Blair County Ballpark
Encyclopedia
Blair County Ballpark is a 7,210-seat baseball-only stadium in Altoona, Pennsylvania
that hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 15, 1999, as the tenants of the facility, the Altoona Curve
defeated the Bowie Baysox
, 6-1. The ballpark succeeded Veterans Memorial Field
as the home of professional baseball in Altoona.
Blair County Ballpark has a façade that resembles an old-fashioned railroad roundhouse that are prevalent throughout the city of Altoona. The stadium is double-decked, with the Diamond Club seating section making up the lower level. The main concourse with concessions and restrooms sits behind this section, and is covered by the upper levels of seating.
Blair County Ballpark is unique for its roller coaster
located beyond the right-field wall. This ride, called Skyliner
, is actually part of the Lakemont Park
amusement park located next door. The ridges of the Allegheny Mountains
can also be viewed from inside the stadium.
teams in Phoenix, Arizona
and St. Petersburg, Florida
in 1998 also created room for Minor League Baseball
to expand. Two additional teams were added to the Eastern League for the 1999 season: the Curve and the Erie SeaWolves
. The city of Altoona won the favor of the Eastern League over a bid from Springfield, Massachusetts
.
Blair County Ballpark hosted the Eastern League
All-Star Game on July 12, 2006, before a record crowd of 9,308 fans. The largest regular-season crowd was 9,255, recorded on August 10, 2003 for a doubleheader against the Harrisburg Senators
.
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
that hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 15, 1999, as the tenants of the facility, the Altoona Curve
Altoona Curve
The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club...
defeated the Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
, 6-1. The ballpark succeeded Veterans Memorial Field
Veterans Memorial Field
Veterans Memorial Field is a stadium in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It is primarily used for baseball and was the home of Altoona Rail Kings. The ballpark has a capacity of 3,000....
as the home of professional baseball in Altoona.
Blair County Ballpark has a façade that resembles an old-fashioned railroad roundhouse that are prevalent throughout the city of Altoona. The stadium is double-decked, with the Diamond Club seating section making up the lower level. The main concourse with concessions and restrooms sits behind this section, and is covered by the upper levels of seating.
Blair County Ballpark is unique for its roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
located beyond the right-field wall. This ride, called Skyliner
Skyliner (roller coaster)
Skyliner is the name of a wooden roller coaster located at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It originally opened in 1960 at New York's Roseland Park, and was John C. Allen's first full-size coaster design. John Allen designed three kiddie coasters prior to this one...
, is actually part of the Lakemont Park
Lakemont Park
Lakemont Park, located in Altoona, Pennsylvania, houses the world's oldest-surviving roller coaster, the Leap-The-Dips. The park opened in 1894 as a trolley park and became an amusement park in the summer of 1899. It is the 8th oldest in the United States...
amusement park located next door. The ridges of the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
can also be viewed from inside the stadium.
History
The groundbreaking ceremony for Blair County Ballpark was held on March 7, 1998. The addition of Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
teams in Phoenix, Arizona
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
and St. Petersburg, Florida
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
in 1998 also created room for Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
to expand. Two additional teams were added to the Eastern League for the 1999 season: the Curve and the Erie SeaWolves
Erie SeaWolves
The Erie SeaWolves are a minor league baseball team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball club....
. The city of Altoona won the favor of the Eastern League over a bid from Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
.
Blair County Ballpark hosted the Eastern League
Eastern League (U.S. baseball)
The Eastern League is a minor league baseball league which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the AA level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923 as the New York-Pennsylvania League...
All-Star Game on July 12, 2006, before a record crowd of 9,308 fans. The largest regular-season crowd was 9,255, recorded on August 10, 2003 for a doubleheader against the Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
.