Haymarket Park facts for kids
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 Haymarket Park
Haymarket Park
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| Full name | Hawks Field at Haymarket Park |
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| Address | 403 Line Drive Circle |
| Location | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| Coordinates | 40°49′22″N 96°42′50″W / 40.82279°N 96.71391°W |
| Operator | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| Type | Stadium |
| Capacity | 8,486 |
| Record attendance | 8,757 (April 14, 2006) |
| Field size | Left field – 335 ft (102 m) Left-center – 403 ft (123 m) Center field – 395 ft (120 m) Right-center – 400 ft (120 m) Right field – 325 ft (99 m) |
| Surface | Kentucky bluegrass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 12, 2000 |
| Opened | June 1, 2001 |
| Construction cost | $29.53 million (includes Bowlin Stadium) ($48.8 million in 2022) |
| Architect | Stan Meradith, DLR Group |
| Tenants | |
| Nebraska Cornhuskers (NCAA) 2002–present Lincoln Saltdogs (AA) 2001–present |
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Hawks Field at Haymarket Park is a cool baseball stadium located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is very close to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. This stadium is the home field for two teams. The Nebraska Cornhuskers college baseball team plays here. Also, the Lincoln Saltdogs, a professional team, calls Hawks Field home.
The entire Haymarket Park complex, which includes Hawks Field, was finished in 2001. It cost about $29.53 million to build. Right next to Hawks Field is Bowlin Stadium. This smaller stadium hosts the university's softball team.
Contents
History of Hawks Field
Building a New Baseball Home
For more than 50 years, the Nebraska Cornhuskers played their games at Buck Beltzer Stadium. By the 1990s, this stadium was getting old. It did not have many of the modern features found in other college baseball stadiums. So, a plan for a new baseball and softball stadium was announced in 1999. The University of Nebraska approved the project in 2000.
A company called DLR Group designed the complex. The university's baseball coach, Dave Van Horn, and the designers visited other stadiums. They got ideas for Hawks Field from places like Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. The stadium was built so that downtown Lincoln, including Memorial Stadium, could be seen from the outfield.
Opening Day and First Games
Construction on Haymarket Park began on April 12, 2000. It is located west of downtown Lincoln. The stadium was finished on June 1, 2001. This meant it could host important Super Regional games that year. However, the Cornhuskers decided to finish their season at Buck Beltzer Stadium. They won their games there and went to their first College World Series.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers played their very first game at Hawks Field on March 4, 2002. They had a big 23–1 victory against Nebraska–Kearney.
Who is Hawks Field Named After?
Hawks Field is named after Myrna Hawks. She was the wife of a well-known businessman, Howard Hawks. The couple gave a lot of money to help build the stadium. Sadly, Myrna passed away before the stadium was completed. Another building, the Hawks Championship Center, is also named for their family.
Hawks Field can hold 8,486 people. This includes 4,419 seats with backs. There is also space for about 4,000 more fans on grassy areas along the field. In 2022, the university's team was 14th in the country for total attendance. They often have the most fans in the Big Ten Conference. The most people ever at Hawks Field was 8,757 on April 14, 2006. That day, Nebraska beat Texas A&M 4–3.
How the Stadium Was Funded
The city of Lincoln owns the land and buildings at Haymarket Park. The city paid $13.7 million for the construction. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Lincoln Pro Baseball (LPB) each gave about $10 million. The university and LPB signed a 35-year agreement. They do not pay property tax or insurance fees. They are both responsible for keeping the stadium in good shape.
Before Hawks Field was finished, LPB bought a professional baseball team. The team was called the Madison Black Wolf. They moved the team from Madison, Wisconsin, to Lincoln. The team was renamed the Lincoln Saltdogs. This was Lincoln's first professional baseball team in 40 years. The Saltdogs played the first game at Hawks Field on June 1, 2001. They won 7–6 against the Sioux City Explorers. Haymarket Park also hosted the Northern League All-Star Game in 2003.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers have a great record at Hawks Field. The Saltdogs also have a good record there. The stadium has hosted many important college baseball tournaments.
Alex Gordon Training Complex
In 2011, Nebraska built the $4.75 million Alex Gordon Training Complex. It is next to Bowlin Stadium and close to Hawks Field. This facility is named after Alex Gordon. He was a star player for Nebraska and later an All-Star in Major League Baseball. Alex Gordon donated $1 million to help build the complex.
Special Playing Surface
Hawks Field was the first college stadium to use a special heating and cooling system called SubAir. This system helps keep the field at the best temperature all year. The field's grass is Kentucky bluegrass. It was named the best college "Field of the Year" in 2003 and 2007. This made it the first field to win the award twice. The Saltdogs' field has also won "Playing Surface of the Year" awards many times.
Other Fun Events
Since it opened in 2001, Haymarket Park has been a popular place for entertainment in Lincoln. Many famous musicians have performed at the stadium. These include Willie Nelson, Bryan Adams, Def Leppard, John Mellencamp, and Bob Dylan. The stadium has also hosted many charity events. One of these is an annual Relay for Life event to support the American Cancer Society.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I baseball venues
