View source for Whataburger Field

{{Short description|Baseball stadium in Corpus Christi, Texas, US}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Whataburger Field
| logo_image = Whataburger Field logo.png
| logo_size = 150px
| image = [[File:Whataburge0r Field.jpg|280px]]
| pushpin_map = Texas#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within [[Texas]]##Location within the [[United States]]
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_label = Whataburger Field
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| location = 734 East Port Avenue<br>[[Corpus Christi, Texas]]<br>United States
| coordinates = {{coord|27|48|34.5|N|97|23|58.9|W|type:landmark_region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = April 8, 2004<ref name="Hooks Page">{{cite web |title=Today Is The Day|url=http://www.cchooks.com/news/?id=760|publisher=Corpus Christi Hooks|date=April 8, 2004|access-date=April 9, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040503131336/http://www.cchooks.com/news/?id=760|archive-date=May 3, 2004}}</ref>
| opened = April 17, 2005<ref name="Hooks Page2">{{cite web |title=Hooks 2005 Schedule Released|url=http://www.cchooks.com/news/?id=1092|publisher=Corpus Christi Hooks|date=June 28, 2004|access-date=March 12, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040708123651/http://www.cchooks.com/news/?id=1092|archive-date=July 8, 2004}}</ref>
| closed = 
| demolished = 
| owner = [[Corpus Christi, Texas|City of Corpus Christi]]<ref name="bbp">{{cite web |title=Whataburger Field – Corpus Christi Hooks|first=Graham|last=Knight|url=http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/minors/corpus-christi.html|work=Baseball Pilgrimages|date=August 24, 2010|access-date=September 20, 2011}}</ref>
| operator = [[Corpus Christi Hooks|Corpus Christi Baseball Club LP]]
| surface = Grass
| construction_cost = US$27.7 million<ref name="Hooks Page5">{{cite web |title=Whataburger Field: What-A-Ballpark!|first=Joe|last=Mock|url=http://www.baseballparks.com/Corpus.asp|work=Baseball Parks|access-date=September 20, 2011}}</ref><br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|27700000|2005}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = [[HKS, Inc.]],  WKMC Architects, Inc. (associate)<ref name="bbp"/>
| project_manager = AG/CM Inc.<ref name="bbp"/>
| structural engineer = Kleinfelder<ref>{{cite web |title=State & Local Government|url=https://www.kleinfelder.com/client-solutions/markets/facilities/state-and-local-government/item/download/93|publisher=Kleinfelder|access-date=March 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403130810/https://www.kleinfelder.com/client-solutions/markets/facilities/state-and-local-government/item/download/93 |archive-date=April 3, 2012}}</ref>
| services engineer = Blum Consulting Engineers, Inc.<ref>{{cite web |title=Whataburger Field|url=http://www.blumeng.com/develop_public/?p=246|publisher=Blum Consulting Engineers, Inc.|date=June 4, 2009|access-date=September 20, 2011}}</ref>
| general_contractor = Fulton-Coastcon-[[Hunt Construction Group|Hunt]]<ref name="bbp"/>
| former_names = 
| tenants = [[Corpus Christi Hooks]] ([[Texas League|TL]]/[[Double-A Central]]) 2005–present
| seating_capacity = 7,679 (5,679 seats plus 2,000 in berms) <ref name="Goldberg-Strassler">{{cite web|url=http://ballparkdigest.com/201211195865/minor-league-baseball/visits/whataburger-field-corpus-christi-hooks|title=Whataburger Field / Corpus Christi Hooks|last=Goldberg-Strassler|first=Jesse|work=Ballpark Digest|access-date=4 May 2015}}</ref>
| dimensions = '''Left field''' – {{Convert|315|ft|m|0}}<br>'''Left-center''' – {{convert|375|ft|m|0}}<br>'''Center field''' – {{convert|400|ft|m|0}}<br>'''Right-center''' – {{convert|375|ft|m|0}}<br>'''Right field''' – {{convert|325|ft|m|0}}
}}

'''Whataburger Field''' is a [[minor league baseball]] [[stadium]] located in [[Corpus Christi, Texas]], United States. It is home to the [[Corpus Christi Hooks]], the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] affiliate of the [[Houston Astros]]. It also serves as a secondary home to the [[Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders baseball|Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders]] [[college baseball]] team in addition to their own on-campus [[Chapman Field (baseball)|Chapman Field]].<ref name="facil">{{cite web |title=Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Athletic Facilities|url=http://goislanders.com/information/facilities/index|publisher=Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Athletics|access-date=April 8, 2015}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Whataburger Field View.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge]] as viewed beyond the right field wall]]
[[File:Whataburger Field.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|The 2007 [[Texas League]] Home Run Derby at Whataburger Field]]

