Jimmy John's Field
Jimmy John's Field is a baseball field in Utica, Michigan, home to four teams that play in the United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL), an independent baseball league. It opened on May 30, 2016 where the Utica Unicorns defeated the Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers, 5–1.[2]
 Jimmy John's Field | |
| |
| Address | 7171 Auburn Road Utica, Michigan 48317 |
|---|---|
| Owner | General Sports and Entertainment |
| Operator | General Sports and Entertainment |
| Type | Baseball |
| Capacity | 4,500 |
| Field size | Left Field - 315 feet (96 m) Center Field - 395 feet (120 m) Right Field - 320 feet (98 m)[1] |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | Yes |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 23, 2015 |
| Construction cost | $15 million |
| Tenants | |
| Utica Unicorns (USPBL) (2016-present) Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers (USPBL) (2016-present) Eastside Diamond Hoppers (USPBL) (2016-present) Westside Woolly Mammoths (USPBL) (2017-present) | |
| Website | |
| https://uspbl.com/jimmy-johns-field/ | |
Naming rights were purchased by Jimmy John's, a sandwich restaurant chain.[3]
History
The ballpark is located in downtown Utica, just outside of Detroit. Jimmy John's Field is owned by General Sports Entertainment (GSE), however Utica's Downtown Development Authority will own the land it sits on and lease it to them for $1 per year for 30 years.[3] The property was the site of a capped brownfield landfill that served as an unlicensed dump for household waste, that sat vacant the last 80 years.[4]
General Sports created the USPBL. The USPBL is the first independent professional baseball league in the metropolitan Detroit area.[5]
Construction began in June 2015 and the venue opened on May 30, 2016. The cost of the field was $15 million.[6]
In the park's first season it served all three teams as their home field, averaging 3,200 fans per game with over 200,000 fans total.[7] Since its second season, it has also served as the home field for the Westside Woolly Mammoths.
The field served as the home of the NAIA Marygrove College Mustangs baseball team until athletics were dropped in December 2017.[8] In addition, the park hosted an NCAA game in April 2017.[9]
Venue
The stadium has a total capacity of 4,500 fans, with 2,000 box seats between first and third base. It features 7 founder's level suites, 5 dugout suites, 12 patio suites, 4 picnic areas, and a grass berm. The ballpark also features a restaurant and bar on the concourse behind home plate.
In the right field corner there is a wiffle ball field and a playground.
The field has extremely wide foul territories, and a concert quality speaker system, allowing it to host other sports and events in the future.
Before the USPBL's second season, the stadium added 3 new bars, a concert stage in right field, and many new menu items.[10]
Awards
In September 2016, Jimmy John's Field won the CREW Detroit Impact Award in the special impact award category for its transformation of landfill parcels along the Clinton River.[11]
In March 2017, the stadium project won the Engineering Eminent Conceptor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan.[12]
References
- "Jimmy John's Field". In The Ballparks. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- "Scoreboard: May 30, 2016". United Shore Professional Baseball League. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- Spedden, Zach (1 February 2016). "Ballpark Preview: Jimmy John's Field". Independent Baseball News. Ballpark Digest. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- Hall, Christina (23 November 2015). "Names, mascots unveiled for teams at new Utica stadium". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- "Our Divisions: United Shore Pro Baseball League". General Sports. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- Reichard, Kevin (30 May 2016). "New Utica Ballpark a Springboard for League Expansion". Independent Baseball News. Ballpark Digest. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- Folsom, Brandon (8 September 2016). "First year a home run for United Shore Professional Baseball League". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- "JIMMY JOHN'S FIELD". MarygroveMustangs.com. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- "OAKLAND FALLS TO CENTRAL MICHIGAN 8-4 AT JIMMY JOHN'S FIELD". Oakland Golden Grizzlies. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- Rose, Justin (8 May 2017). "USPBL puts finishing touches on park as opening day approaches". WXYZ-TV. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- Roberts, Adrienne (22 September 2016). "New Humane Society campus, Jimmy John's Field win CREW Impact Awards". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
- Brenke, Ronald (14 March 2017). "Michigan's Top Engineering and Surveying Projects Recognized at Annual ACEC/M Excellence Awards Ceremony" (PDF). The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan. Retrieved 22 March 2017.