View source for English Field

{{Short description|Baseball stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| name                   = English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park
| nickname               = English Field
| image                  = English Field.JPG
| image_size             = 250px
| caption                = 
| image_map              = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=12|type=point|coord={{coord|37|13|4|N|80|25|24|W}}}}
| pushpin_map            = USA Virginia#USA
| pushpin_relief         = yes
| fullname               = English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park
| former_names           = English Field (1989–2016) <br /> English Field at Union Park (2016–2019)
| address                = 
| city                   = 
| country                = 
| location               = [[Blacksburg, Virginia]]
| coordinates            = {{coord|37|13|4|N|80|25|24|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| owner                  = [[Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University|Virginia Tech]] 
| capacity               = 1,132 chair backed seats (estimated 4,000 with the terrace seats)
| record_attendance      = 
| dimensions             = Left field: {{convert|330|ft|m|abbr=on}} <br />Center field: {{convert|400|ft|m|abbr=on}} <br />Right field: {{convert|330|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| surface                = AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D
| scoreboard             = Daktronics
| opened                 = {{Start date|1989|03|22}} <!-- March 22, 1989 -->
| renovated              = 2008, 2018
| cost                   = $20 million (2018 renovation)
| main_contractors       = [[Whiting-Turner]] (2018 renovation)
| tenants                = [[Virginia Tech Hokies baseball|Virginia Tech Hokies]] ([[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]]) 1989–present
| website                = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
}}

'''English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park''' is a [[baseball]] [[stadium]] in [[Blacksburg, Virginia|Blacksburg]], [[Virginia]]. It is the home field of the [[Virginia Tech Hokies baseball|Virginia Tech Hokies]] [[college baseball]] team. It was opened in 1989 and has a capacity of 1,033 in chair back seats plus additional grass-covered bank seating along the left field line known as "The Hill".<ref name="mediaguide">{{cite web
| title = 2007 Virginia Tech Baseball Media Guide
| publisher = Virginia Tech Athletics
| url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/base08mg.pdf
| access-date = April 27, 2008
}}</ref> English Field underwent an $20 million renovation in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Board of Visitors approves English Field at Union Park improvements |url=http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/recaps/20160830aaa.html |website=HokieSports.com |publisher=[[Virginia Tech Hokies|Virginia Tech Athletics]] |access-date=June 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830204607/http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/recaps/20160830aaa.html |archive-date=August 30, 2016 |date=August 30, 2016}}</ref>

==Naming==
The stadium is named after Virginia Tech Outstanding Alumni Award winner E. R. "Red" English and his wife, Ruth, who were financial contributors to the university athletics program for over 50 years.<ref name="webpage">{{cite web
  | title = English Field
  | url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/englishfield.html
  | access-date = December 23, 2007
  | website=HokieSports.com
  | publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics
  | language=en
}}</ref> The home team dugout is named for American Baseball Coach Coaches Association Hall of Famer [[Flake Laird|G. F. "Red" Laird]] who was head coach 1940–1943 and 1948–1973. During the 2016 season, the park was renamed English Field at Union Park.<ref name="webpage" /> The stadium was later renamed English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park on May 20, 2019, to align with the rebranding of the commonwealth of Virginia's largest financial institution.<ref name="facilities">{{Cite web |url=https://hokiesports.com/facilities/english-field-at-atlantic-union-bank-park/1 |title=Facilities |website=HokieSports.com |publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics |language=en |access-date=February 15, 2020}}</ref>

==History==

=== Opening day===
On March 22, 1989, the [[Virginia Tech Hokies|Hokies]] defeated the baseball team from [[George Mason University]] 7–2 in the first game played in the stadium.<ref name="mediaguide" />

===Home of Chuck Hartman's 1000th career victory===
English Field was home to [[Chuck Hartman]]'s 1,000th career victory with a Hokie defeat of [[Liberty University]] on April 27, 1992. With this win, Hartman became the 9th baseball coach in Division I history to win 1,000 games.<ref>{{cite web 
| title = Chuck Hartman biography
| website=HokieSports.com
| publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics
| language=en
| url = http://www.hokiesports.com/staff/hartman.html
| access-date = January 3, 2008
}}</ref>

