View source for Dozer Park

{{Short description|Baseball stadium in Peoria, Illinois, US}}
{{redirect|O'Brien Field|the stadium in Charleston, Illinois used by Eastern Illinois University|O'Brien Field (Charleston)}}
{{Infobox stadium
| name = Dozer Park
| nickname = 
| image = [[File:Dozer Park.png|125px]]<br>[[File:OBrienFieldPeoria.jpg|200px]]
| pushpin_map = Illinois#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within [[Illinois]]##Location within the [[United States]]
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_label = Dozer Park
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| fullname = 
| location = 730 Southwest Jefferson Street<br>[[Peoria, Illinois|Peoria, IL]] 61605
| coordinates = {{coord|40|41|15|N|89|35|51|W|type:landmark_region:US-IL|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = {{start date|2001|8|16}}
| built = 
| opened = {{start date|2002|5|24}}<ref name="chiefs-pr-renamed-2013"/>
| closed = 
| demolished = 
| owner = [[Peoria Chiefs|Peoria Chiefs Community Baseball LLC]]
| operator = Peoria Chiefs Community Baseball LLC
| surface = [[Sod]] (1&ndash;1¼ inches)
| construction_cost = [[United States dollar|$]]23 million<br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|23000000|2002}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = [[HNTB]]
| structural engineer = 
| services engineer = Clark Engineers MW Inc.<ref name="SBJ">{{cite web |title=O'Brien Field|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2002/05/20020527/Facilities/Obrien-Field.aspx|work=SportsBusiness Journal|date=May 27, 2002|accessdate=September 17, 2011}}</ref>
| general_contractor = River City Construction LLC<ref name="SBJ"/>
| project_manager = 
| main_contractors = Prairie Construction Systems Inc.<ref name="SBJ"/>
| former_names = '''O'Brien Field''' (2002&ndash;2008)<br>'''Chiefs Stadium''' (2009–2013)<ref name="chiefs-pr-renamed-2013"/>
| tenants = [[Peoria Chiefs]] ([[Midwest League|MWL]]/[[High-A Central]]) (2002–present)<br>[[Bradley Braves baseball|Bradley Braves]] ([[NCAA]]) (2002–present)
| capacity = 8,500
| record_attendance = 8,825 (May 24, 2002 vs. [[Kane County Cougars]])
| dimensions = Left Field: 310 ft (94.49 m)<br>Left Center: 375 ft (114.3 m)<br>Center Field: 400 ft (121.92 m)<br>Right Center: 375 ft (114.3 m)<br>Right Field: 310 ft (94.49 m)
| publictransit = {{Bus icon}} [[Greater Peoria Mass Transit District|CityLink]]
}}
'''Dozer Park''', originally '''O'Brien Field''' and formerly '''Chiefs Stadium''', is a [[baseball]] field located in downtown [[Peoria, Illinois]].<ref name="pjstar-dozer">{{cite news |title=Caterpillar Names Baseball Stadium 'Dozer Park'|first=Kevin|last=Cape|url=http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1865974969/Dozer-Park-is-new-name-for-Peoria-baseball-stadium|newspaper=[[Journal Star (Peoria)]]|date=May 10, 2013|accessdate=May 10, 2013}}</ref>  It is the home of the [[Peoria Chiefs]], the [[Midwest League]] affiliate of the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]; the Chiefs previously played at [[Meinen Field]].  The [[college baseball]] team of [[Bradley University]] also uses the field. It opened on May 24, 2002.<ref name="chiefs-pr-renamed-2013">{{cite web |title=Chiefs Stadium Renamed Dozer Park|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-47104060|publisher=Peoria Chiefs|date=May 10, 2013|access-date=May 10, 2013}}</ref>

==History==
Official groundbreaking ceremonies for the $23 million [[multi-purpose stadium]] took place on August 16, 2001.<ref>{{cite news |title=South Bend Takes Pair of Games from Chiefs|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BL&p_theme=bl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F01FD1624182550&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=[[The Pantagraph]]|location=Bloomington–Normal|date=August 11, 2001|accessdate=August 11, 2013}}</ref>  The stadium opened on May 24, 2002, as O'Brien Field,<ref name="chiefs-pr-renamed-2013"/> with a game between the Chiefs and the [[Kane County Cougars]].<ref name="history">{{cite web |title=Stadium History|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-41469004|publisher=Peoria Chiefs|date=December 2, 2008|access-date=August 11, 2013}}</ref>

O'Brien Auto Team held the original [[naming rights]] to the facility.<ref name="history"/>

