CONSOL Energy Park
Encyclopedia
CONSOL Energy Park is a 3,200-seat multi-pupose baseball stadium in North Franklin Township
near Washington, Pennsylvania
that hosted its first regular season baseball game on May 29, 2002, as the primary tenants of the facility, the Washington Wild Things
, lost to the Canton Coyotes
, 3-0. The ballpark also hosts the California University of Pennsylvania
Vulcans
baseball team. It also hosts Trinity High School's
baseball team and the WPIAL
Baseball Championships. It was briefly the home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
soccer club (who now play at Chartiers Valley High School
) during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. CONSOL Energy Park is located near Interstate 70
and is one of the only ballparks that includes a hot tub in the viewing stands. Ballpark Scholarships, Inc., a non-profit organization leases the stadium. ProGrass Synthetic Turf was installed in the Fall of 2010.
The stadium was formerly known as Falconi Field until April 12, 2007, when CONSOL Energy, Inc.
and Washington County Family Entertainment entered a naming rights partnership to rename the complex CONSOL Energy Park. The field, located within 30 miles of the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, is frequently confused with its sister-namesake.
, member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
, helped form a nonprofit group named Ballpark Scholarships Inc. to build a $5.8 million stadium in Washington County. $2 million of the cost of the stadium came in form of taxpayer assistance, while the rest was funded privately. A large amount of the private financing needed to build the stadium came from a generous donation that local businessman, Angelo F. Falconi. The Wild Things made their debut on May 25, 2002 at Falconi Field for an exhibition game against the Johnstown Johnnies.
Trich originally hoped to bring an affiliated Class A minor league team
to Washington, however he was unsuccessful. Meanwhile a local group purchased the Canton Crocodiles of the independent Frontier League and moved them to the stadium to begin play as the Washington Wild Things in 2002. The team lost its inaugural game 3-0 to the Canton Coyotes.
The Wild Things rebounded from losing their first game to finish 56-28 and reached the Frontier League championship, which they lost to the Richmond Roosters three games to one. Playoffs included, the Wild Things drew 132,901 to Falconi Field in 2002. The year before the franchise had their games attended by just 29,703 fans in Canton
, which is five times the population of Washington.
On April 12, 2007, the stadium's name was changed to CONSOL Energy Park after the Washington County-based coal mining company paid an undisclosed sum as part of a 10-year naming rights agreement. However a plant garden just inside of the main entrance in right field contains a sign thanking Falconi for his contribution in the stadium's construction.
played at Falconi Field in 2006. He returned to the park in 2009, this time with John Mellencamp
and Willie Nelson
.
North Franklin Township, Pennsylvania
North Franklin Township is a township in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,818 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
near Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
that hosted its first regular season baseball game on May 29, 2002, as the primary tenants of the facility, the Washington Wild Things
Washington Wild Things
The Washington Wild Things are a professional baseball team based in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Wild Things are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
, lost to the Canton Coyotes
Mid-Missouri Mavericks
The Mid-Missouri Mavericks are a former minor league baseball team which played in Columbia, Missouri, in the United States. The team was a member of the independent Frontier League, and has no association with a Major League Baseball team. From 2003 through 2005 the team played at Taylor...
, 3-0. The ballpark also hosts the California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania
California University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in California, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1852, it is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Cal U's enrollment is approximately 9,400.The main campus consists of about 38 buildings situated on 92 acres...
Vulcans
California Vulcans
California University of Pennsylvania's intercollegiate sports teams and players are called the "Vulcans" , and participate in the NCAA's Division II in all sports and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in most sports. The school colors are Red, Black, and White...
baseball team. It also hosts Trinity High School's
Trinity High School (Washington, Pennsylvania)
Trinity High School is a public high school located on a hilltop overlooking the city of Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Its bell tower has been a landmark in Washington County for years....
baseball team and the WPIAL
Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League
The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League is an interscholastic athletic association in Western Pennsylvania. It is District 7 of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association. The league is colloquially known as "WIP-ee-al"...
Baseball Championships. It was briefly the home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
soccer club (who now play at Chartiers Valley High School
Chartiers Valley High School
Chartiers Valley High School is a public school in the Bridgeville borough of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. The school's on-site stadium is home to the professional soccer team the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The school has an indoor swimming pool which is open to the public three evenings a...
) during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. CONSOL Energy Park is located near Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
and is one of the only ballparks that includes a hot tub in the viewing stands. Ballpark Scholarships, Inc., a non-profit organization leases the stadium. ProGrass Synthetic Turf was installed in the Fall of 2010.
The stadium was formerly known as Falconi Field until April 12, 2007, when CONSOL Energy, Inc.
Consol Energy
Consol Energy is an energy company headquartered in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, suburb of Cecil Township, in the Southpointe complex. It is one of the US's largest coal mining companies, along with Peabody Energy and Arch Coal...
and Washington County Family Entertainment entered a naming rights partnership to rename the complex CONSOL Energy Park. The field, located within 30 miles of the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, is frequently confused with its sister-namesake.
History
In 2001, a 16-member "baseball exploratory committee" led by Leo TrichLeo Trich
Leo Joseph Trich, Jr. is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.He is a 1969 graduate of Washington High School. He attended California University of Pennsylvania and Washington and Jefferson College. Prior to elective office, he served as Commissioner of PONY...
, member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
, helped form a nonprofit group named Ballpark Scholarships Inc. to build a $5.8 million stadium in Washington County. $2 million of the cost of the stadium came in form of taxpayer assistance, while the rest was funded privately. A large amount of the private financing needed to build the stadium came from a generous donation that local businessman, Angelo F. Falconi. The Wild Things made their debut on May 25, 2002 at Falconi Field for an exhibition game against the Johnstown Johnnies.
Trich originally hoped to bring an affiliated Class A minor league team
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
to Washington, however he was unsuccessful. Meanwhile a local group purchased the Canton Crocodiles of the independent Frontier League and moved them to the stadium to begin play as the Washington Wild Things in 2002. The team lost its inaugural game 3-0 to the Canton Coyotes.
The Wild Things rebounded from losing their first game to finish 56-28 and reached the Frontier League championship, which they lost to the Richmond Roosters three games to one. Playoffs included, the Wild Things drew 132,901 to Falconi Field in 2002. The year before the franchise had their games attended by just 29,703 fans in Canton
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, which is five times the population of Washington.
On April 12, 2007, the stadium's name was changed to CONSOL Energy Park after the Washington County-based coal mining company paid an undisclosed sum as part of a 10-year naming rights agreement. However a plant garden just inside of the main entrance in right field contains a sign thanking Falconi for his contribution in the stadium's construction.
Concerts
Bob DylanBob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
played at Falconi Field in 2006. He returned to the park in 2009, this time with John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
and Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
.
External links
See also
- Ross Memorial Park and Alexandre StadiumRoss Memorial Park and Alexandre StadiumRoss Memorial Park and Alexandre Stadium is a combined multi-purpose outdoor athletic facility in North Franklin Township, Pennsylvania owned by Washington & Jefferson College. The playing surface is made of FieldTurf, like the college's football stadium, Cameron Stadium...