549:
131:
513:
408:
522:
540:
531:
25:
365:
thus creating a traffic nightmare. Finally, soon after the stadium was built, other existing Triple-A stadiums were expanded and many new ones were built, making it normal for most Triple-A stadiums to hold well over 10,000 people, far above the 6,000 that the newly constructed Ball Park held, so that very shortly after its construction it was essentially obsolete.
391:
In 2005, Old
Orchard Beach considered selling the 50-acre (200,000 m) site that held the ballpark, as well as the 25-acre (100,000 m) site that included Old Orchard Beach High School's athletic fields. Then Town Manager Jim Thomas speculated at the time that the site could be sold for $ 2.5
420:
cleared vegetative overgrowth, rebuilt the dugouts and outfield wall, leveled off the playing field and planted new sod. Much of the skilled work was completed with the volunteer help of local plumbers, contractors, carpenters and electricians and most of the funding has come from private donations.
368:
Stadium owner Jordan
Kobritz fell behind on debt payments to The Finance Authority of Maine which had lent him the funds to construct the ballpark in 1984. In July 1987, Kobritz agreed to relinquish the deed to the ballpark to The Old Orchard Beach Town Council in exchange for his being release from
364:
Although attendance was not a major problem during the franchise's existence, the park was hampered by three main driving forces: First, in the summer the stadium was home to a large population of Maine Black Flies that pestered fans. Second, there was only one road leading to and from the stadium,
419:
Around April 2008, a local volunteer organization known as The Ball Park Group took on the task of cleaning up the 53-acre (210,000 m) property and renovating the facility to a condition suitable for hosting games and special events. The volunteers removed the debris from the skybox fire,
398:
In June 2008, the town placed a referendum question on the local election ballot proposing to sell the stadium and create room for a condominium complex. However, much to the relief of many of the 10,000 citizens of the town, the question was voted down by a considerable majority.
387:
By the 2000s, the
Ballpark was shuttered and the facility had suffered from years of neglect. The grass turned into brush and overgrowth, and the walls of the facility started to fall down. The most frequent guests to the stadium were drug users, arsonists, and vandals.
356:
from 1987–1988. The owners of the team believed that, due to the large amount of vacation traffic that the town receives in the summer months, numerous vacationers would attend games. However, after only five years in existence, the franchise relocated to
971:
966:
442:
986:
372:
After the Guides left, the stadium was leased to a group called, Seashore
Performing Arts Center (SEAPAC), who hosted many concerts in the late 80s and 90s, including shows from
685:
548:
317:. This was the first professional baseball team in Old Orchard Beach since the Maine Phillies left in 1988. Prior to the arrival of the Surge, The Ballpark was home to the
976:
42:
438:
831:
632:
606:
483:
Double A affiliate. This desire for a full-time team came to fruition in 2011 when the All-Americans moved to Old
Orchard Beach and made their debut as the
430:
On
October 31, 2009, the stadium took a major step in resuming active baseball play. Two teams made up of local high school players from all over Southern
981:
658:
456:
322:
241:
912:
441:
Baseball
National Tournament was held at The Ballpark, and the tournament announced that it would hold its 2011 Tournament there as well. The
961:
956:
89:
716:
61:
577:
314:
232:
856:
326:
68:
904:
951:
868:
792:
693:
108:
303:
baseball facility that was almost destroyed by years of neglect until a community organized volunteer effort revived the stadium.
759:
75:
884:
337:
The
Ballpark opened in 1984. It was built primarily for baseball and was the home field of the Triple-A International League's
594:
46:
57:
484:
412:
318:
237:
512:
130:
311:
521:
497:
played their first home game and beat the
Watertown Bucks 13-3 before a crowd of about 500. The team relocated to
407:
35:
839:
539:
530:
292:
157:
147:
732:
494:
307:
228:
82:
800:
767:
498:
468:
395:
To make matters worse, a major fire caused by a lightning strike damaged the facility on June 21, 2007.
353:
384:, and others. The concerts ceased after local residents complained about the loud noise late at night.
464:
358:
259:
250:
894:
300:
714:
490:
The largest crowd was over 2,800 people for a Red Sox alumni game on Friday
September 2, 2011.
864:
476:
424:
349:
804:
771:
449:
296:
164:
720:
472:
460:
381:
480:
342:
945:
445:
423:
In October 2009, the website ballparkdigest.com officially removed The Ballpark in
338:
255:
246:
889:
467:
played before a crowd of 550 fans. Many felt that an NECBL team, rather than a
24:
927:
914:
373:
899:
377:
288:
448:
also played a pair of exhibition games at the Ballpark against the
431:
406:
578:"Pro baseball rekindles memories on return to Old Orchard Beach"
274:
18:
392:
million and generate $ 1 million per-year in property taxes.
554:
The park's scoreboard, located past the right field fence.
434:
played the first game at the stadium in nearly 20 years.
