UPMC Park facts for kids
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| Former names | Jerry Uht Park (1995–2016) |
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| Location | 110 East 10th Street Erie, Pennsylvania United States |
| Coordinates | 42°7′37″N 80°4′48″W / 42.12694°N 80.08000°W |
| Owner | City of Erie |
| Operator | Erie County Convention Center Authority |
| Capacity | 6,000 |
| Field size | Left Field: 316 feet (96 m) Center Field: 400 feet (120 m) Right Field: 328 feet (100 m) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 27, 1994 |
| Opened | June 20, 1995 |
| Construction cost | $9 million ($17.3 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Lescher Mahoney Sports Weber Murphy Fox |
| Project manager | Heery International |
| Structural engineer | MC Engineers, Inc. |
| Tenants | |
| Erie SeaWolves (EL/Double-A Northeast) (1995–present) | |
UPMC Park, also known as Jerry Uht Park for many years, is a cool baseball park found in Erie, Pennsylvania. It's the home field for the Erie SeaWolves, a Minor League Baseball team. The SeaWolves play in the Double-A Northeast league, which is a step below Major League Baseball. They are connected to the Detroit Tigers, a big team in Major League Baseball.
The first official game at UPMC Park was on June 20, 1995. A player named José Guillén hit a home run that helped the SeaWolves win! This park replaced an older field called Ainsworth Field. UPMC Park has a real grass and dirt field. You can even find special local foods there, like pepperoni balls and ox roast sandwiches. The stadium is part of a bigger area called the Louis J. Tullio Plaza. This area also has the Erie Insurance Arena and the Warner Theatre. All these places are managed by the Erie County Convention Center Authority. The stadium can hold up to 6,000 fans. In 2016, the park changed its name to UPMC Park after partnering with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).
In 2008, the sports channel ESPN said UPMC Park had one of the top five best seating arrangements in minor league baseball. They really liked its special mezzanine level, which gives a great view of the field. Also, in 2015, a group called People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ranked the stadium as one of the top five most vegetarian-friendly minor league ballparks.
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History of UPMC Park
Before UPMC Park was built, the Erie SeaWolves team was called the Welland Pirates. They played in Welland, Ontario, Canada. The team moved to Erie because their owner wanted a better stadium. The old field in Erie, Ainsworth Field, needed big upgrades that the owner didn't want to do.
The city of Erie got an $8 million grant from Pennsylvania to build UPMC Park. This helped the Welland Pirates move to Erie. The city, Erie County, and a group called Team Erie helped pay for the rest of the costs. Even a nearby town, Millcreek Township, contributed money. The land where the park now stands used to have a Sears building. Construction started on July 27, 1994, and the park was finished in May 1995.
On July 10, 2015, UPMC Park hosted a professional wrestling event for the first time. It was called the Grand Slam Tour by Global Force Wrestling.
Why the Park Was Named Jerry Uht
The park was first named after Gerard T. "Jerry" Uht, Sr. He was a minor league baseball player and lived in Erie for a long time. In 1995, he gave $500,000 to help support the downtown baseball stadium forever. Because of his kindness, the city named the park Jerry Uht Park in his honor. This money helps pay for stadium upkeep and equipment. The name stayed Jerry Uht Park until 2016. Then, it changed to UPMC Park after a new agreement with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Cool Features of UPMC Park
The seating at UPMC Park along the first and third base lines is a bit different. This is because the park was built in a busy city area with limited space. There are three main places to buy food and drinks, plus a picnic area for fans. There are also six fancy suites for special events. The park is known for its two unique grandstands, each with its own design.
In 2006, the park got a $4 million upgrade. They added a new 40-foot (12 m) electronic scoreboard. It has a cool nautical theme, spelling "Erie" with international maritime signal flags. They also added a two-level picnic area, eleven luxury box seats, and new food stands. Another videoboard was added to the Erie Insurance Arena, which is next to the stadium. This board shows scores from other baseball games and player stats. UPMC Park's batting area looks a bit like Comerica Park in Detroit.
In spring 2012, a new 33-foot (10 m) wall was built along the park's edge near the Erie Insurance Arena. People started calling it "the Gray Monster." This is like the famous Green Monster at Fenway Park in Boston. Even with the tall wall, the home-run line stayed at 17-foot (5.2 m). This wall was part of a big $42 million renovation of the Erie Insurance Arena. The left-field pole was also moved a bit further away from home plate.
In 2018, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced that UPMC Park would get $12 million for more upgrades. These plans include new video boards, updated suites, and better food and restroom areas. There will also be a new entrance in left field with a team store and a stadium club.
Yummy Food at UPMC Park
Happy Howler, LLC, takes care of the food at UPMC Park. They offer classic ballpark foods like hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, and peanuts. But you can also find special local foods! These include Erie-made pepperoni balls, ox roast sandwiches, and cheesesteaks.
One of the most unique food spots is Smith's Sausage Shack. They grill different kinds of sausages, like German bratwurst, Italian sausage, Polish kiełbasa, and Cajun sausage. You can also get Pennsylvania-brewed Yuengling beer there. For those who want healthier options, or are vegetarian or vegan, there are veggie burgers and burrito bowls. Pepsi is the only soft drink sold at UPMC Park.
In 2017, a special hot dog called the Mojo & AC Rocket Dog won an award! It's a Smith's hot dog with pulled pork, mac & cheese, bacon, and BBQ sauce. The SeaWolves won again in 2018 with their Fiesta Burger. It has pepper jack cheese, bacon, guacamole, and onion strings. In 2018, the park even offered a hot dog topped with Nerds candy in a cotton candy bun! This wild food item became famous across the country.
Images for kids
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Outfield of UPMC Park, 2007
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Infield of UPMC Park, 2007
