| Fielders Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Location | Route 173 & Green Bay Road Zion, IL 60099 |
| Broke ground | November 6, 2009 |
| Built | June 29, 2010 |
| Opened | June 29, 2010 |
| Owner | Kevin Costner |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Architect | Panattoni Development Company |
| Capacity | 7,000 for baseball and 12,500 for concerts |
| Tenants | |
| Lake County Fielders (North American League) (2010-present) | |
Fielders Stadium is a baseball park in Zion, Illinois, nicknamed "A Diamond on the Border" and "Lake County's Field of Dreams," and was home to the Lake County Fielders of the North American League. The ballpark was to be located on the corner of 9th Street and Green Bay Road in the Trumpet Park business park in Zion.
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Before the property for the stadium had been secured, an official groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 5, 2009, at a warehouse adjacent to the ballpark's future site. In February 2010, with construction yet to begin on the land that had yet to be purchased, the Fielders announced that they would downsize their plans for the stadium in order to complete the park in time for its June 11 opening day. Eventually, when the city of Zion proved unable to secure funding for the purchase of the property, the city announced in April 2010 that the stadium site was moved several blocks south to a new location at the corner of Illinois State 173 and Green Bay Road. For the 2010 season, Zion and the Fielders hope to build a temporary facility that will resemble a "county fair" setting while construction continues during the season. Temporary bleachers and party decks will be erected around the field.
The state of the art ballpark was to have a capacity of 7,000 spectators[1], and promised box seats, pub style seats, and general lawn seating. The stadium was also expected to feature five luxury suites and a year-round restaurant and banquet hall. The park also planned to feature a Kids Zone, party decks, and a concert stage. It remains to be seen to what extent these features will appear in the new park.
The new ballpark calls for many of the same features, as well as a movie theater and "ballpark village" setting around the stadium. Construction has yet to begin.
The Fielders opened the 2010 season at Carthage College across the border in Kenosha, Wisconsin, because of Zion Ballpark's finance problems. The Fielders would eventually move back to Zion on July 2, playing at a field that was not much more than a field and bleachers. On Monday, July 26, the Fielders will play their first night game in Zion, as lights have been installed.
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