Security Service Field
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Security Service Field, formerly known as Sky Sox Stadium, is a professional baseball stadium on the eastern edge of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The stadium is the home of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the AAA-level affiliate of the Colorado Rockies Major League Baseball team. Before the construction of Sky Sox Stadium, the Sky Sox played on a public field at Memorial Park in downtown Colorado Springs. Sky Sox Stadium was constructed in time for the 1988 season at a cost of $3.7 million and was the home of the Sky Sox for seventeen seasons (1988-2004). During that time the Sky Sox won two Pacific Coast League championships (1992 and 1995). Attendance was generally good, but at the end of the 2004 season, facing declining turnout and an assortment of problems that showed the ballpark's age (capped by the center-field scoreboard, on which the ball, strike, and out indicators were non-functional), team executives decided to renovate the ballpark. Construction is ongoing, but some changes are already apparent, such as an improved sound system, a more modern scoreboard with video screen[1], a new walkway leading to the gates, a banquet facility at the end of the right field concourse, and a readout in the right field wall displaying the speed of each pitch. Along with these changes, the park's naming rights were sold to Security Service Credit Union, a prominent local company and longtime sponsor of the Sky Sox.
Along with baseball games, Security Service Field sometimes plays home to local concerts. Security Service Field is also the part-time home of the amateur soccer club Colorado Springs Blizzard of the USL Premier Development League. Security Service Field is owned by the Elmore Sports Group and managed by the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. The facility seats 8,500 for baseball, but the capacity can be expanded to 10,000 for other events.
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[edit] Outfield dimensions
- Left field: 350
- Left-center field: 385
- Center field: 410
- Right-center field: 385
- Right field: 350
[edit] Trivia
The names of some of the great players in Sky Sox history ring the upper deck. Known as the members of the Sky Sox Hall of Fame, they are Luis Medina (played 1988-1991), Sam Hairston (played 1950-1956), Charlie Manuel (managed 1990-1992), Alan Cockrell (played 1990, 1992, 1994-1996), Norm "Bulldog" Coleman (non-player who helped the Sky Sox succeed financially, inducted 1996), Ryan Hawblitzel (played 1993-1996), Trenidad Hubbard (played 1993-1996), and Brad Mills (managed 1993-1996).
Security Service Field is at a higher elevation than any other professional baseball park in the United States. The stadium faces east, toward the plains and the Springs Ranch housing development, meaning that fans cannot see the Rocky Mountains to the west. This is due to the fact the sun sets over the mountains and would be a distraction to batters if the stadium faced west.
At the end of the right field foul line, there is a raised deck in foul territory. On the deck is a hot tub, from which up to eight fans can watch the game.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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