The park, which opened in 2005, is located on what used to be old cotton warehouses on the city's waterfront.<ref name="Hooks Page5"/> [[Naming rights]] were paid for by [[Whataburger|Whataburger, Inc.]], which was headquartered in Corpus Christi before relocating to [[San Antonio]] in 2009. The {{USS|Lexington|CV-16|6}} and the [[Texas State Aquarium]] are visible from inside the park.<ref name="Hooks Page4">{{cite web |title=Whataburger Field|url=http://www.cchooks.com/whataburger/|publisher=Corpus Christi Hooks|access-date=April 20, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060203114044/http://www.cchooks.com/whataburger/|archive-date=February 3, 2006}}</ref> As of 2019, Whataburger Field features 5,679&nbsp;fixed seats, 19&nbsp;luxury suites and two outfield berm areas that are able to accommodate approximately 2,000&nbsp;people.<ref name="Hooks Page4"/>

Whataburger Field's first official game was played against the [[Midland RockHounds]] on April 17, 2005. An 11-year-old Corpus Christi native named Mark Travis was the first fan to enter the stadium.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 18, 2005 |title=Home sweet home |url=https://passagesofplay.com/content/images/2024/05/Corpus_Christi_Caller_Times_Mon__Apr_18__2005_--1-.jpg |access-date=May 2, 2024 |work=Corpus Christi Caller-Times}}</ref>

On June 30, 2005, the stadium unveiled ''For the Love of the Game'', an 18-foot (5.5 m) statue depicting a young ballplayer in a contemplative pose. The statue is believed to be the largest [[bronze]] statue of a baseball player.

A pair of 1920s-era cotton presses border the videoboard in left field. Under a set of broken windows on the lefthand building, a sign reads "Bam-Bam" to commemorate a batting practice blast by Hooks [[outfielder]] [[Hunter Pence]] in 2006 that smashed one of the windows. Pence earned the nickname Bam-Bam because of his antics and similarities to [[Bamm-Bamm Rubble|the baby of the same name]] on ''[[The Flintstones]]''.<ref name="Minor League Baseball">{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/corpus-christi/news/gcs-74820964 |title = Hooks celebrating 10th season in style}}</ref>

On June 26, 2007, Whataburger Field played host to the 2007 Texas League All-Star game.<ref name="AllStar">{{cite web |title=June 26, 2007: Texas League All-Star Game Whataburger Field, Corpus Christi, Texas|url=http://www.texas-league.com/allstar/|publisher=Texas League|date=June 26, 2007|access-date=June 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701143149/http://texas-league.com/allstar/|archive-date=July 1, 2007}}</ref>

The [[Southland Conference baseball tournament]] was played at Whataburger Field in [[2009 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament|2009]] and [[2010 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament|2010]]. The conference tournament was scheduled to return to the facility in [[2020 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament|2020]],<ref>{{cite web |author1=Quinton Martinez |title=Whataburger Field to host Southland Conference baseball tournament |url=https://www.caller.com/story/sports/college/texas-a-and-m-university-corpus-christi/2019/12/05/whataburger-field-host-southland-conference-baseball-tournament-corpus-christi-hooks/2621258001/ |publisher=Corpus Christi Caller-Times |access-date=February 22, 2020 |date=December 5, 2019}}</ref> but was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Osburn |first1=Stacey |title=NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships |url=http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/news/ncaa-cancels-remaining-winter-and-spring-championships |website=NCAA.org |access-date=March 15, 2020 |date=March 12, 2020}}</ref>

On June 10, 2010, the [[Houston Dynamo]] played the first-ever soccer match at Whataburger Field before a capacity crowd of 6,111, beating the [[Laredo Heat]] 2–1.<ref name="Dynamo defeat Laredo Heat 2-1">{{cite web |title=Dynamo Defeat Laredo Heat 2-1|first=Jonathan|last=Kaplan|url=http://www.houstondynamo.com/news/2010/06/dynamo-defeat-laredo-heat-2-1|publisher=Houston Dynamo|date=June 10, 2010|access-date=February 23, 2014}}</ref> The Dynamo played in-state rival [[FC Dallas]] in a pre-season friendly on February 12, 2011 — becoming the second soccer match ever played at the stadium.<ref name="Dynamo, FC Dallas to square off in Corpus">{{cite press release |title=Dynamo, FC Dallas to Square Off in Corpus|url=http://www.houstondynamo.com/news/2010/12/dynamo-fc-dallas-square-corpus|publisher=Houston Dyanmo|date=December 21, 2010}}</ref>