===Host of first on-campus athletic event after shootings===
On April 20, 2007, English Field hosted the first on-campus athletic event after the [[Virginia Tech massacre|campus shootings of April 16]].<ref>{{cite web 
| title = Information on this weekend's events
| website=HokieSports.com
| publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics
| language=en
| date = April 19, 2007
| url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/recaps/20070419aab.html
| access-date = January 3, 2008
}}</ref> A record crowd of 3,132 watched the Hokies play against the [[Miami Hurricanes baseball|Miami Hurricanes]].<ref>{{cite web 
| title = Hokies drop tight one to Miami, 11-9
| website=HokieSports.com
| publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics
| language=en
| date = April 20, 2007
| url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/recaps/20070419aab.html
| access-date = January 8, 2008
}}</ref> Coinciding with a statewide day of mourning,<ref>{{cite web 
| title = Grieving Hokies return to diamond
| work = [[MSNBC]]
| agency = [[Associated Press]]
| date = April 23, 2007
| url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18233896/
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070422211413/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18233896/
| archive-date = April 22, 2007
| access-date = January 3, 2008}}</ref> the Virginia Tech baseball team debuted the first commemorative patch honoring student and professor victims<ref>{{cite web 
| title = Student-Athletes to wear commemorative patch
| website=HokieSports.com
| publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics
| language=en
| date = April 20, 2007
| url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/recaps/20070420aaa.html
| access-date = January 8, 2008
}}</ref> while the Miami players and coaches wore black wristbands. Additionally, Miami head coach Jim Morris presented a $10,000 check on behalf of the university to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Morris to Make Presentation on Behalf of UM Community at Virginia Tech
| website = HurricaneSports.com
| publisher = [[CBS Interactive]]
| date = April 20, 2007
| url = http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/041907aab.html
| access-date = January 3, 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110519082727/http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/041907aab.html
| archive-date = May 19, 2011
}}</ref>

===2008 renovations===
[[File:English Field Virginia Tech.JPG|thumb|right|English Field]]

In early 2008, "The Hill" along the left field line was reworked similar to an outdoor amphitheater. The layout provided seven foot sections between terraces and an expansion of handicap accessibility to the section. Additionally, this caused a reduction in foul territory in the outfield and moved the viewable area closer to the playing area.<ref name="renovation2008">{{cite web
| title = English Field facelift to benefit both players and fans
| website=HokieSports.com
| publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics
| language=en
| url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/renovation.html
| access-date = April 27, 2008
}}</ref>

The second portion of the renovation is the construction of an indoor batting facility beyond the left-field fence which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2008.<ref name="renovation2008" />

===2008 exhibition game versus the New York Yankees===

====Announcement====
Prior to their May 23, 2007, game against the Boston Red Sox, the [[New York Yankees]] announced their commitment to play an exhibition game in Blacksburg during 2008 spring training as a way to aid in the healing process of the campus shootings and made a $1 million contribution to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.<ref>{{cite web 
| title = Yankees make contribution to Va. Tech fund
| work = [[ESPN]]
| agency = [[Associated Press]]
| date = May 24, 2007
| url = https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2880851
| access-date = April 27, 2008
}}</ref> On October 24, 2007, it was announced that English Field would be the site of an exhibition game between Virginia Tech and the New York Yankees on March 18, 2008.<ref>{{cite web 
| title = Hokies announce 2008 baseball slate
| website=HokieSports.com
| publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics
| language=en
| date = October 24, 2007
| url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/recaps/20071024aaa.html
| access-date = January 3, 2008}}</ref>

====Pre-game activities====

Upon arriving on campus, the Yankees' players and staff members visited the semicircle stone markers at the campus Drill Field memorial site for the victims.<ref>{{cite web
| last= Kepner
| first = Tyler
| title = For Yanks and Hokies, a Game to Remember
| work = [[International Herald Tribune]]
| date = March 19, 2008
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/19/sports/baseball/19yankees.html
| access-date = January 30, 2013
}}</ref> Two ceremonial first pitches were thrown—one was in honor the school faculty by university Police Chief Wendell Flinchum and another by Virginia Tech Rescue Squad Captain Jason Dominiczak on behalf of the student body and 32 balloons were released for the victims.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Hatcher
| first = Angela
| title = Hokies V. Yankees
| publisher = [[WSLS-TV]]
| date = March 18, 2008
| url = http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/new_river_valley/article/hokies_v_yankees/7453/
| access-date = April 27, 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081203174446/http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/new_river_valley/article/hokies_v_yankees/7453/
| archive-date = December 3, 2008
}}</ref> Additionally, the university presented four nameplates engraved in [[Hokie Stone]] to the Yankees.<ref name="yahoosports">{{cite web
| last = Hank
| first= Kurz Jr.
| title = New York Yankees honor victims and play Hokies at Virginia Tech
| work = [[Yahoo! Sports]]
| agency = [[Associated Press]]
| date = March 18, 2008
| url = https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-yankees-virginiatech&prov=ap&type=lgns
| access-date = April 27, 2008
}}</ref>

====The game====

The starters for the game were left-handed sixth year senior captain Andrew Wells for the Hokies and right-handed [[Jeff Karstens]] for the Yankees.<ref name="yahoosports" /><ref>{{cite web
| last = Graziano
| first = Dan
| title = More on Virginia Tech
| newspaper = [[The Star-Ledger]]
| date = March 19, 2008
| url = https://www.nj.com/ledgeryankees/2008/03/more_on_virginia_tech.html
| access-date = April 27, 2008
}}</ref> With Yankees manager [[Joe Girardi]] sitting in the stands with Virginia Tech football coach [[Frank Beamer]] in the first inning, Wells got Rodriguez to hit a short sacrifice fly to right field, then got Jason Giambi to ground into an inning-ending double play which emptied the Hokie dugout. Most of the Yankees starters came out during the fourth inning, after which [[Alex Rodriguez]] sat on the Hokies' bench and signed autographs.<ref name="yahoosports" /><ref name="msnbc">{{cite web
| title = A-Rod calls visit to VT 'proudest day' as Yankee
| work = [[NBC Sports]]
| agency = [[Associated Press]]
| date = March 18, 2008
| url = http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23681533/
| access-date = April 27, 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080321152222/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23681533/
| archive-date = March 21, 2008
}}</ref> Nine different Hokie pitchers combined in walking 10 batters and allowed 10 hits while Jeff Karstens pitched four innings for the Yankees while allowing two hits and struck out two.<ref name="yahoosports" /> The final score was 11–0 in favor of the Yankees.<ref name="msnbc" />

