IL1 Columbus Clippers

Classic design, community involvement makes new home of the Columbus Clippers stand out

Published on December 16, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Columbus Clippers News Release


In a year that saw many noteworthy ballpark openings within the baseball world, it would take something truly special to stand out from the crowd. That something special happened in Columbus, where Huntington Park opened as the home of the International League's Columbus Clippers. Combining solid community support with a classic design where every little detail was carefully considered and implemented, Huntington Park became one of the leading ballparks in baseball the day it opened - and that's why it was named Best New Ballpark of the 2009 Season by the editors of Ballpark Digest.

"We instantly recognized what a great facility the Clippers have," said Kevin Reichard, publisher of ballparkdigest.com, the Internet's leading resource on the culture and business of baseball. "It's an extremely fan-friendly facility that provides fans with a first-class experience, whether they're sitting in the loge seats behind home plate or in the upper-deck balcony in right field. Every detail associated with the ballpark was exquisitely realized."

Here's what Reichard wrote on his first visit to Huntington Park at the second game ever at the new facility:

There are a lot of cool things at Huntington Park, which comes as close to perfection as we've seen in any ballpark. With an embedded sense of place, a firm grasp on the grand history of baseball and a commitment to the latest in fan comforts, Huntington Park represents the very finest in ballpark design and operations. While there are some new ballparks that come very close - as you'll see when we write about Parkview Field tomorrow - there are none better.

The original Ballpark Digest story on Huntington Park can be found at http://www.ballparkdigest.com/visits/index.html?article_id=1422.

The new ballpark, designed by 360 Architecture (Kansas City) and funded by Franklin County, helped the bottom line of the Clippers: the team was the best draw in all of Minor League Baseball, attracting 666,797 fans (for an average of 9,525 per game) in the 2009 season.

"This past season was a rough one for many baseball teams," Reichard said. "Most would have been happy attracting the same number of fans as they did in previous years. A new ballpark certainly helps bring in new fans, and we're guessing the place will have them coming back for more year after year."

"We are honored and humbled to receive this award from Ballpark Digest celebrating the arrival of Huntington Park as their 2009 Ballpark of the Year," said Columbus Clippers President & GM Ken Schnacke. "This project was a labor of love for all involved, and our highest ambitions have been achieved with all the recognition that Huntington Park has received throughout the season."

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International League Stories from December 16, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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