TD Bank Ballpark facts for kids
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| Former names | Somerset Ballpark (1999) Commerce Bank Ballpark (2000–2008) |
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| Location | 860 East Main Street Bridgewater, NJ 08807 |
| Public transit |  Bridgewater station:
Raritan Valley Line
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| Owner | Somerset County Improvement Authority |
| Operator | Somerset Patriots |
| Capacity | 6,100; standing-room admission can bring attendance to 8,500. |
| Field size | Left Field: 317 feet (97 m) Center Field: 402 feet (123 m) Right Field: 315 feet (96 m) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 28, 1998 |
| Opened | June 7, 1999 |
| Construction cost | $18 million |
| Architect | SSP Architectural Group Clarke Caton Hintz |
| General contractor | Epic Construction |
| Tenants | |
| Somerset Patriots (ALPB/Double-A Northeast) (1999–present) New Jersey Pride (MLL) (2002–2003) New Jersey Fire (PC) (2004) Sky Blue FC (WPS) (2009 – two games) |
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TD Bank Ballpark is a cool baseball stadium in Bridgewater, New Jersey. It has 6,100 seats for fans. This ballpark is the home field for the Somerset Patriots. They are a Double-A level Minor League Baseball team.
The stadium hosts about 70 Patriots games each year. It also holds playoff games and other fun events. The ballpark is named after TD Bank, N.A.. They bought the company that first owned the naming rights in 2009. Before that, it was called Commerce Bank Ballpark. When it first opened, it was known as Somerset Ballpark. The very first baseball game here was on June 7, 1999. Since then, over 6 million fans have visited the stadium!
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History of the Ballpark
Construction on the ballpark started on April 28, 1998. Epic Construction was the main company building it.
The ballpark officially opened on June 7, 1999. The New Jersey governor at the time, Christine Todd Whitman, was there. Other New Jersey officials also attended the opening.
TD Bank Ballpark is a big part of the local sports scene. It hosts the Somerset County Baseball Tournament. It was also the home for the Big East Conference Baseball Tournament from 2000 to 2005. When baseball season is over, the ballpark hosts other events. For example, the Big Apple Circus has visited the ballpark.
The stadium has also been home to other sports teams. In 2002 and 2003, the New Jersey Pride lacrosse team played here. In 2004, the New Jersey Fire cricket team also played their games at TD Bank Ballpark.
All-Star Games and Awards
TD Bank Ballpark has hosted the Atlantic League All-Star Game three times.
- In 2000, 7,035 fans came to watch the game.
- In 2008, the ballpark broke its own attendance record. A huge crowd of 8,290 fans showed up!
- The most recent All-Star Game was on July 12, 2017. The Freedom Division All-Stars won that game. There were 8,175 fans cheering them on.
The ballpark has won awards too!
- In 2007 and 2015, it won the Atlantic League Ballpark of the Year award.
- In 2015 and 2016, Ballpark Digest named it the Best Independent Minor League Ballpark in the country.
Cool Features of the Ballpark
TD Bank Ballpark was designed by two architecture companies. They made the stadium look classic and old-fashioned. It has wine-colored bricks and green metal parts. This design makes it look like some of the country's oldest stadiums. The ballpark even won an award for its great design!
The stadium has 6,100 regular seats. There's also extra space on the lawn where fans can sit. This area is near the Patriots' bullpen.
Fun for Fans
There are many special areas for groups at the ballpark:
- Hospitality Suites: These are private rooms for meetings or special parties.
- Diamond Club: A special area with catering services.
- Party Deck: Great for company outings or other celebrations.
- Ballpark BBQ Picnic Area: This spot can hold groups of 30 to 350 people.
Kids will love the Fun Zone! It's located near the lawn seating area. Parking at the ballpark costs $2, and it has been that price since 1999.
Food and Shopping
You can find all kinds of food at TD Bank Ballpark. They have classic stadium snacks like hot dogs. But they also offer healthy food and gluten-free options. HomePlate Catering & Hospitality is in charge of all the food.
If you want souvenirs, check out the Patriots Team Store. It's right by the main entrance. You can buy official team merchandise there.
Green Energy at the Ballpark
TD Bank Ballpark is very modern and eco-friendly! It has 3,465 solar panels. These panels are expected to make 1,140,000 kWh of electricity every year. This means they can power about 88% of the ballpark's needs! The solar panels are located in the Red and White parking lots. They even provide covered parking spots.
Health and Wellness
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital has a large center at the ballpark. It's about 10,000 square feet. This center offers physical therapy and sports medicine services. It also serves as the official health care provider for the Somerset Patriots team.
Concerts at the Ballpark
TD Bank Ballpark isn't just for sports! It has also hosted four big concerts:
- Tony Bennett: A famous singer known for traditional pop and jazz music.
- Willie Nelson: A well-known country music artist.
- Jessica Simpson: A popular pop music star.
- A 50's festival: This event featured classic acts like The Teenagers, The Duprees, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Chuck Berry.
Getting to the Ballpark
It's easy to get to TD Bank Ballpark!
By Train
You can take the train using NJ Transit. The Bridgewater station is on the Raritan Valley Line. This station is located right behind the center field wall. It was rebuilt in 1999 when the ballpark was built. The ballpark's White Lot is even used for train commuter parking.
By Car
The ballpark is easy to reach by car too. You can get there using I-287 and U.S. Route 22. These roads connect to other major highways like I-78, the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95), and the Garden State Parkway. There are three parking lots on site: Red, White, and Blue. The solar panels in these lots provide covered parking spaces.