471:
team, would be the best fit for the ballpark as nearby
348:
The Guides were the top minor league affiliate for the
686:"A New Season – OOB Ballpark on verge of second life"
595:
Raging Tide baseball team won’t return to OOB in 2015
972:
Buildings and structures in Old Orchard Beach, Maine
861:
Minor League Baseball and Local Economic Development
266:
222:
214:
206:
198:
193:
185:
173:
163:
153:
141:
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
306:The Ballpark was the 2015–2018 home of the
967:New England Collegiate Baseball League ballparks
659:"Maine ballpark sits in neglect 20 years later"
455:On July 2, 2010, the Ballpark hosted its first
439:United States Collegiate Athletic Association
145:Off Saco Avenue (ME 5) at Cummings Boulevard
8:
987:Futures Collegiate Baseball League ballparks
733:"2010-2011 USCAA Baseball Championship Site"
123:
571:
569:
633:"Old Orchard Beach seeks to sell ballpark"
122:
977:Tourist attractions in York County, Maine
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
16:Baseball stadium in Maine, United States
607:"Old Orchard Beach Takes Over Ballpark"
565:
508:
895:Photos of the Park-Pre Re-Construction
684:Angelique Carson (December 10, 2009).
457:New England Collegiate Baseball League
427:from its "Endangered Ballparks List."
323:New England Collegiate Baseball League
58:"The Ballpark" Old Orchard Beach
7:
47:adding citations to reliable sources
315:Empire Professional Baseball League
327:Futures Collegiate Baseball League
14:
905:Jen DeRice Keeps Ballpark Rolling
295:, United States. The venue has a
900:Photo Gallery of 06/21/2007 Fire
863:. University of Illinois Press.
547:
538:
529:
520:
511:
129:
23:
982:Sports venues completed in 1984
34:needs additional citations for
859:. In Johnson, Arthur T (ed.).
576:Jordan, Glenn (June 4, 2015).
403:Revitalization and present day
1:
793:"A home run for Saranac Lake"
760:"Pro baseball team Surges in"
485:Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide
413:Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide
361:, following the 1988 season.
319:Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide
238:Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide
962:Sports in York County, Maine
957:Minor league baseball venues
832:"It's The Maine Attraction"
830:Steve Wulf (July 9, 1984).
797:Adirondack Daily Enterprise
764:Adirondack Daily Enterprise
758:Reuter, Lou (May 4, 2019).
639:. June 21, 2005. p. A3
613:. July 29, 1987. p. 21
411:The Ballpark during a 2012
369:his financial obligations.
1003:
885:The Ballpark Group Website
857:"Old Orchard Beach, Maine"
611:Lewiston (Maine) Daily Sun
352:from 1984 to 1986 and the
341:from 1984 to 1987 and the
928:43.5168194°N 70.3910639°W
890:Review of the Old Stadium
719:October 23, 2009, at the
299:of 6,000 and is a former
271:
227:
158:Town of Old Orchard Beach
137:
128:
952:Baseball venues in Maine
293:Old Orchard Beach, Maine
148:Old Orchard Beach, Maine
933:43.5168194; -70.3910639
495:Old Orchard Beach Surge
308:Old Orchard Beach Surge
229:Old Orchard Beach Surge
855:Wessel, Harry (1995).
801:Saranac Lake, New York
768:Saranac Lake, New York
499:Saranac Lake, New York
416:
169:Baseball – 6,000
501:for the 2019 season.
493:On June 3, 2015, the
469:minor league baseball
410:
354:Philadelphia Phillies
696:on December 15, 2009
637:Lewiston Sun Journal
465:Lowell All-Americans
359:Moosic, Pennsylvania
179:Center Field: 405 ft
43:improve this article
924: /
842:on November 2, 2012
739:. December 10, 2009
329:(2012–2014).
181:Right Field: 327 ft
125:
836:Sports Illustrated
452:on May 22 and 23.
