs, nachos, and drinks. It's now called the "Budweiser Party Deck."
Also in 2007, the Charleston Baseball Wall of Fame started. It's located behind the home plate press box. It honors important people in Charleston baseball history, like "Toast Man" Rod Blackstone and former player Dave Parker.
Awards for GoMart Ballpark
In 2012, Stadium Journey Magazine recognized GoMart Ballpark as one of the best minor league baseball parks in the country. It was also ranked among the top 100 athletic venues worldwide!
See also
- List of NCAA Division I baseball venues
