| Northeast Delta Dental Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Former names | Merchantsauto.com Stadium (2006-2011) Fisher Cats Ballpark (2005) |
| Location | One Line Drive Manchester, NH 03102 |
| Broke ground | May 7, 2004[1] |
| Opened | April 6, 2005 |
| Owner | New Hampshire Fisher Cats |
| Operator | New Hampshire Fisher Cats |
| Surface | Natural Grass |
| Construction cost | $20 million ($22.5 million in 2012 dollars[2]) |
| Architect | HNTB |
| Project Manager | Parsons Brinckerhoff |
| General Contractor | Payton Construction Corp.[1] |
| Capacity | 7,500 |
| Field dimensions | Left Field - 325 ft Center Field - 404 ft Right Field - 325 ft |
| Tenants | |
| New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Eastern League) (2005-Present) | |
Northeast Delta Dental Stadium (formerly known as Merchantsauto.com Stadium) is a stadium in Manchester, New Hampshire that holds 7,500 people. It is used primarily for baseball, and is the home field of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats minor league (AA) baseball team. The first game played at the ballpark was on April 7, 2005, between the New Britain Rock Cats and the Fisher Cats. The first concert was performed by Bob Dylan on August 27, 2006. In 2011 Northeast Delta Dental signed a ten-year contract for the ballpark's naming rights with a five-year option.[3] However, like the Verizon Wireless Arena, its former name still adorns all of the road signs along the major routes in town.
The park was built on the former Singer Park in the Manchester Millyard, which was used for circuses, carnivals and a summer concert series. It is located in the downtown area along the Merrimack River, facing northwest towards the heart of downtown. The park is within walking distance of many local landmarks, including Manchester's mill district, the Verizon Wireless Arena, the WMUR television station, the University of New Hampshire at Manchester college campus, and countless restaurants and bars. It has an open concourse, allowing fans to view the action on the field at all times, and includes 32 luxury suites that line the upper level and provide fans with a panoramic view of the field. One of the most dominant features is the Hilton Garden Inn hotel located beyond the fence in left-center field. The hotel is six stories high and has more than 125 rooms; each room on the south side of the hotel has windows that overlook center field and have shatterproof glass due to the proximity to the park.
In October 2006, the stadium hosted the funeral service for fallen city police officer Michael Briggs, who was shot while responding to a domestic dispute call.
On July 16, 2008, the stadium hosted a record 8,762 fans for the 2008 Northeast Delta Dental Eastern League All-Star Game. This record was surpassed on May 26, 2009 with 8,903 fans in attendance. Red Sox pitcher John Smoltz started the game for the opposing Portland Sea Dogs in a rehab start.[4]
In April 2008 the park opened the Sam Adams Bar and Grill, offering a buffet, full menu, and bar directly overlooking the left field of the park.[5]
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