Prior to the 2019 season, the Hooks and Whataburger renewed their naming rights agreement for a period of 15&nbsp;years and announced a slew of changes. The roof of was painted with distinctive orange and white stripes, paying homage to the iconic pattern found at Whataburger restaurants and the private drive bordering the west side of the stadium was renamed Whataburger Way. As part of a ticket package, Whataburger 4Topps were added to the top of section 120, providing fans with the opportunity to dine at Whataburger-branded tables with adjoining 360-degree swivel chairs and Whataburger wait service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/corpus-christi/news/hooks-whataburger-extend-ballpark-naming-rights-304779442|title = Hooks, Whataburger Extend Ballpark Naming Rights}}</ref>

During a pregame ceremony on September 1, 2019, the Hooks announced plans to name the stadium entrance [[Ken Schrom]] Plaza, honoring their retiring longtime front office executive and president who was notorious for greeting fans at that very plaza before and after games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/corpus-christi/news/corpus-christi-proclaims-september-1-ken-schrom-day-310469226|title = Corpus Christi Proclaims September 1}}</ref>

Whataburger Field and the Hooks hosted the Astros' Alternate Training Site (ATS) during the shortened [[2020 Major League Baseball season]] and the beginning of the 2021 MLB season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/corpus-christi/news/astros-alternate-site-returns-to-whataburger-field|title = Astros Alternate Site Returns to Whataburger Field}}</ref> From April 12–14, 2021, it hosted a three-game exhibition series between the Astros' ATS and the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]' ATS with entry limited to season ticket holders, marking the first professional baseball games at the stadium with fans since 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/corpus-christi/news/alt-site-exhibition-schedule|title=Whataburger Field to Host Astros Alternate Site Exhibition Games}}</ref>

Spanning from right to center field and beyond, Whataburger Field offers fans views of [[Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge]], which displays changing LED lights at night. A public lighting ceremony was held at the stadium on December 4, 2011. A new [[Harbor Bridge Project]] was underway as of 2017, expected to be completed by 2025, which will alter the bridge trajectory to beyond left field rather than right.

==Amenities==
*Mike Shaw Automotive Line Drive Loft
*Bud Light Bullpen and Kieshnick's Korner
*Physician's Premier Power Deck
*Conviva 4Topp Tables
*Whataburger 4Topp Tables
*Yuengling Flight Zone
*gtek360 Terrace
*Goodwill Zone
*Kids Zone
*Sport Court basketball playing surface 
*[[Daktronics]] {{convert|21|ft|abbr=on}} tall x {{convert|48|ft|abbr=on}} wide videoboard, unveiled in 2014<ref name="Minor League Baseball"/>
*Pool & Spa<ref name="Hooks Page4"/>
*[[CITGO]] Cotton Club – an air-conditioned entertainment area redesigned prior to the 2019 season. The club area provides sweeping views of the field, Harbor Bridge and the downtown Corpus Christi skyline.<ref name="Hooks Page6">{{cite web |title=Luxury Suite|url=http://www.cchooks.com/tickets/luxury/|publisher=Corpus Christi Hooks|access-date=February 22, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070512210826/http://www.cchooks.com/tickets/luxury/|archive-date=May 12, 2007}}</ref>

==Food==
*A [[Whataburger]] restaurant 
*[[Nolan Ryan]]'s Seven-34 Smoke House 
*Tenders, Love, & Chicken
*Valero Champions Club bar with food service
*Live Oak Bar
*[[Dippin' Dots]]<ref name="Hooks Page5"/>

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[List of NCAA Division I baseball venues]]
{{clear right}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Whataburger Field}}
*[https://www.milb.com/corpus-christi/ballpark Whataburger Field] – [[Corpus Christi Hooks]]

{{Texas League ballparks}}
{{Southland Conference baseball venue navbox}}
{{Texas NCAA Division I college baseball venue navbox}}

[[Category:Sports venues in Corpus Christi, Texas]]
[[Category:Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders baseball]]
[[Category:College baseball venues in Texas]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 2005]]
[[Category:Texas League ballparks]]