Hank Aaron Stadium

Hank Aaron Stadium
Hank Aaron Stadium from the outfield in 2009
Map
Location755 Bolling Brothers Boulevard
Mobile, AL 36606
Coordinates30°38′45″N 88°07′01″W / 30.64574°N 88.11687°W / 30.64574; -88.11687
OwnerCity of Mobile
OperatorUnknown
Capacity6,000 [6]
Field sizeLeft Field: 325 ft (99 m)
Left-Center: 396 ft (121 m)
Center Field: 400 ft (120 m)
Right-center: 387 ft (118 m)
Right Field: 310 ft (94 m)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundDecember 12, 1996[1]
OpenedApril 17, 1997
Construction cost$8 million
($15.2 million in 2023 dollars[2])
ArchitectBrisbin Brook Beynon Architects[3]
Project managerNational Sports Services, Inc.[4]
Services engineerVolkert and Associates, Inc.[5]
General contractorWhite-Spunner Construction, Inc.
Tenants
Mobile BayBears (SL) 1997–2019

Hank Aaron Stadium is a baseball park in Mobile, Alabama. From 1997 to 2019, it hosted the Mobile BayBears, a minor-league professional team in the Southern League. The stadium opened in 1997 and has a capacity of 6,000. The ballpark was named after Major League Baseball's home run king (1974–2007) and Mobile native Hank Aaron. It also features a commemorative plaque outside the stadium to honor each Mobilian enshrined at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Hank Aaron Stadium is unique in that the luxury suites are at field level. Thus, infield seating for the general public is elevated from the field by approximately 20 feet.

The BayBears played their final game on September 2, 2019,[7] before a relocation to Madison, Alabama, in 2020.[8] Mobile Sports and Entertainment Group (MSEG) was tabbed as operator of the stadium on December 11, 2019.[9] In 2022, the property owner took back control of the land and has permanently closed the stadium.[10] In 2023, the childhood home of Hank Aaron, which was a museum on the stadium property, was moved to another site in Mobile.[11]

  1. ^ Cuhaj, Joe; Carraway-Hinckle, Tamara (2003). Baseball in Mobile. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing. p. 115. ISBN 0-7385-1582-5. Retrieved February 29, 2012.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Stadiums". Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects. Archived from the original on March 8, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  4. ^ "Facilities". National Sports Services. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  5. ^ "Services". Volkert and Associates, Inc. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  6. ^ "Hank Aaron Stadium Info". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  7. ^ Gattis, Paul (September 3, 2019). "BayBears bid farewell to Mobile to become Rocket City Trash Pandas". AL.com. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  8. ^ "MiLB Approves Mobile BayBears Move to Madison". Ballpark Digest. May 30, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  9. ^ Spedden, Zach (2019-12-11). "Mobile Tabs New Hank Aaron Stadium Operator". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  10. ^ "Hank Aaron Stadium in limbo: Stadium vacant, city to void lease". 31 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Hank Aaron's childhood home relocating to Mobile park". 5 April 2023.