TELUS Field
Encyclopedia
Telus Field is a baseball stadium in Edmonton
, Alberta
, Canada
. It is home to the Edmonton Capitals
of the independent North American League
, and was home to the former Edmonton Trappers
, an AAA baseball team of the Pacific Coast League
. The Trappers moved to Round Rock
, Texas
, and became the Round Rock Express
after the 2004 season. The facility is located in the North Saskatchewan River Valley
, on the south end of Downtown Edmonton
.
(formerly Renfrew Park) on the same site. The stadium's naming rights
were purchased by the Telus
telecommunications company in September 1995 for a 14-year deal.
It has 12 feet (3.7 m) walls all the way around except in centre field, where the batter's eye is a 34 feet (10.4 m) green monster
which is the third highest wall in professional baseball; no player has ever hit a home run over it. Telus Field is a well-regarded ballpark in North America, and had the highest ratings for best ballpark for eight years straight by Triple A Best Ballparks. Telus Field held the IBAF World Cup Women's baseball in the summer of 2004, as well as the CFL all stars charity softball game.
From July 25 to August 3, 2008, the park held IBAF AAA World Junior Championships for the 7th time since it started in 1981.
but the outfield is natural grass; originally AstroTurf
was used but it was replaced in 2005 with the more modern type of turf, FieldTurf. The infield is artificial turf for a variety of reasons: the turf is less costly to maintain, the artificial surface allows for a better drainage system so the infield can return to a playable state quicker than a grass infield would, and to minimize damage to the infield when concerts are held at the stadium.
Another unique feature of Telus Field are the ground-level luxury suites. Club and general seating are built on top. The Home Plate VIP Lounge (accessible by stairs or elevator) is located directly behind the plate and that includes a bar and a restaurant with a view of the field from inside. Seating is also an option outside. The award-winning lounge includes trophies and pictures of the early Edmonton baseball teams and can seat up to 250 people.
With a seating capacity at 9055, Telus Field is the second largest minor league baseball stadium in Canada after the Ottawa Baseball Stadium in Ottawa
, Ontario
. The largest game attendance was 10,098 against the Las Vegas 51s
. The dimensions are 340 feet (103.6 m) to left field, 378 feet (115.2 m) to left centre, 420 feet (128 m) to centre field, 395 feet (120.4 m) to right centre and 320 feet (97.5 m) to right field which makes it the largest playing surface in Canada.
There are two barbecue
picnic pits located down the foul lines in between the dugouts and the bullpens that seat about 150 to 300 people.
The stadium concourse features pictures of historic moments in Trapper history, including Ron Kittle
's 50-home-run season. There are also pictures from every Trapper championship and trophies.
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is home to the Edmonton Capitals
Edmonton Capitals
The Edmonton Capitals are a professional baseball team based in Edmonton, Alberta. Known originally as the Edmonton Cracker-Cats, they began play in the Northern League in 2005 before switching to the Golden Baseball League in 2008. The team was sold to Daryl Katz in 2009, after which the team was...
of the independent North American League
North American League
The North American League is an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season...
, and was home to the former Edmonton Trappers
Edmonton Trappers
The Edmonton Trappers were a minor league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League, ending with the 2004 season. Home games were played at Telus Field in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada....
, an AAA baseball team of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. The Trappers moved to Round Rock
Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and became the Round Rock Express
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
after the 2004 season. The facility is located in the North Saskatchewan River Valley
North Saskatchewan River valley parks system
The North Saskatchewan River valley parks system is a continuous collection of urban parks in the North Saskatchewan River valley of Edmonton, Alberta....
, on the south end of Downtown Edmonton
Downtown Edmonton
Downtown Edmonton is bounded by 109 Street to the west, 105 Avenue to the north, 97 Street to the east, 97 Avenue, 100 Avenue, and Rossdale Road to the south and Jasper Avenue to the southeast , though many people consider part or all of the surrounding neighborhoods to be part of downtown...
.
History
Opened in 1995, Telus Field replaced the 60-year-old John Ducey ParkJohn Ducey Park
John Ducey Park was a 6,500 seat baseball stadium in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Originally built in 1935, it was torn down after sixty years of use in 1995 and replaced by Telus Field on the same site...
(formerly Renfrew Park) on the same site. The stadium's naming rights
Naming rights
In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...
were purchased by the Telus
TELUS
Telus is a national telecommunications company in Canada that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voice, entertainment, video, and satellite television. The company is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver...
telecommunications company in September 1995 for a 14-year deal.
