Jerry Uht Park
Encyclopedia
Jerry Uht Park is a 6,952-seat baseball-only stadium in Erie, Pennsylvania
that hosted its first regular season baseball game on June 20, 1995, as the tenants of the facility, the Erie SeaWolves
, defeated the Jamestown Jammers
.
"The Uht" also hosts numerous local high school and collegiate baseball games throughout the spring. The stadium is occasionally the venue for local cultural events, such as the Erie Philharmonic
production of "Pops in the Park."
The stadium replaced Ainsworth Field
, which was built in 1947 and renovated in 1980. Located on 24th Street at Washington Place (behind the Roosevelt School), Ainsworth Field was the home of the Erie Sailors
for much of the time between 1948 and 1963, and then again from 1990 to 1994.
. Long time Major Leaguer Jose Guillen hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in front of a sellout crowd to win the game. Tim Collie was the winning pitcher.
. The Uht is known for its two unique grandstands that are not of the same design. The plan called for this quirky design because of the constraints of the urban setting.
In 2006, a new electronic scoreboard was added, at a cost of $1 million. In 2007, a 40 feet (12.2 m) video display was added to the scoreboard and a two-tiered Picnic Garden along the right-field line with 1,000 additional seats, priced at $3.2 million. Eleven luxury box seats and new concession stands are included in the Picnic Garden addition.
(Class of 1953), established an endowment in 1995 with the Erie Community Foundation
to perpetually support the new downtown baseball stadium. In response to his generosity, the city named the stadium in his honor. As of January 2007, ECF continues to manage the fund, then valued at $750,000. The Erie Times-News
described the fund at the time as designated for stadium maintenance expenses and equipment purchases.
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
that hosted its first regular season baseball game on June 20, 1995, as the tenants of the facility, 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....
, defeated the Jamestown Jammers
Jamestown Jammers
The Jamestown Jammers are a minor league baseball team in Jamestown, New York, United States. The team is the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Miami Marlins and plays in the New York - Penn League...
.
"The Uht" also hosts numerous local high school and collegiate baseball games throughout the spring. The stadium is occasionally the venue for local cultural events, such as the Erie Philharmonic
Erie Philharmonic
The Erie Philharmonic is a professional orchestra located in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Philharmonic has held their performances at the Warner Theatre on State Street in downtown Erie since 1974.-History:...
production of "Pops in the Park."
The stadium replaced Ainsworth Field
Ainsworth Field
Ainsworth Field is a 3,000 seat baseball stadium located in Erie, Pennsylvania. It hosted the Erie Sailors and other Erie based minor league teams between 1928 and 1994. In 1995, it was made obsolete for professional use by the opening of Jerry Uht Park...
, which was built in 1947 and renovated in 1980. Located on 24th Street at Washington Place (behind the Roosevelt School), Ainsworth Field was the home of the Erie Sailors
Erie Sailors
The Erie Sailors was the name of several minor league baseball teams that played in Erie, Pennsylvania between 1906 and 1994.-Pre-1930s:Several unrelated teams used the Erie Sailors name in the Interstate League , the Ohio-Pennsylvania League , and the Central League .-1938-1963:During these years,...
for much of the time between 1948 and 1963, and then again from 1990 to 1994.
History of construction
Local businesses and other proponents of a new ballpark formed a group named Team Erie and raised $8.7 million for stadium construction. Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on July 27, 1994 and the stadium was completed in May 1995. The first Seawolves game was played at the Uht on June 20, 1995 against the Jamestown JammersJamestown Jammers
The Jamestown Jammers are a minor league baseball team in Jamestown, New York, United States. The team is the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Miami Marlins and plays in the New York - Penn League...
. Long time Major Leaguer Jose Guillen hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in front of a sellout crowd to win the game. Tim Collie was the winning pitcher.
Features of construction
Seating along the first- and third-base lines has a unique configuration at the Uht due to the space constraints of urban construction. There are three main concession stands and a picnic area for fans, plus six luxury suites for special occasions. The Uht is located next to Louis J. Tullio ArenaLouis J. Tullio Arena
The Louis J. Tullio Arena is a 5,586-seat multi-purpose arena, in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States....
. The Uht is known for its two unique grandstands that are not of the same design. The plan called for this quirky design because of the constraints of the urban setting.
In 2006, a new electronic scoreboard was added, at a cost of $1 million. In 2007, a 40 feet (12.2 m) video display was added to the scoreboard and a two-tiered Picnic Garden along the right-field line with 1,000 additional seats, priced at $3.2 million. Eleven luxury box seats and new concession stands are included in the Picnic Garden addition.
Stadium benefactor and perpetual fund
Longtime Erie resident and local benefactor Gerard T. "Jerry" Uht, Sr., born 22 September 1929 in Erie, Pennsylvania, the son of Carl A. and Mary C. Uht, and graduate of Gannon UniversityGannon University
Gannon University is a private, co-educational Catholic university offering associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, certificates and doctoral degrees and is located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Gannon University has an alumni base numbering around 31,500. Current enrollment is 4,238.Gannon's...
(Class of 1953), established an endowment in 1995 with the Erie Community Foundation
Erie Community Foundation
The Erie Community Foundation is a prominent public charity in Erie, Pennsylvania in the United States.- History :ECF was established as the Erie Endowment on 1 June 1949. Elisha H...
to perpetually support the new downtown baseball stadium. In response to his generosity, the city named the stadium in his honor. As of January 2007, ECF continues to manage the fund, then valued at $750,000. The Erie Times-News
Erie Times-News
The Erie Times-News is a daily morning newspaper in Erie, Pennsylvania. It has a daily circulation of about 56,124 and a Sunday circulation of about 75,680...
described the fund at the time as designated for stadium maintenance expenses and equipment purchases.