UPMC Park
 
|
|
| Former names | Jerry Uht Park (1995–2016) |
|---|---|
| Location | 110 East 10th Street Erie, Pennsylvania United States |
| Coordinates | 42°7′37″N 80°4′48″W / 42.12694°N 80.08000°WCoordinates: 42°7′37″N 80°4′48″W / 42.12694°N 80.08000°W |
| Owner | City of Erie |
| Operator | Erie County Convention Center Authority |
| Capacity | 6,000 |
| Field size | Left Field: 316 feet (96 m) Center Field: 400 feet (120 m) Right Field: 328 feet (100 m) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 27, 1994 |
| Opened | June 20, 1995 |
| Construction cost |
$9 million ($14.1 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Architect |
Lescher Mahoney Sports Weber Murphy Fox |
| Project manager | Heery International |
| Structural engineer | MC Engineers, Inc. |
| Tenants | |
| Erie SeaWolves (EL) (1995–present) | |
UPMC Park, formerly known as Jerry Uht Park, is a baseball park located in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is the home of the Erie SeaWolves, the city's Minor League Baseball (MiLB) franchise. It hosted its first regular season game on June 20, 1995, in which Major League veteran José Guillén hit a home-run to ensure a SeaWolves victory over the Jamestown Jammers. The park replaced Ainsworth Field, which was built in 1947, and features natural grass and dirt playing field. Its concessions include regional specialties such as pepperoni balls, ox roast sandwiches, cheesesteaks, and Yuengling beer. It is part of the Louis J. Tullio Plaza, which also includes Erie Insurance Arena and the Warner Theatre, all governed by the Erie County Convention Center Authority. The stadium's capacity is 6,000 seats. After the 2016 season, the SeaWolves partnered with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in a naming rights agreement to rebrand the stadium UPMC Park.
In a 2008, the ESPN sports broadcast company ranked the ballpark number five out of ten Minor League ballpark seating arrangements. They especially noted its unique mezzanine level that overlooks the infield along the first-base side. In July 2015, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) also ranked the stadium number five among the most vegetarian-friendly Minor League ballparks.
Prior to UPMC Park's construction, the Erie SeaWolves (then known as the Welland Pirates) played at Welland Stadium in Welland, Ontario. They moved to Erie after owner Marvin Goldklang relocated the Erie Sailors to Wappingers Falls, New York (where they became the Hudson Valley Renegades) because he did not want to upgrade Ainsworth Field to the standards Major League Baseball required of its affiliated clubs. Once the civic government secured an $8 million grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to build UPMC Park, the Welland Pirates moved to Erie. The remaining $1 million for architectural expenses were covered by the City of Erie, Erie County, and the 300-member Team Erie, each of whom contributed $300,000. Additionally, nearby Millcreek Township also contributed $25,000. The ballpark site was originally home to a Sears building turned Exhibit Hall. Groundbreaking ceremonies took place on July 27, 1994 and Jerry Uht Park was completed in May 1995.
...
Wikipedia