It has 12 feet (3.7 m) walls all the way around except in centre field, where the batter's eye is a 34 feet (10.4 m) green monster
Green Monster
The Green Monster is a popular nickname for the thirty-seven foot , two-inch high left field wall at Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox baseball team...
which is the third highest wall in professional baseball; no player has ever hit a home run over it. Telus Field is a well-regarded ballpark in North America, and had the highest ratings for best ballpark for eight years straight by Triple A Best Ballparks. Telus Field held the IBAF World Cup Women's baseball in the summer of 2004, as well as the CFL all stars charity softball game.
From July 25 to August 3, 2008, the park held IBAF AAA World Junior Championships for the 7th time since it started in 1981.
Features
Telus Field is a unique baseball stadium in that the infield uses FieldTurfFieldTurf
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
but the outfield is natural grass; originally AstroTurf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
was used but it was replaced in 2005 with the more modern type of turf, FieldTurf. The infield is artificial turf for a variety of reasons: the turf is less costly to maintain, the artificial surface allows for a better drainage system so the infield can return to a playable state quicker than a grass infield would, and to minimize damage to the infield when concerts are held at the stadium.
Another unique feature of Telus Field are the ground-level luxury suites. Club and general seating are built on top. The Home Plate VIP Lounge (accessible by stairs or elevator) is located directly behind the plate and that includes a bar and a restaurant with a view of the field from inside. Seating is also an option outside. The award-winning lounge includes trophies and pictures of the early Edmonton baseball teams and can seat up to 250 people.
With a seating capacity at 9055, Telus Field is the second largest minor league baseball stadium in Canada after the Ottawa Baseball Stadium in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The largest game attendance was 10,098 against the Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
. The dimensions are 340 feet (103.6 m) to left field, 378 feet (115.2 m) to left centre, 420 feet (128 m) to centre field, 395 feet (120.4 m) to right centre and 320 feet (97.5 m) to right field which makes it the largest playing surface in Canada.
There are two barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
picnic pits located down the foul lines in between the dugouts and the bullpens that seat about 150 to 300 people.
The stadium concourse features pictures of historic moments in Trapper history, including Ron Kittle
Ron Kittle
Ronald Dale Kittle is a former left fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who was known mostly for his home run power, being named the 1983 AL Rookie of the Year...
's 50-home-run season. There are also pictures from every Trapper championship and trophies.
Concerts
Concerts have been held at the stadium on rare occasions:- 1995 concerts included Tom Cochrane; Jeff Healey; The Beach Boys; The Village People and others.
- 22 August 2001: Blink-182Blink-182Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
with Jimmy Eat WorldJimmy Eat WorldJimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
, New Found GloryNew Found GloryNew Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida. Formed in the summer of 1997, founding members were lead vocalist Jordan Pundik, guitarists Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, bassist Ian Grushka and drummer Joe Marino...
, Sum 41 - 25 August 2009: Big & RichBig & RichBig & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich. Both members alternate as lead vocalists and play rhythm guitar...
with Cowboy TroyCowboy TroyTroy Lee Coleman III is an American musician, better known by his stage name Cowboy Troy, who performs country rap. He is a member of the MuzikMafia, an aggregation of country music singer-songwriters whose membership also includes Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson and James Otto...
, Dean BrodyDean BrodyDean Brody is a Canadian country music artist. Signed to Broken Bow Records in 2008, Brody made his debut later that year with the single "Brothers"...
, Mike Plume Band - 4 September 2009: Bryan AdamsBryan AdamsBryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
- 28 August 2010: Rock the River West Tour (featuring SkilletSkillet (band)Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996. The band currently consists of husband and wife John and Korey Cooper , along with Jen Ledger and lead guitarist Seth Morrison. The band has released eight albums, two receiving Grammy nominations: Collide and Comatose...
, FlyleafFlyleafFlyleaf is an American alternative metal band, formed in the Belton and Temple, Texas regions in 2000. The band has charted on mainstream rock, Christian pop and Christian metal genres. They performed around the United States in 2003 until releasing their eponymous debut album, Flyleaf, in 2005....
, Hawk NelsonHawk NelsonHawk Nelson is a Christian rock band from Peterborough, Ontario. The band has become very popular in the Christian music scene and was voted "Favorite New Artist" by CCM Magazine in their February 2006 Reader's Choice Awards. In 2006 Hawk Nelson won a No...
, Starfield, DownhereDownhereNot to be confused with the album Down Here by Tracy Bonham.Downhere is a Juno Award-winning Christian rock band from Canada...
, and TedashiiTedashiiTedashii "Tdot" Anderson, known simply as Tedashii, is a Christian hip hop artist and member of the hip-hop troupe, 116 Clique. Tedashii has released three solo albums, Kingdom People, Identity Crisis, and Blacklight, on Reach Records...
)