Dozer Park

Dozer Park

Former names O'Brien Field (20022008)
Chiefs Stadium (2009–2013)[1]
Location 730 Southwest Jefferson Street
Peoria, IL 61605
Coordinates 40°41′15″N 89°35′51″W / 40.68750°N 89.59750°W / 40.68750; -89.59750Coordinates: 40°41′15″N 89°35′51″W / 40.68750°N 89.59750°W / 40.68750; -89.59750
Owner Peoria Chiefs Community Baseball LLC
Operator Peoria Chiefs Community Baseball LLC
Capacity 7,500
Field size Left Field: 310 ft (94.49 m)
Left Center: 375 ft (114.3 m)
Center Field: 400 ft (121.92 m)
Right Center: 375 ft (114.3 m)
Right Field: 310 ft (94.49 m)
Surface Sod (11¼ inches)
Construction
Broke ground August 16, 2001 (2001-08-16)
Opened May 24, 2002 (2002-05-24)[1]
Construction cost $23 million
($30.3 million in 2016 dollars[2])
Architect HNTB
Services engineer Clark Engineers MW Inc.[3]
General contractor River City Construction LLC[3]
Main contractors Prairie Construction Systems Inc.[3]
Tenants
Peoria Chiefs (MWL) (2002–present)
Bradley Braves (NCAA) (2002–present)

Dozer Park, originally O'Brien Field and formerly Chiefs Stadium, is a baseball field located in downtown Peoria, Illinois.[4] It is the home of the Peoria Chiefs, the Class A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals; the Chiefs previously played at Meinen Field. The college baseball team of Bradley University also uses the field. It opened on May 24, 2002.[1]

History

Official groundbreaking ceremonies for the $23 million multi-purpose stadium took place on August 16, 2001.[5] The stadium opened on May 24, 2002 as O'Brien Field,[1] with a game between the Chiefs and the Kane County Cougars.[6]

O'Brien Auto Team held the original naming rights to the facility.[6]

In 2011, the stadium hosted to the IHSA Class 1A and 2A baseball state finals. This was the first year the games were played at the facility.[7]

The Peoria Chiefs became financially troubled. In April 2013, the Chiefs, including the stadium, received $7.35 million in financing and debt forgiveness. The plan included forgiveness of $1.2 million in debt to the City of Peoria; $250,000 more from Bradley University than was being paid before for the Bradley Braves baseball team to use the stadium for 10 years; and $2 million in funding from Caterpillar Inc. for naming rights over 10 years; and $2.7 million in new investment of cash and equity by the Chiefs' ownership group of about 50.[8]

On May 10, 2013, Caterpillar and the Chiefs announced that the stadium would be renamed "Dozer Park", a reference to Caterpillar bulldozers.[4][1]

The field

Dozer Park's sod has an 8-inch (200 mm) deep root zone of 90% sand and 10% Dakota peat for nutrition. The high concentration of sand naturally relieves soil compaction.

Beneath the sand and peat mix are 6 inches (150 mm) of gravel. Running through the gravel are drainage tiles that run from home plate to center field. A huge sump pump beyond center field then drains into the city sewer system.

The makeup of the pitcher's mound and batter's boxes are almost 100% clay because it packs better and holds moisture well. The rest of the infield skin area is around 80% clay and 20% sand.

The field will hold up to 5 inches (130 mm) of rain an hour.

The field is mowed every day during homestands, trimmed to 1–1 14 inches (25–32 mm) high. It takes less than an hour to cut the outfield grass with a 72-inch (1.8 m) cut mower. A walk-behind mower is used for the infield.

The price tag for the field itself was around $450,000.[9]

Luxury suites

Dozer Park accommodates 20 luxury suites. Examples include:

Food

Other than the five fixed concession stands there are mobile carts around the park. The Chiefs' concessionaire is Professional Sports Catering.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chiefs Stadium Renamed Dozer Park". Peoria Chiefs. May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  2. Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "O'Brien Field". SportsBusiness Journal. May 27, 2002. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Cape, Kevin (May 10, 2013). "Caterpillar Names Baseball Stadium 'Dozer Park'". Journal Star (Peoria). Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  5. "South Bend Takes Pair of Games from Chiefs". The Pantagraph (Bloomington–Normal). August 11, 2001. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Stadium History". Peoria Chiefs. December 2, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  7. "Baseball State Finals: 1A/2A Tournament Moves To Peoria, 3A/4A Extended In Joliet". Illinois High School Association. October 12, 2010. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  8. Vlahos, Nick (April 30, 2013). "Peoria City Council Approves Financial Restructuring for Chiefs". Journal Star (Peoria). Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  9. Reynolds, Dave. "Guide to O'Brien Field". Journal Star (Peoria). Archived from the original on June 3, 2002. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Big-League Style Ballpark a Hit in Peoria". Journal Star (Peoria). October 19, 2002. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  11. "Who We're Working With". Professional Sports Catering. Retrieved August 11, 2013.

External links

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