Blair County Ballpark

Infobox_Baseball_Stadium
stadium_name = Blair County Ballpark
nickname = B.C.B.


location = 1000 Park Ave
Altoona, PA 16602
broke_ground = March 7, 1998
opened = April 15, 1999
closed =
demolished =
owner =
operator =
surface = Grass
construction_cost =
architect = L.D. Astorino Companies, Pittsburgh
former_names =
tenants = Altoona Curve
seating_capacity = 7,210
dimensions = Left Field - 325 ft
Left-Center - 365 ft
Center Field - 405 ft
Right-Center - 375 ft
Right Field - 325 ft
Fence Height - Mostly 8 ft but varies from 6 to 16

Blair County Ballpark is a 7,210-seat baseball-only stadium in Altoona, Pennsylvania that hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 15, 1999, as the tenants of the facility, the Altoona Curve defeated the Bowie Baysox, 6-1. The ballpark succeeded Veterans Memorial Field as the home of professional baseball in Altoona.

Blair County Ballpark has a façade that resembles an old-fashioned railroad roundhouse that are prevalent throughout the city of Altoona. The stadium is double-decked, with the Diamond Club seating section making up the lower level. The main concourse with concessions and restrooms sits behind this section, and is covered by the upper levels of seating.

Blair County Ballpark is unique for its roller coaster located beyond the right-field wall. This ride, called Skyliner, is actually part of the Lakemont Park amusement park located next door. The ridges of the Allegheny Mountains can also be viewed from inside the stadium.

History

The groundbreaking ceremony for Blair County Ballpark was held on March 7, 1998. The addition of Major League Baseball teams in Phoenix, Arizona and St. Petersburg, Florida in 1998 also created room for Minor League Baseball to expand. Two additional teams were added to the Eastern League for the 1999 season: the Curve and the Erie SeaWolves. The city of Altoona won the favor of the Eastern League over a bid from Springfield, Massachusetts.

Blair County Ballpark hosted the Eastern League All-Star Game on July 12, 2006, before a record crowd of 9,308 fans. The largest regular-season crowd was 9,255, recorded on August 10, 2003 for a doubleheader against the Harrisburg Senators.

Photos of the park

External links

* [http://www.littleballparks.com/Stadium/2002/Altoona/Altoona.htm Blair County Ballpark Views - "Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues"]
* [http://www.frontiernet.net/~rochballparks2/altoona/altoona.htm Photographs of Blair County Ballpark - "Rochester Area Ballparks"]
* [http://www.small-parks.com/BCB.htm Small-Parks.com]