WellSpan Park facts for kids
 |
|
The ballpark entrance in September 2019
|
|
 WellSpan Park
Location in Pennsylvania
WellSpan Park
Location in the United States
|
|
| Former names | PeoplesBank Park (2016–2022) Santander Stadium (2014–2015) Sovereign Bank Stadium (2007–2013) |
|---|---|
| Address | 5 Brooks Robinson Way York, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 39°58′3″N 76°43′45″W / 39.96750°N 76.72917°W |
| Owner | York County Industrial Development Authority |
| Operator | Opening Day Partners; York Revolution |
| Capacity | 7,500 |
| Field size | Left field: 300 ft (91 m) Center field: 405 ft (123 m) Right field: 326 ft (99 m) Left field wall: 37.7 ft (11.5 m) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 29, 2006 |
| Opened | June 15, 2007 |
| Construction cost | $32.5 million |
| Architect | Tetra Tech, Inc. |
| General contractor | Lobar Inc. |
| Tenants | |
| York Revolution (ALPB) 2007–present | |
WellSpan Park is a cool baseball stadium in York, Pennsylvania. It has 7,500 seats for fans. This park is the home field for the York Revolution baseball team. They play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.
The first official baseball game at WellSpan Park was on June 16, 2007. The York Revolution played against the Newark Bears and won 9–6. The park is located right next to Codorus Creek.
Planning for the stadium started way back in 2003. But some local issues and money problems caused delays. The city of York cleared 20 old buildings in 2006 to make way for the park. Construction began in September 2006.
The park opened a month later than planned because of bad weather. Over the years, the park has had a few different names. It was first called Sovereign Bank Stadium, then Santander Stadium, and later PeoplesBank Park. In February 2023, it became WellSpan Park.
WellSpan Park was even named "Ballpark of the Year" in 2008. This award came from the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. It recognized the great work of the Revolution staff and groundskeepers. They kept the field and stadium in top shape.
Contents
Discovering WellSpan Park's History
The city of York wanted a baseball stadium for a long time. They tried for ten years to make it happen. In 2003, it looked like a stadium would finally be built. But local politics and money issues stopped the plans.
Many people in York hoped to have a team at the same time as the nearby Lancaster Barnstormers. But that chance slipped away. The stadium was first planned for Small Athletic Field. However, the school board decided against it. They felt their money was better spent on other school field upgrades.
After three years, an agreement was finally made. The stadium would be built in the Arch Street neighborhood. Other places were considered, but they didn't work out. These included Hoffman Field and the Ohio Blender site.
WellSpan Park also hosts a fun New Year's Eve party. It's called the New Year's Revolution. A giant White Rose is dropped to count down to the new year. This event's name is a clever play on "New Year's resolution" and the Revolution baseball team.
The stadium has hosted the Atlantic League All-Star Game twice. The first time was on July 14, 2011. John Kuhn, a former Green Bay Packer, threw out the first pitch. The second All-Star Game was held in July 2019.
Since 2020, WellSpan Park has been the home of the United Wiffleball National Championship. This is a big event for Wiffleball players!
Exploring Ballpark Attractions
Brooks Robinson Plaza: Honoring a Baseball Legend
At the main entrance of WellSpan Park, you'll find the Brooks Robinson Plaza. This area celebrates the famous baseball player Brooks Robinson. There's a statue of him and information about his amazing 23-year career.
Brooks Robinson played for York's old team, the White Roses, in 1955. After that season, he joined the Baltimore Orioles. The ballpark itself looks a bit like Oriole Park at Camden Yards. This is a tribute to Brooks Robinson and the Orioles. The dimensions of the field are even the same as the Orioles' old home, Memorial Stadium.
To honor Robinson even more, the park's address changed in 2007. It became 5 Brooks Robinson Way. This change recognized his incredible baseball journey, which began in York.
The Arch Nemesis: A Super Tall Wall
WellSpan Park has a super tall wall in left field called the Arch Nemesis. It stands at 37 feet, 8 inches (11.48 meters) high. This makes it taller than any other wall in professional baseball!
It's even taller than the famous Green Monster at Fenway Park. That wall, home to the Boston Red Sox, is 37 feet, 2 inches (11.33 meters) high. The Arch Nemesis in York is 6 inches (15 centimeters) taller. The first home run hit over this wall happened on June 16, 2007.
Why is the wall so tall? The stadium site was quite small. Architects had to fit the park between Arch Street and a railway line. The left field foul pole ended up being close to Arch Street. This meant it was only about 300 feet (91 meters) from home plate.
This short distance is called a "Short Porch." It makes it easier for players to hit home runs. Since they couldn't move the foul pole further back, they made the wall taller. This makes hitting a home run over it much harder. The name "Arch Nemesis" comes from Arch Street and how the wall challenges home run attempts.
Scoreboards: Keeping Track of the Game
WellSpan Park has four scoreboards to keep fans updated. In right field, there's a modern, colorful electronic scoreboard. It shows animations and all the game details.
At the bottom of the Arch Nemesis in left field, there's an old-fashioned scoreboard. This one is operated by hand! Having a manual scoreboard is another cool feature shared with the famous ballpark in Boston.
Two more electronic scoreboards are located on the skybox level. One is along the first base line, and the other is along the third base line. These show the game status in a simple, clear way.
More Fun at WellSpan Park
There are many other attractions for fans at WellSpan Park. The Mezzogiorno Picnic Pavilion can hold up to 600 fans. It offers classic ballpark food and local favorites.
Kids can have a blast at the Stauffer's DownTown Playground. This fun area has a carousel, a jungle web, playground equipment, and bouncy inflatables. The Revolution's mascot, DownTown, often hosts the playground.
You can also visit the First Capital Credit Union Team Store. It's the official shop for York Revolution souvenirs and clothing. It stays open all year long.
The park offers different seating choices. There's a grassy lawn area for 1,600 fans. You can also find five special rooms overlooking the field. These rooms can hold 300 people in total. Their names, like Keystone Room and White Rose Hall, refer to York's history and location.
The main seating area has 7,500 green, comfy chairback seats. These are divided into two levels. An open walkway goes all the way around the field.
WellSpan Park even has a small, working cannon! It's fired whenever a Revolution player hits a home run. It also goes off when the team wins a home game. A mascot named Cannonball Charlie operates the cannon. He wears a cool Continental Army uniform.
Concerts at the Park
WellSpan Park isn't just for baseball; it also hosts concerts! The first big concert featured the blues-rock band, Blues Traveler. They played on June 14, 2008.
A few months later, the Christian rock band, Sevenglory, performed. They played after a game for the Revolution's Faith & Family Day. This event celebrated York's Christian community.
