imported>Arianwen88 at 06:03, 14 July 2023

2023-07-14T06:03:31Z

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{{Short description|Baseball park in Zion, Illinois, United States}}
{{Infobox stadium
| stadium_name = Fielders Stadium
| nickname =
| image =
| fullname =
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=13|type=point}}
| pushpin_map = USA Illinois#USA
| pushpin_relief = yes
| location = Route 173 & Green Bay Road<br />[[Zion, Illinois|Zion, IL]] 60099
| coordinates = {{Coord|42.46587|-87.87961|type:landmark_region:US-IL|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = November 6, 2009
| built = June 29, 2010
| opened = July 2, 2010
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = [[Kevin Costner]]
| operator =
| surface = Natural grass & plush felt
| construction_cost =
| architect = Panattoni Development Company
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor=
| project_manager =
| main_contractors =
| former_names =
| tenants = [[Lake County Fielders]] (2010–2011)
| seating_capacity = 7,000 for baseball and 12,500 for concerts
| dimensions =
}}

'''Fielders Stadium''' is an unfinished [[baseball park]] in [[Zion, Illinois]]. It was nicknamed "A Diamond on the Border" and "Lake County's Field of Dreams." It was the designated home of the [[Lake County Fielders]] (2009-2012) of the [[North American League (baseball)|North American League]]. The ballpark was to be located on the corner of 9th Street and Green Bay Road in the Trumpet Park business park in Zion. After the Fielders baseball team folded in August 2011, they did not have a 2012 season and the stadium was never completed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Moran |first=Dan |date=May 12, 2015 |title=Game over: Zion, Lake County Fielders drop lawsuits with $55K settlement |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-zion-fielders-llawsuit-st-0513-20150512-story.html |access-date=April 21, 2016 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124182822/https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-zion-fielders-llawsuit-st-0513-20150512-story.html |archive-date=January 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/field-of-dreams-lake-county/1966227/ |title=Abandoned Stadium Project Costs Taxpayers Millions |last=Johnson |first=Dick |date=October 24, 2013 |work=[[NBC 5 Chicago]] |access-date=April 21, 2016}}</ref>

== Funding problems ==
Before the property for the stadium had been secured, an official groundbreaking ceremony was held on November 5, 2009, at a warehouse adjacent to the ballpark's planned site. In February 2010, with construction pending the completed purchase of the land, the Fielders announced that they would downsize plans for the stadium in order to complete the park in time for its June 11 opening day. When the city of Zion proved unable to secure funding for the property purchase, it announced in April 2010 that the stadium site was to be moved several blocks south to a new location at the corner of [[Illinois State 173]] and Green Bay Road. For the 2010 season, Zion and the Fielders built a temporary facility resembling a "county fair" setting, while construction continued during the season. Temporary bleachers and party decks were to be erected around the field.

== 2010 season ==
The Fielders opened the 2010 season at [[Carthage College]], across the border in [[Kenosha, Wisconsin]], because of Zion Ballpark's finance problems. The Fielders eventually moved back to Zion on July 2, playing at a field that was not developed with much more than bleachers. On Monday, July 26, the Fielders played their first night game in Zion, as lights had been installed.

In 2011 the team played another season. The most notable game was on July 9, 2011, with the Fielders vs. the Yuma Scorpions, managed by player/coach [[Jose Canseco]]. Before the game in Zion, Fielders manager [[Tim Johnson (baseball)|Tim Johnson]] resigned because of the lack of moneys, and the lies and broken promises made by ownership to him and the team. Pitching coach [[Pete LaCock]] was promoted to manager.

LaCock and the Fielders team decided to rebel against the ownership: they changed the position players to pitching, and pitchers were assigned to play the field. When Scorpions manager [[Jose Canseco]] heard what the Fielders were doing, he decided the Scorpions would also put pitchers in the field, and fielders into pitch. <ref>{{cite news |last1=Reichard |first1=Kevin |title=Yuma, Lake County swap pitchers, positional players |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/201107103983/independent-baseball/news/yuma-lake-forest-swap-pitchers-positional-players |access-date=November 30, 2018 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=July 10, 2011}}</ref>

The Fielders team folded that year because of financial problems. No ballpark was completed in Lake County.

== Details ==
The state-of-the-art ballpark was to have a capacity of 7,000 spectators.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/us/05zion.html |title=Major League Hopes Pinned on the Minors |last=Rotenberk |first=Lori |date=April 4, 2009 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=April 8, 2009}}</ref> It also was to have box seats, pub-style seats, and general lawn seating. The stadium was to feature five luxury suites and a year-round restaurant and banquet hall. The park also planned to feature a Kids Zone, party decks, and a concert stage. The new ballpark at the second site was to have many of the same features, as well as a movie theater and "ballpark village" setting around the stadium.

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* {{cite news |last1=Wang |first1=Andrew L. |title=Costner to co-own new Zion minor league team |url=http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/02/costner-zion-minor-league-baseball-club.html |work=[[Chicago Breaking News]] |date=February 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201055332/http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/02/costner-zion-minor-league-baseball-club.html |archive-date=February 1, 2010}}

[[Category:Minor league baseball venues]]
[[Category:Baseball venues in Illinois]]
[[Category:Music venues in Illinois]]
[[Category:Unbuilt stadiums in the United States]]

Fielders Stadium - Revision history

imported>Arianwen88 at 06:03, 14 July 2023