Carson Park / Eau
Claire Express
(click
on the image for a larger photo)
Capacity |
4,700 |
Year Opened |
1937 |
Dimensions |
326L, 352LC, 388C, 332RC, 302R |
Playing Surface |
Grass |
Last Visit |
2007 |
Web Site |
eauclaireexpress.com |
Online Broadcasts |
Yes |
Online Ticket Sales |
No |
Phone |
715/839-7788 |
Ticket Prices (2007) |
General Admission, $4 for adults and $3 for
youth/seniors. All-you-care-to-eat deck, $25 for adults,
$15 for kids 12 and under. |
League |
Northwoods League |
Parking |
Plenty of free parking in an adjacent parking lot. |
Address/Directions |
One Carson Park Drive, Eau Claire. Carson Park is a
large city park in the southwest corner of Eau Claire. To
get there, get on Hwy. 12 (which runs through the south
part of town) and go east on Menomonie Street. The
Carson Park entrance will be on your left, next to the
Dairy Queen. |
Rating |
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(click on the image
for a larger photo)
Carson Park, currently
the home of the Eau Claire Express of the Northwoods League, is one of the more historical parks in
the Upper Midwest. It was home to the Eau Claire
Bears of the original Northern League, and some
future major leaguers spent time there, including
future Hall-of-Famer Henry Aaron. A statue
honoring Aaron sits at the entrance of the
ballpark.
Carson Park is in
pretty decent shape considering its age; the city
upgraded the ballpark with handicapped-accessible
ramps and other amenities, while the Express added
a huge party deck past the right-field fence.
This is one of the more unique parks in baseball. It's
located smack-dab in the middle of a large city
park that includes hiking trails, a logging
exhibit and horseshoe pits. You can imagine
spending the entire day taking in the pleasures of
the park and then hitting the ballpark for a night
game.
There are two sections
to the grandstand: a front section with
theater-style seats and a back section with no
seating whatsoever (the bleachers were removed, so
fans must sit on the floor).
(click on the image
for a larger photo)
There are metal
bleachers down each line.
(click on the image
for a larger photo)
The new party areas in
right field.
(click on the image
for a larger photo)
The
view from center field. This area is currently
open, with softball diamonds nearby.
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