In 2011, the stadium hosted to the [[Illinois High School Association|IHSA]] Class 1A and 2A baseball state finals. This was the first year the games were played at the facility.<ref name=ihsa2011>{{cite web |title=Baseball State Finals: 1A/2A Tournament Moves To Peoria, 3A/4A Extended In Joliet |url=http://www.ihsa.org/announce/2010-11/2010-10-12.htm |publisher=Illinois High School Association |accessdate=June 8, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231223735/http://www.ihsa.org/announce/2010-11/2010-10-12.htm |archivedate=December 31, 2010 |date=October 12, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In April 2013, the Chiefs, including the stadium, received $7.35 million in financing and debt forgiveness.  The plan included forgiveness of $1.2 million in debt to the City of Peoria; including $2 million in funding from [[Caterpillar Inc.]] for [[naming rights]] over 10 years; and $2.7 million in new investment of cash and equity by the Chiefs' ownership group of about 50.<ref>{{cite news |title=Peoria City Council Approves Financial Restructuring for Chiefs|first=Nick|last=Vlahos|url=http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1213308616/City-Council-approves-financial-bailout-for-Chiefs|newspaper=[[Journal Star (Peoria)]]|date=April 30, 2013|accessdate=May 10, 2013}}</ref>

On May 10, 2013, Caterpillar and the Chiefs announced that the stadium would be renamed "Dozer Park", a reference to Caterpillar [[bulldozer]]s.<ref name="pjstar-dozer"/><ref name="chiefs-pr-renamed-2013"/>

==The field==
Dozer Park's [[sod]] has an {{convert|8|in|mm|adj=on}} deep root zone of 90% sand and 10% Dakota peat for nutrition. The high concentration of sand naturally relieves soil compaction.

Beneath the sand and peat mix are {{convert|6|in|mm}} of [[gravel]]. Running through the gravel are drainage tiles that run from [[home plate]] to [[Baseball field#outfield|center field]]. A huge sump pump beyond center field then drains into the city sewer system.

The makeup of the pitcher's mound and batter's boxes are almost 100% clay because it packs better and is wear resistant.  The rest of the infield skin area is around 40% clay, 30% silt and 20% sand.

The field will hold up to {{convert|5|in|mm}} of rain an hour.

The field is mowed every day during homestands, trimmed to {{convert|1|-|1+1/4|in|mm}} high. It takes 1.25 hours to cut the outfield grass 2 directions with a {{convert|100|in|m|adj=on}} cut mower. A walk-behind mower is used for the [[infield]].

The price tag for the field itself was around $450,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Guide to O'Brien Field|first=Dave|last=Reynolds|url=http://www.pjstar.com/services/special/2002obrienfield/stories/g93817a.html|newspaper=[[Journal Star (Peoria)]]|accessdate=August 11, 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020603222155/http://www.pjstar.com/services/special/2002obrienfield/stories/g93817a.html|archivedate=June 3, 2002}}</ref>

==Luxury suites==
Dozer Park accommodates 20 luxury suites. Examples include:
* Peoria attorney Jay Janssen's suite &mdash; "A large, ornate [[Oriental rug]] covers most of the green-carpeted suite, which includes six [[candelabra]] wall sconces, a [[chandelier]] in the center, cherry wood [[cabinetry]] and chair rail, decorative border print, a green [[marble]]-topped [[Table (furniture)|table]], a rose-colored [[granite]] [[pedestal]] bar overlooking the field and burgundy [[leather]] [[Chair|stools]] and [[chairs]]. In the [[kitchenette]], a full-sized [[refrigerator]] is accompanied by a full-size [[oven]] and a [[sink]] with a chrome-plated [[faucet]]."<ref name="suites">{{cite news |title=Big-League Style Ballpark a Hit in Peoria|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_multi=JS&p_product=JS&p_theme=gatehouse&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=jay%20janssen%20suite%20AND%20date(all)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(jay%20janssen%20suite)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no#ixzz2bikm6l7h|newspaper=[[Journal Star (Peoria)]]|date=October 19, 2002|accessdate=August 11, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Caterpillar, Inc.]] owns a double suite that is primarily used to entertain the customers and [[VIP]] guests the company hosts in the community.<ref name="suites"/>

==Food==
Other than the five fixed [[Concession stand|concession]] stands, there are mobile carts around the park.  The Chiefs' concessionaire is Professional Sports Catering.<ref>{{cite web |title=Who We're Working With|url=http://www.prosportscatering.com/minor_league_baseball.html|publisher=Professional Sports Catering|accessdate=August 11, 2013}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA Division I baseball venues]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://www.milb.com/peoria/ballpark Ballpark - Peoria Chiefs Dozer Park]
* [https://bradleybraves.com/sports/2013/11/20/130293.aspx Dozer Park - Bradley University Athletics]

{{Bradley University}}
{{Midwest League ballparks}}
{{Missouri Valley Conference baseball venue navbox}}
{{Bradley Braves baseball navbox}}
{{Illinois NCAA Division I college baseball venue navbox}}

[[Category:Bradley Braves baseball]]
[[Category:College baseball venues in Illinois]]
[[Category:Minor league baseball venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Peoria, Illinois]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Peoria, Illinois]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Peoria, Illinois]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 2002]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Midwest League ballparks]]