The Ballpark at Harbor Yard

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard
Harbor Yard

Exterior of ballpark from parking lot

Ballpark exterior on opening day April 26, 2012
Location 500 Main Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Coordinates 41°10′19″N 73°11′15″W / 41.17194°N 73.18750°W / 41.17194; -73.18750Coordinates: 41°10′19″N 73°11′15″W / 41.17194°N 73.18750°W / 41.17194; -73.18750
Owner City of Bridgeport
Operator Bridgeport Bluefish
Capacity 5,300
Field size Left Field: 325 feet (99 m)
Center Field: 405 feet (123 m)
Right Field: 325 feet (99 m)
Surface grass
Construction
Opened May 21, 1998
Construction cost $19 million
Tenants
Bridgeport Bluefish (ALPB) (1998–present)
Bridgeport Barrage (MLL) (2001–2003)
Sacred Heart Pioneers (NCAA) (2001–present)[1]
Website
bridgeportbluefish.com/stadium/

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard is a 5,300-seat baseball park in Bridgeport, Connecticut that hosted its first regular season baseball game on May 21, 1998, as the tenants of the facility, the Bridgeport Bluefish, lost to the Aberdeen Arsenal. The stadium is located next to the Webster Bank Arena. It was named "Harbor Yard" as an allusion to Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland.

Located on Bridgeport's Long Island Sound waterfront, Harbor Yard is also encircled by Interstate 95 and the Northeast Corridor rail line. The site also has navigable ingress and egress routes to northern Fairfield County and the Naugatuck River Valley via the 8/25 connector.

History

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard opened on May 21, 1998 on the site of the former Jenkins Valve factory, with the success of the Bridgeport Bluefish paving the way for progress in the city of Bridgeport. Improvements to the Bridgeport waterfront in the past few years have included the creation of the Webster Bank Arena in October 2001, and the Transit Parking Garage. The demolition of the Pequonnock apartment buildings in 2002 improved the parking situation for fans attending games at the Ballpark, as well as for other places in Bridgeport. The Ballpark and Webster Bank Arena are accredited for revitalizing the city into a prosperous waterfront attraction and destination.[2]

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard was constructed in between 1997 and 1998, and its $19 million price tag was funded through public and team contributions. It has a seating capacity of 5,300, with room for 200 more fans for sold-out games. Believing that Harbor Yard would be one of the important pieces of Bridgeport's renewal, team co-founder, Jack McGregor, chose its name as an allusion to Baltimore's renewal of the Camden Yards neighborhood. The stadium occupies an area once home to some of Bridgeport's most notable homes and industries.

Harbor Yard was also the home field of the Bridgeport Barrage of Major League Lacrosse from 2001 to 2003. The Barrage relocated to Philadelphia after the 2003 season.

On October 1, 2009 the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball granted the ballpark the 2009 Atlantic League Park of the Year award.[3]

All-Star Games

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard hosted two different All-Star games in its history: the first MLL All-Star Game in 2001, and the 2006 Atlantic League All-Star Game. In July 2015, the Ballpark hosted the 2015 Atlantic League All-Star game.[4]

Ballpark attractions

The park features concessions that feature traditional ballpark fare served at two restaurants: the People's Bank Marina, an all-you-can-eat buffet; and the Harbor Club, restaurant that serves an upscale ballpark menu in a relaxing atmosphere.

Kids at the ballpark can play at the United Way Kids' Cove, which provides entertainment for children with a variety of playground equipment. The party suite is for birthday parties and other special occasions.

The Bluefish added the Two Roads Beer Garden for the 2015 season, sponsored by the Two Roads Brewery from Stratford.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Sacred Heart Pioneers at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard". Retrieved 2015-10-03.
  2. ↑ "History of the Ballpark at Harbor Yard". Bridgeport Bluefish. Archived from the original on November 14, 2006. Retrieved January 2, 2007.
  3. ↑ "The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball: HARBOR YARD NAMED BALLPARK OF THE YEAR". October 1, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  4. ↑ "Official Site of the Bridgeport Bluefish: Bluefish Announce All-Star Event Schedule". June 8, 2015.
  5. ↑ Two Roads Beer Garden Coming to The Ballpark at Harbor Yard]
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Preceded by
None		 Home of the Bridgeport Bluefish
1998 – present 		Succeeded by
Current
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