=== 2018 renovations ===
The stadium was renovated in 2018 by [[Whiting-Turner]]. The $20 million renovation project added a new grandstand area with new press-level premium suites, 1,132 permanent chair-back seats in concrete stands, and a club level above the first-base dugout, along with a social picnic area down the right-field line.

The new entrance is reminiscent of the iconic Torgersen Bridge located on campus and named for Paul Ernest Torgersen, university president from 1994 to 2000.

The new grandstands are complete with a ticket booth, restrooms, enhanced concessions, a merchandise office, an umpire dressing room, a storage room for facilities and a visiting team room. The second level includes four luxury suites with an extra hospitality area, broadcast and radio booths, a game operations booth, a press area and video rooms.<ref name="facilities" />

==Attendance==
In 2013, the Hokies ranked 49th among [[List of NCAA Division I baseball programs|Division I baseball programs]] in attendance, averaging 1,333 per home game.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cutler |first=Tami |title=2013 Division I Baseball Attendance - Final Report |url=http://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/news/2013/attendance130611.pdf |work=Sportswriters.net |publisher=NCBWA |access-date=July 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728065411/http://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/news/2013/attendance130611.pdf |archive-date=July 28, 2014 |date=June 11, 2013}}</ref>

==All-time results by year for games played in English Field==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Virginia Tech Hokies|color=white}};"|Year
!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Virginia Tech Hokies|color=white}};"|Wins
!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Virginia Tech Hokies|color=white}};"|Losses
!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Virginia Tech Hokies|color=white}};"|Ties
!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Virginia Tech Hokies|color=white}};"|Winning % 
|-
| 1989
| 17
| 7
| 0
| 0.708
|-
| 1990
| 22
| 5
| 0
| 0.815
|- 
| 1991
| 17
| 9
| 0
| 0.654
|- 
| 1992
| 17
| 3
| 1
| 0.850
|- 
| 1993
| 19
| 4
| 0
| 0.826
|- 
| 1994
| 17
| 6
| 0
| 0.739
|- 
| 1995
| 19
| 6
| 0
| 0.760
|- 
| 1996
| 15
| 5
| 0
| 0.750
|- 
| 1997
| 17
| 6
| 0
| 0.739
|-
| 1998
| 14
| 8
| 1
| 0.636
|- 
| 1999
| 16
| 6
| 0
| 0.727
|- 
| 2000
| 15
| 9
| 1
| 0.625
|- 
| 2001
| 15
| 7
| 0
| 0.682
|- 
| 2002
| 18
| 12
| 0
| 0.600
|- 
| 2003
| 18
| 10
| 0
| 0.643
|-
| 2004
| 18
| 10
| 0
| 0.643
|- 
| 2005
| 10
| 10
| 0
| 0.500
|-
| 2006
| 14
| 13
| 0
| 0.519
|- 
| 2008 
| 11
| 16
| 0
| 0.407
|-
| 2008
| 16
| 16
| 0
| 0.500
|-
| 2009
| 18
| 11
| 0
| 0.621
|- 
| 2010
| 24
| 7
| 0
| 0.774
|- 
| 2011
| 14
| 17
| 0
| 0.452
|- 
| 2012
| 23
| 7
| 0
| 0.767
|- 
| 2013
| 19
| 11
| 0
| 0.633
|- 
| 2014
| 15
| 15
| 0
| 0.500
|- 
| 2015
| 16
| 9
| 0
| 0.640
|- 
| 2016
| 13
| 15
| 0
| 0.464
|- 
| 2017
| 14
| 13
| 0
| 0.518
|- 
| 2018
| 10
| 12
| 0
| 0.454
|- 
| 2019
| 14
| 15
| 0
| 0.483
|- 
| 2020
| 8
| 0
| 0
| 1.000
|- 
| 2021
| 17
| 13
| 0
| 0.566
|- 
| 2022
| 33
| 7
| 0
| 0.825
|- 
| 2023
| 21
| 10
| 0
| 0.677
|- 
| 2024
| 22
| 9
| 0
| 0.710
|- 
|'''Totals''' 606-339-3 (0.639)
|}

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{oweb}}

{{Virginia Tech Hokies baseball navbox}}
{{Virginia Tech|state=collapsed}}
{{Atlantic Coast Conference baseball venue navbox}}
{{Virginia NCAA Division I college baseball venue navbox}}

[[Category:Baseball venues in Virginia]]
[[Category:College baseball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Virginia Tech Hokies baseball]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Blacksburg, Virginia]]
[[Category:1989 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1989]]