Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium
Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium is the home of the Aberdeen IronBirds, an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles in the South Atlantic League. The stadium is located in Aberdeen, Maryland. The 6,300-seat Ripken Stadium held its first game on June 18, 2002. As of 2011 the team had sold out every home game at Ripken Stadium since it began playing there in 2002.[7][8]
Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium Location within Maryland Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium (the United States) | |
| Location | 873 Long Drive Aberdeen, Maryland 21001 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°31′51″N 76°11′10″W / 39.530873°N 76.185985°W |
| Owner | City of Aberdeen |
| Operator | Maryland Stadium Authority |
| Capacity | 6,300[1] |
| Field size | Left Field – 310 feet (94 m) Center Field – 400 feet (122 m) Right Field – 310 feet (94 m) |
| Surface | Artificial Turf |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | October 19, 2000[2] |
| Opened | June 18, 2002[6] |
| Construction cost | $18 million[3] ($30.5 million in 2023 dollars[4]) |
| Architect | Design Exchange Architects Inc. Ripken Design |
| Project manager | Heery International[5] |
| General contractor | Baltimore Contractors LLC[6] |
| Tenants | |
| Aberdeen IronBirds (NYPL/South Atlantic League) 2002–present | |
The stadium is part of Cal Ripken Jr.'s Aberdeen Complex in his hometown of Aberdeen, Maryland, located just off Interstate 95 at Maryland Route 22. Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium is only 2.9 miles off the East Coast Greenway. The complex also includes several smaller fields for local youth sports leagues, as well as an adjacent Marriott hotel. The stadium is the closest structure of the complex to the highway, with the right field fence and scoreboard visible from it. The stadium hosts soccer matches as well.
The expansive parking lot of Ripken Stadium is frequently used as a venue for SCCA autocross racing for many racers on the east coast.
Features edit
The stadium features a three-tiered cafe behind home plate, available for patrons who want to have dinner and drinks during a game. The upper level has a press box behind home plate, 256 club seats and six skyboxes. Ripken Stadium was one of the first short-season Single-A ballparks to have a fully enclosed club level and skyboxes.[5] A new synthetic turf playing surface and LED sports lighting were installed prior to the 2021 regular season.[9]
Notable events edit
In 2009, The Maryland Redbirds, of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, (the CRSCBL), played all weekday games and one weekend doubleheader at the stadium. The CRSCBL previously used the stadium for the annual all-star game in 2005 and 2007. The stadium also hosted the inaugural Ripken Cup collegiate baseball invitational between University of Maryland and Towson University on April 15, 2014 and May 7, 2014.[10] The 2016 Big East Conference baseball tournament was held in Aberdeen May 26–29.
References edit
- ^ "Ripken Stadium". Minor League Baseball. February 6, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
- ^ "Groundbreaking Set for Aberdeen Stadium". The Baltimore Sun. October 19, 2000. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ^ "The Error in Aberdeen". The Baltimore Sun. December 16, 2007. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ a b Gunts, Edward (June 16, 2002). "Only the Players Are Minor-League". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ^ a b Broughton, David (June 17, 2002). "Facility Opening: Ripken Stadium". SportsBusiness Journal. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ^ "IronBirds Close Out Season With One Last Walk-Off Win". Minor League Baseball. September 5, 2010. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
The IronBirds front office staff would like to send out a big "thank you" to the fans for making 2010 another sell-out season.
- ^ . Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference. April 15, 2011. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
The 6,300 capacity stadium is one of two stadiums in the history of baseball to sell out every home game in franchise history.
- ^ Melewski, Steve (April 30, 2021). "The value of pitching inside and Aberdeen's new playing surface". Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- ^ "Ripken Stadium to Host Inaugural Ripken Cup". The Baltimore Sun. February 18, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
External links edit
- Official Website
- Aberdeen Ironbirds: Ripken Stadium
- Maryland Stadium Authority: Ripken Stadium
- Ripken Stadium Views – Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues