Riders Field facts for kids
The home plate entrance
|
|
| Former names | Dr Pepper/Seven Up Ballpark (2003–2006) Dr Pepper Ballpark (2007–2020) |
|---|---|
| Location | 7300 RoughRiders Trail Frisco, Texas United States |
| Coordinates | 33°05′54″N 96°49′12″W / 33.09833°N 96.82000°W |
| Owner | Frisco RoughRiders LP |
| Operator | Frisco RoughRiders LP |
| Capacity | 7,748 (fixed seating) 10,216 (plus additional seating) |
| Record attendance | 12,067 (July 20, 2018; Frisco RoughRiders vs. San Antonio Missions) |
| Field size | Left field: 335 feet (102 m) Left-center field: 364 feet (111 m) Center field: 409 feet (125 m) Right-center field: 383 feet (117 m) Right field: 335 feet (102 m) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 6, 2002 |
| Opened | April 3, 2003 |
| Construction cost | $22.7 million ($36.1 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | David M. Schwarz HKS, Inc. |
| Project manager | The Beck Group |
| Services engineer | G.W. Vines |
| General contractor | Centex Construction Co. |
| Tenants | |
| Frisco RoughRiders (TL/Double-A Central) 2003–present | |
Riders Field is a cool baseball park located in Frisco, Texas, United States. It used to be called Dr Pepper/Seven Up Ballpark and Dr Pepper Ballpark. This stadium is the home field for the Frisco RoughRiders, a Double-A team in the Texas League.
The ballpark first opened its doors on April 3, 2003. It can hold over 10,000 fans! While it's mostly used for Minor League Baseball games, Riders Field also hosts high school and college baseball tournaments. Plus, it's a popular spot for other fun events all year long.
Since it opened, Riders Field has won awards for its special design. The architect, David M. Schwarz, wanted it to feel like a "park within a park." It even won the 2003 Texas Construction Award for Best Architectural Design.
Fans love coming to RoughRiders games here. The stadium has consistently had some of the highest attendance numbers in the Texas League. In fact, since 2005, it has been number one in attendance for its league and classification!
Contents
History of Riders Field
How the Ballpark Was Built
Back in 2001, a company called Mandalay Sports Entertainment decided to move their Double-A baseball team, the Shreveport SwampDragons, to Frisco, Texas. The plan was for the team to start playing in Frisco by the 2003 season.
The new ballpark was designed by David M. Schwarz Architectural Services and HKS Sports & Entertainment Group. Construction officially began on February 6, 2002. The stadium was meant to be the main attraction of a big development project covering 74 acres. The city of Frisco and Southwest Sports Group worked together to pay for the project.
What's in a Name?
In January 2003, a local drink company, Dr Pepper/Seven Up, bought the rights to name the stadium. They called it Dr Pepper/Seven Up Ballpark. A few years later, before the 2006 season, the name was shortened to Dr Pepper Ballpark.
Dr Pepper Snapple Group decided not to renew their naming agreement in 2017. The RoughRiders started looking for a new sponsor. Even though the old signs were still up for a while, the ballpark officially became known as Riders Field at the start of the 2021 season.
Baseball Games and Big Events
The very first game at the ballpark was on April 3, 2003. The Frisco RoughRiders played against the Tulsa Drillers. Even though the RoughRiders lost 16–2, over 10,000 people came to watch! The RoughRiders got their first home win the very next day, beating the Drillers 4–3.
Riders Field has hosted the Texas League All-Star Game three times. These games bring together the best players from the league.
The stadium has also hosted special exhibition games with the Texas Rangers, a Major League Baseball team. In 2006, the Rangers played the Florida Marlins here. Then, in 2008, the Rangers played against their own minor league team, the Frisco RoughRiders! The minor league team actually won that game, 7–2.
Beyond Baseball Games
Riders Field isn't just for the Frisco RoughRiders. It's a busy place all year!
- High School and College Tournaments: Since 2004, the stadium has hosted the Tournament of Champions for high school baseball teams. It also started hosting the Frisco College Baseball Classic for college teams in 2017.
- Community Events: The ballpark is used for many other activities. Companies hold softball games and movie nights here. Local charities host events like 5K runs and bike races.
- Special Occasions: You might even find wedding receptions, opening ceremonies for local sports leagues, city events, and church services taking place at Riders Field!
Cool Features of the Ballpark
Design and Look
The main designer of Riders Field, David M. Schwarz, wanted to create a "park within a park." This means the stadium has nine separate buildings for things like food, restrooms, and special suites. These buildings are not connected to the main seating area.
This design helps air flow through the stadium, which is great for staying cool in the Texas heat. People have said the buildings look like a village or remind them of coastal Galveston. Others think it looks a bit like Churchill Downs in Kentucky, famous for horse racing.
Because of its unique design, Riders Field won the 2003 Texas Construction award for Best Architectural Design. It was also named the best new ballpark in the country by BaseballParks.com!
Seating and Views
The stadium has 7,748 regular seats. But with standing room and grassy areas, it can hold up to 10,216 people. A cool thing about Riders Field is that you can walk all the way around the field on the concourse. This gives you amazing 360-degree views of the game!
There are also 26 fancy suites on the second level. These have balconies where groups can watch the game. The areas where the pitchers warm up (called bullpens) are built right into the stands. In the outfield, you can even sit on a grassy hill, which is a fun spot for families.
The Lazy River!
One of the most unique and fun features at Riders Field is its lazy river! It was added in 2016, replacing an older swimming pool. This lazy river holds 68,000 gallons of water and is about 400 feet long for a full lap.
On Sundays, anyone can buy a ticket to enjoy the lazy river during games. On Thursdays, it's just for adults aged 21 and older. For other games, groups of 25 to 200 people can rent out the lazy river area for a super cool experience!
Attendance Records
Riders Field has always been a popular place to watch baseball. In its first two seasons (2003 and 2004), it had the second-highest attendance in the Texas League. But from 2005 through 2020, it has been number one!
The most people ever at a single game at Riders Field was 12,067 fans. This happened on July 20, 2018, during a game between the RoughRiders and the San Antonio Missions. That night, the famous trick shot group Dude Perfect made an appearance, which brought in a huge crowd! The stadium's record for total attendance in a season was set in 2003, with 666,977 fans.
Images for kids
-
Former ballpark logo
