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MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Fifth Third Ballpark Earns Ballpark Digest Award for Improvements

November 16, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps, in conjunction with Ballpark Digest, announced today that Fifth Third Ballpark has won Ballpark Digest's Best Ballpark Improvements Award for 2015. Fifth Third Ballpark was chosen not just from a field of all Minor League teams, but from all baseball stadiums, including Major League, Minor League and amateur teams.

Below is the entire Ballpark Digest press release announcing the award.

It was not an auspicious New Year for the West Michigan Whitecaps in 2014, when team management and ownership saw fire take out part of Fifth Third Ballpark on January 3. The resulting rebuilding of the ballpark over a two-year period earned the West Michigan Whitecaps Ballpark Digest's Best Ballpark Improvements Award for 2015.

"A ballpark fire so close to the opening of the season represented a huge challenge to team ownership and management," said Ballpark Digest Publisher Kevin Reichard. "That the Whitecaps turned such a terrible incident into a chance to not only rebuild, but improve Fifth Third Ballpark is truly remarkable."

Steve McCarthy, Whitecaps vice president of sales, said the Whitecaps organization is honored to receive the award.

"It is a real honor to be recognized for all of the work and energies that were put into the rebuilding of Fifth Third Ballpark," said McCarthy. "It was important to us to have the facility ready for the West Michigan community and the Whitecaps fans for Opening Day of 2014, and to have it fully operational for the Midwest League All-Star Game in June 2014. When we rebuilt, our goal was to protect the original look and feel of the ballpark, while at the same time to make it even better so fans could enjoy some of the modern conveniences we now offer. On behalf of all those who helped put it together, we are grateful for this award."

The fire damaged both the suite and concourse levels down the first-base line. The challenge of rebuilding Fifth Third Ballpark meant meeting several different deadlines. First, the ballpark needed to be ready to host fans for the April 8, 2014 season opener - and it was. Second, the Whitecaps were hosting the Midwest League All-Star Game in June 2014, so the facility needed to be ready to host a large crowd - and it was.

To make it through the 2014 season, some compromises were made: team offices were relocated to temporary space to make way for a new team store, for instance. Those issues were addressed in the offseason, with the team unveiling the remaining ballpark improvements for the 2015 season: new office space topped with a sponsored group deck, and a Craft Clubhouse with 16 craft beers on tap.

Fans responded: attendance was up both in 2014 and 2015.

"The ballpark improvements at Fifth Third Ballpark would be notable no matter the circumstances," Reichard added. "That they came about after such a traumatic experience speaks well to the Whitecaps and the team's commitment to fans."

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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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