MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MEANS MAJOR FUN IN DOWNTOWN WINSTON-SALEM
When the Winston-Salem Warthogs played the 2008 Carolina League playoff game with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on September 6th, it ended the historic Ernie Shore Field era. The final out also marked the exciting beginning of downtown baseball for the city.
Originally published in Visit Winston-Salem Visitors Guide
Goodbye to Ernie Shore Field
Opened in 1956 and renovated in 1993 and 2001, Ernie Shore Field was one of the venerable old minor league stadiums that could be found throughout North Carolina and the rest of the southeast. It was named for Yadkin County native Ernie Shore, who spent seven years in the majors with the Red Sox and the Yankees and eventually returned to Winston-Salem.
With lots of brick and a wide concourse behind the seating bowl, Ernie Shore was a great place to see a ballgame for more than a half-century. Teams including the Twins, the Red Birds, the Red Sox, and the Spirits called the stadium home over the years. The Warthogs began play at Ernie Shore in 1995. The stadium welcomed its five millionth fan in 2008! Good to know that this park will become part of the ACC family, and will be home to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons beginning Spring of 2009.
Hello to Downtown Baseball
Ideally situated at Business 40 between Broad Street and Peter’s Creek Parkway, the new stadium is a short stroll from the Winston-Salem Visitor Center (be sure to stop by for ticket upgrade possibilities, popcorn, or other surprises!). The intimate ballpark features 5,500 permanent seats, including several popular picnic areas (Ernie Shore Field held about 6,200). There’s also seating for about 600 on the grass berm (yet another popular feature at new minor league ballparks), and a great place for kids to catch a foul ball or two.
Highlights of the new ballpark and game day experience include: the incredible downtown views from various parts of the stadium; the luxury suites; the all-inclusive club restaurant; and the promotions that folks have come to know from the Ernie Shore Field.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame (and Stadium)
When baseball fans talk about going to a game, the stadium is often mentioned as much as the score. That’s thanks to an incredibly wide variety of stadium styles, sizes, and overall experiences--many of which can be found at Winston-Salem’s new ballpark.
In many ways, the Minor League stadium craze (both new and refurbished) started at the majors with the 1992 opening of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. This throwback to earlier stadiums (but with all the modern amenities) was anything but cookie-cutter and it’s major success and popularity led to the construction of many similar but smaller versions at the minor league level.
There have been dozens of highly successful stadiums built in the classic style within the last 15 years or so. Winston-Salem‘s newest stadium is now on that list. This new stadium features popular options like: open concourses (to watch the action while waiting at the concessions stand); an array of food options (including food and beverage service at some seats and all you can eat or drink options); luxury boxes; multi-million-dollar scoreboards; more numerous and larger bathrooms; and family-friendly attractions and activities to get young ones interested in the national pastime, including the beloved merry-go-round for Winston-Salem’s kids and kids at heart.