417:
244:) 2011–2014
235:) 2015–2018
177:Left Field: 312 ft
477:Portland Sea Dogs
437:In May 2010, the
425:Old Orchard Beach
350:Cleveland Indians
282:
281:
262:) 1984–1987
119:
118:
111:
93:
994:
939:
938:
936:
935:
934:
929:
925:
922:
921:
920:
917:
874:
851:
849:
847:
838:. Archived from
817:
816:
814:
812:
805:Ogden Newspapers
789:
783:
782:
780:
778:
772:Ogden Newspapers
755:
749:
748:
746:
744:
729:
723:
712:
706:
705:
703:
701:
692:. Archived from
681:
675:
674:
672:
670:
655:
649:
648:
646:
644:
629:
623:
622:
620:
618:
603:
597:
592:
586:
585:
573:
551:
542:
533:
524:
515:
450:Quebec Capitales
297:seating capacity
278:
277:
275:Official website
133:
126:
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
51:
27:
19:
1002:
1001:
997:
996:
995:
993:
992:
991:
942:
941:
932:
930:
926:
923:
918:
915:
913:
911:
910:
881:
871:
854:
845:
843:
829:
826:
824:Further reading
821:
820:
810:
808:
791:
790:
786:
776:
774:
757:
756:
752:
742:
740:
731:
730:
726:
721:Wayback Machine
713:
709:
699:
697:
683:
682:
678:
668:
666:
665:. July 27, 2008
657:
656:
652:
642:
640:
631:
630:
626:
616:
614:
605:
604:
600:
593:
589:
575:
574:
567:
562:
555:
552:
543:
534:
525:
516:
507:
475:is home to the
461:Sanford Mainers
443:Can-Am League's
405:
382:Whitney Houston
335:
325:(2011) and the
273:
272:
254:
245:
236:
180:
178:
146:
115:
104:
98:
95:
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1000:
998:
990:
989:
984:
979:
974:
969:
964:
959:
954:
944:
943:
908:
907:
902:
897:
892:
887:
880:
879:External links
877:
876:
875:
869:
852:
825:
822:
819:
818:
784:
750:
724:
707:
676:
650:
624:
598:
587:
564:
563:
561:
558:
557:
556:
553:
546:
544:
537:
535:
528:
526:
519:
517:
510:
506:
503:
481:Boston Red Sox
459:game when the
404:
401:
343:Maine Phillies
334:
331:
287:is a baseball
280:
279:
269:
268:
264:
263:
247:Maine Phillies
225:
224:
220:
219:
216:
212:
211:
210:April 18, 1984
208:
204:
203:
200:
196:
195:
191:
190:
187:
183:
182:
175:
171:
170:
167:
161:
160:
155:
151:
150:
143:
139:
138:
135:
134:
117:
116:
31:
29:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
999:
988:
985:
983:
980:
978:
975:
973:
970:
968:
965:
963:
960:
958:
955:
953:
950:
949:
947:
940:
937:
919:70°23′27.83″W
906:
903:
901:
898:
896:
893:
891:
888:
886:
883:
882:
878:
872:
870:0-252-06502-6
866:
862:
858:
853:
841:
837:
833:
828:
827:
823:
807:. May 8, 2019
806:
802:
798:
794:
788:
785:
773:
769:
765:
761:
754:
751:
738:
734:
728:
725:
722:
718:
715:
711:
708:
695:
691:
690:Sun Chronicle
687:
680:
677:
664:
660:
654:
651:
638:
634:
628:
625:
612:
608:
602:
599:
596:
591:
588:
583:
579:
572:
570:
566:
559:
550:
545:
541:
536:
532:
527:
523:
518:
514:
509:
505:Photo gallery
504:
502:
500:
496:
491:
488:
486:
482:
478:
474:
470:
466:
462:
458:
453:
451:
447:
444:
440:
435:
433:
428:
426:
421:
414:
409:
402:
400:
396:
393:
389:
385:
383:
379:
375:
370:
366:
362:
360:
355:
351:
346:
344:
340:
332:
330:
328:
324:
320:
316:
313:
309:
304:
302:
298:
294:
290:
286:
276:
270:
265:
261:
257:
252:
248:
243:
239:
234:
230:
226:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
201:
197:
192:
188:
184:
176:
172:
168:
166:
162:
159:
156:
152:
149:
144:
140:
136:
132:
127:
121:
113:
110:
102:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
916:43°31′0.55″N
909:
860:
844:. Retrieved
840:the original
835:
809:. Retrieved
796:
787:
775:. Retrieved
763:
753:
741:. Retrieved
736:
727:
710:
698:. Retrieved
694:the original
689:
679:
667:. Retrieved
663:Boston Globe
662:
653:
641:. Retrieved
636:
627:
615:. Retrieved
610:
601:
590:
582:Press Herald
581:
492:
489:
454:
446:Brockton Rox
436:
429:
422:
418:
397:
394:
390:
386:
371:
367:
363:
347:
339:Maine Guides
336:
305:
285:The Ballpark
284:
283:
256:Maine Guides
199:Broke ground
194:Construction
124:The Ballpark
120:
105:
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
931: /
312:independent
99:August 2022
946:Categories
846:January 5,
743:January 5,
700:January 5,
669:January 5,
643:January 5,
617:January 5,
560:References
174:Field size
69:newspapers
374:Van Halen
345:in 1988.
215:Renovated
717:Archived
473:Portland
463:and the
378:Bon Jovi
301:Triple-A
165:Capacity
142:Location
811:June 7,
777:June 7,
333:History
321:of the
310:of the
289:stadium
267:Website
253:) 1988
223:Tenants
186:Surface
83:scholar
867:
479:, the
207:Opened
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
737:USCAA
432:Maine
415:game.
242:NECBL
189:Grass
154:Owner
90:JSTOR
76:books
865:ISBN
848:2009
813:2019
779:2019
745:2010
702:2009
671:2009
645:2009
619:2009
233:EPBL
218:2009
202:1983
62:news
291:in
45:by
948::
834:.
803::
799:.
795:.
770::
766:.
762:.
735:.
688:.
661:.
635:.
609:.
580:.
568:^
487:.
380:,
376:,
260:IL
251:IL
873:.
850:.
815:.
781:.
747:.
704:.
673:.
647:.
621:.
584:.
258:(
249:(
240:(
231:(
112:)
106:(
101:)
97:(
87:·
80:·
73:·
66:·
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
