Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium

Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium

Kino Stadium prior to a Spring Training game, March 2005
Former names Tucson Electric Park (1998-2010)
Broke ground February 14, 1997
Opened February 27, 1998[1]
Owner Pima County
Operator Pima County Stadium District
Surface Grass
Construction cost $38 million[2]
($51.2 million in 2012 dollars[3])
Architect HOK Sport[4]
General Contractor Conelly Swinerton[5]
Capacity 11,500 (8,000 metal seats, lawn seating for 3,000, 500 standing areas)
Field dimensions Right/Left F. - 340 ft (103.6 m)
Center F. - 405 ft (123.4 m)
Tenants

Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB spring training) (1998-2010)
Chicago White Sox (MLB spring training) (1998-2008)
Tucson Sidewinders (PCL) (1998-2008)
Pima CC Aztecs Football (2010- )
Tucson Padres (PCL) (2011- )

University of Arizona Club Baseball (National Club Baseball Association) (2011)
Casino del Sol College All-Star Game (2012)

Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium is a baseball stadium in Tucson, Arizona. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox formerly utilized the park for Cactus League games each March and had their minor league complexes on-site. It was also home to the Tucson Sidewinders of the Pacific Coast League for the team's last decade in Tucson, running from the stadium's 1998 opening season to the 2008 season. It will play host to the Tucson Padres (formerly the Portland Beavers) of the Pacific Coast League for at least the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The stadium was named for the local electric utility, Tucson Electric Power until 2010. It seats 11,500 fans. Concerts are often held at the stadium as well.

Contents

Trivia

After Major League Baseball

The Chicago White Sox had an agreement to move to Glendale in a stadium that was completed in the 2009 season. However, the Sox' lease on Kino was to last through 2012. In order to leave Kino early, the Sox proposed a youth baseball academy backed by Major League Baseball surrounding Kino. On November 18, 2008 the Pima County Board of Supervisors agreed to the White Sox's revised offer of $5 million, thus allowing the team to move to Glendale in time for the 2009 season.[7] The Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies, spring training occupant of Tucson's Hi Corbett Field, indicated that they would both need Tucson to have 3 teams in order to continue playing there.[8] The Diamondbacks and Rockies share the new Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in 2011 near Scottsdale. The San Diego Padres Triple-A affiliate played the 2011 season at the Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. They were formerly known as the Portland Beavers. They will play in Tucson for an indeterminate time. Originally the San Diego Padres organization wanted to arrange for a stadium to be approved and constructed in Escondido, California, however that stadium plan later fell through when California eliminated their redevelopment agencies.[9][10] Their owner is currently exploring selling the team to an out of state buyer.

The Pima College Aztecs football team will play its entire home schedule at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium starting in 2010.

The University of Arizona Club Baseball team plays the majority of its home games at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.

References

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Kino_Veterans_Memorial_Stadium Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium] at Wikimedia Commons
Preceded by
Hi Corbett Field
Home of the
Tucson Sidewinders

1998 – 2008
Succeeded by
Aces Ballpark
Preceded by
first ballpark
Home of the
Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training

1998 – 2010
Succeeded by
Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
Preceded by
Ed Smith Stadium
Home of the
Chicago White Sox Spring Training

1998 – 2008
Succeeded by
Camelback Ranch
Preceded by
PGE Park
Home of the
Tucson Padres

2011 – present
Succeeded by
 current home