UPMC Park facts for kids
UPMC Park, originally known as Jerry Uht Park, is a baseball stadium in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is home to the Erie SeaWolves, a Minor League Baseball team. The SeaWolves play in the Eastern League and are connected to the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team.
The stadium opened on June 20, 1995. In the very first game, José Guillén hit a home run to help the SeaWolves win against the Jamestown Jammers. UPMC Park replaced an older stadium called Ainsworth Field, which was built in 1947. The playing field at UPMC Park has natural grass and dirt.
This park is part of the Erie Civic Center Complex. This complex also includes the Erie Insurance Arena and the Warner Theatre. The Erie County Convention Center Authority manages all these places. UPMC Park can seat up to 6,000 fans.
After the 2016 baseball season, the SeaWolves teamed up with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). They made a deal to rename the stadium "UPMC Park." This agreement was extended in April 2022 and will last until 2030. Since the first deal, over $20 million has been spent on stadium improvements. These upgrades include new scoreboards, better clubhouses, and more things for fans to enjoy.
In 2008, ESPN ranked UPMC Park as one of the top minor league ballparks for seating. They liked its special mezzanine level that looks over the field. In 2015, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) also ranked it among the most vegetarian-friendly minor league ballparks.
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 UPMC Park
Location in Pennsylvania
UPMC Park
Location in the United States
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| Former names | Jerry Uht Park (1995–2016) |
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| Address | 110 East 10th Street Erie, Pennsylvania |
| 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) (1995–present) | |
Contents
History of UPMC Park
Before UPMC Park was built, the Erie SeaWolves played in Welland, Ontario. They were called the Welland Pirates back then. The team moved to Erie because the old stadium, Ainsworth Field, needed expensive upgrades.
The government of Pennsylvania provided an $8 million grant to build the new park. The City of Erie, Erie County, and a group called Team Erie also helped. Each contributed $300,000. Nearby Millcreek Township added $25,000. The stadium was built on the site of an old Sears building. Construction began on July 27, 1994, and Jerry Uht Park was finished in May 1995.
On July 10, 2015, Jerry Uht Park hosted a major professional wrestling event. It was called the Grand Slam Tour by Global Force Wrestling.
Who Was Jerry Uht?
Gerard T. "Jerry" Uht Sr. was a baseball player in the minor leagues. He lived in Erie for a long time. In 1995, he set up a special fund of $500,000 to help pay for the stadium's upkeep. The city honored his kindness by naming the stadium Jerry Uht Park.
By 2007, this fund had grown to $750,000. The money was used for things like stadium maintenance and buying new equipment. The stadium kept the name Jerry Uht Park until 2016. That's when the deal with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) changed its name to UPMC Park.
Erie Moon Mammoths Rebranding
In May 2025, the TV show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver offered to rebrand a Minor League Baseball team. The Erie SeaWolves were chosen from 47 teams that applied.
For their home game on June 30, 2025, the SeaWolves temporarily changed their name. They became the "Erie Moon Mammoths." This special event included a new logo, new uniforms, and two fun mascots. The mascots were named Moonster and Mammabelle.
Fans loved the new space-themed merchandise, like jerseys and other items, which sold out very quickly. The June 30 game brought a record crowd to UPMC Park, with over 6,800 fans attending. John Oliver also made videos and added funny comments for the event. Local leaders praised the event for bringing attention to Erie. Fans really enjoyed the Moon Mammoths theme.
UPMC Park Features
The seating along the first and third baselines at UPMC Park is special. This is because the stadium was built in a busy city area. There are three main places to buy food, a picnic area for fans, and six fancy suites for special guests. The park is known for its two unique grandstands, each with a different design.
In 2006, the park had a big renovation that cost $4 million. They added a new 40-foot (12 m) electronic scoreboard with a nautical theme. A two-level picnic area and eleven luxury box seats were also added. New food stands were built too. Another video board was put on the Erie Insurance Arena, which is next to the stadium. This board shows scores from other games and player stats.
In spring 2012, a new 33-foot (10 m) wall was built along the stadium's edge near Erie Insurance Arena. People called it the "Gray Monster," like the famous Green Monster at Fenway Park in Boston. Even with the tall wall, the home-run marker stayed at 17-foot (5.2 m). This was part of a larger $42 million upgrade for Erie Insurance Arena. The left-field foul pole was also moved a bit further out. The batting cages were moved from left field to right-center, closer to the scoreboard.
On August 13, 2018, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced more funding for UPMC Park. The park received $12 million for future upgrades. These plans include better video boards, renovated suites, and improved food and restroom areas. A new entrance in left field will also be added, with a climate-controlled team store and a stadium club.
Food and Drinks at UPMC Park
Happy Howler LLC has been in charge of food and drinks at UPMC Park since 2019. They offer classic ballpark foods like hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, and peanuts. Fans can also try special local foods. These include Erie-made pepperoni balls, ox roast sandwiches, and cheesesteaks.
In July 2017, UPMC Park introduced a new hot dog called the Mojo & AC Rocket Dog. It was topped with pulled pork, mac & cheese, bacon, and BBQ sauce. This creative hot dog won first place in a contest for Minor League Baseball's best recipes.
