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C.O. Brown Stadium
/ Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
| Year Opened | Originally built for amateur baseball in 1990; upgraded for minor-league baseball in 1995 |
| Capacity | 4,500 |
| Dimensions | 322L, 402C, 333R |
| Last Visit | 2005 |
| Web Site | www.southwestmichigandevilrays.com |
| Online Broadcasts | Yes |
| Online Ticket Sales | Yes |
| Phone | 269/660-2287 |
| Ticket Prices (2005) | General Admission, $6; Outfield and Box Seats, $7; Field Box Seats, $8 |
| League | Midwest League |
| League | Tampa Bay Devil Rays |
| Parking | Parking is free and ample in the area surrounding the ballpark, which is located inside a park with other ballfields in the area. |
| Directions | 1392 Capital Av. NE., Battle Creek. From I-94, take Exit 98B to downtown Battle Creek. This road will be Capital Road. Stay on Capital Road as it winds through town. The stadium will be located on Capital Road NE, also know as M66. |
| Written by: | Marc Viquez |
| Rating |   |
There is a lot to be said about C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek, Mich., that can be both good and bad. Then again, after a visit to the ballpark, you may leave with a sense of romance or appreciation of a night with friends and family at the ballpark.
C.O. Brown Stadium wasn't built for minor-league baseball; it opened in 1990 for amateur baseball, which has been popular in the area for quite some time. (C.O. Brown himself served as president of the American Amateur Baseball Congress until his death in 1966.) It was not until 1995 that minor-league baseball arrived in Battle Creek with the formation of the Michigan Battle Cats.
The
ballpark now houses the Southwest Michigan Devil
Rays, and new management has added a few quirks to
the facility in order to improve the ballpark
experience. Also, there have been more promotions
to entice the tight-knit community back to the
ballpark.
One of the changes has been the removal of the
third-base bleachers been common among many
ballparks of its era. The aluminum seating has
been replaced with a few picnic tables and the
area is opened up for fans to lean against the
fence in hopes of catching a foul ball. The
bleachers were originally installed in 1995 and
all of the stadium’s seating is now predominately
covered, something many newer ballparks lack.
On the
first-base line is where the Devil Rays added a
few more inflatable rides for the children,
something you see more and more of at the most
ballparks. The large open area also houses a few
more picnic tables as well. This section of the
stadium is called the Carl Pavano 1st Base
Pavilion.
"I love it -- I have been out here since 1995,"
said season ticket holder Jane McMillian of Battle
Creek. "There seems to be a lot more promotions
than the last two years. Seems like we already
have more [attendance] than what we usually do
this time of year."
The grandstand seats are all covered and feature long blue steel beams that can obstruct views There are two ways to go with this: the ballpark feels more ancient than dating back only to 1990, or it can be annoying to fans that are now getting used to nonobstructed views from newer facilities in the country. I believe it adds a little character to the place that you cannot find anywhere else.
Think about it: how many new ballparks feature covered seating behind the home-plate area all the way down both the third- and first-base lines? I like to think of the pillars as a nod to past ballparks that no longer exist. However, I do understand that a park like C.O. Brown is a distinct animal that may get pushed back one day in favor of a more modern facility. However, that is neither here nor there at the moment, although there has been murmurs of a new facility off the interstate exit.
C.O. Brown sits a few miles outside of downtown Battle Creek and signage towards the facility are few. The ballpark itself sits inside a city park, where you will be surprised by the ample free parking. The location from the highway is not as bad as it seems, and you do get to pass through downtown Battle Creek, where one could enjoy a beer at the Arcadia Brewing Company brewpub.
The stadium does have one area that makes a trip to a game well worth the trek: an outdoor bar stretching around the left-field wall. The two-story wooden structure is regarded as the largest outdoor bar in the state, and when you spend a night in 38 degrees weather in May you know why they are not too many more in Michigan. This area provided a unique feel among the patrons gallivanting around.
"This team is more about the community and family," said fan Don Berry. "Then you got us who come here to meet friends and have a good time. You come here to socialize with friends you haven’t seen in a couple of days."
Beer prices were among the best I have seen at minor-league parks; you could purchase an Ivy Wall Ale, made exclusively for the ballpark by Arcadia, between the prices of $3.25-$4.00. You could spot a few fans listening to the play-by-play on their radios, something that had been missing the last two seasons. To the right of the bar extends more seating behind the left-field wall, where you can find box seats.
"The size, the amenities and most of the people who come here are regulars with a few new people," said Anthony Torres, who was in attendance with his wife. "It’s very friendly like Wrigley Field, a very comfortable place to watch a game."
The concessions are not as elaborate as newer ballparks, but the all-beef hot dogs are grilled. I was also there on penny hot-dog night, and I thought 25-cent night in Yakima, Wash., was a good deal. There is also a small merchandise store underneath the stands inside the ballpark. The aisles on the inside were narrow and featured small areas of concessions and stands for various promotions.
When
you leave C.O. Brown Stadium you are left with an
experience that you may not get at new ballparks
across the country. The sense of watching a game
in a facility that offers covered seating and an
open-air bar is almost unmatched at any other
facility in the minors. The blue pillars that hold
up the roof of the grandstand should be
appreciated rather than scorned.
Every so often it's not that bad to attend a game
at a place such as C.O. Brown Stadium. It can be a
simple pleasure to enjoy a baseball game in an
older ballpark that is kept up well and still
offers great amenities. If you are there with to
meet up with friends, enjoy a promotion or watch a
game with family, maybe that's all you need.
Concessions
There are various concessions on the inside of the
ballpark, but not as varied as newer ballparks in
the league. However, the all-beef hot dogs are
grilled for a taste that stands out from your
normal boiled hot dog.
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