Campbell's Field
Encyclopedia
Campbell's Field is a 6,425-seat baseball park
in Camden, New Jersey
that hosted its first regular season baseball game on May 11, 2001. The ballpark is home to the Camden Riversharks
and the college baseball team of Rutgers University-Camden
. The naming rights are owned by the Camden-based Campbell Soup Company
, which paid $3 million over ten years.
The park, located at Delaware and Penn Avenues, features a commanding view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge
connecting Camden with Philadelphia
, Pennsylvania
across the Delaware River
. Views of the Philadelphia skyline are available from the right-field grandstand. These views can be seen through the "Campbell's Field Cam", a stationary weather camera used by KYW-TV
in Philadelphia.
Christine Todd Whitman
in attendance. Campbell's Field was funded by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, a loan from the Delaware River Port Authority
, a grant from Rutgers University
, and private financing obtained by the builder, Quaker Construction. During construction, the stadium was owned by the Cooper's Ferry Development Association. Upon completion, it became the property of Rutgers, which signed a lease with Camden Baseball, LLC to operate the stadium in conjunction with the Atlantic League.
The new ballpark involved a $24 million construction project that included $7 million for environmental remediation costs. Prior to construction, Campbell’s Field was a vacant, undeveloped parcel of land that historically housed businesses that included the Campbell Soup Company Plant No. 2, Pennsylvania & Reading Rail Road’s Linden Street Freight Station, David Baird & Company’s lumber mill and Eavenson & Sons’ soap manufacturing company.
Campbell's Field opened in May 2001, and was one of the projects designed to spark urban renewal in Camden. The ballpark was honored in 2003 by DigitalBallparks.com and in 2004 by Baseball America
as the "Ballpark of the Year." Campbell's Field has been honored with several local awards, including the Camden County Improvement Authority Entertainment Award in 2000, the International Masonry Institute Golden Trowel Award in 2001, the Urban Land Institute's Award for Excellence in 2002, the Downtown New Jersey Excellence Award, the New Jersey Business and Industry Association Good Neighbor Award, and the Distinguished Award for Engineering Excellence given by the Consulting Engineers Council of New Jersey in 2003.
In April 2009, Campbell Soup announced that it would continue to have its name on the ballpark at least through 2020.
In 2011, the Field will host the Atlantic pool of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
.
The ballpark also hosted the 2008 Atlantic 10 baseball tournament, in which the University of North Carolina-Charlotte
defeated Xavier University
in the championship game to win the tournament. The St. Joseph's University baseball team played six games at Campbell's Field in 2009 and its entire home schedule in 2010. The Saint Joseph's baseball program makes the park its full-time home until it can play home games at an on-campus facility in the future.
beverages, Pace
salsa, and Pepperidge Farm
rolls and snacks. A traditional ballpark menu is also available, with hot dogs produced by the Philadelphia-based Dietz & Watson
Inc. Additional options are available at the Picnic Pavilion, that includes items from a local barbecue restaurant called Fat Jack's BBQ. The Flying Fish Brewing Company
, based in nearby Cherry Hill
, caters to beer connoisseurs in the pub area.
The Acme Fun Zone is a playground are that provides entertainment for children. The zone is hosted by the Riversharks mascot, Finley, and includes a carousel and various inflatables. It was formerly called the Utz Fun Zone and Holman Fun Zone.
Campbell's Field offers multiple seating options for its patrons. Executives can enjoy the Diamond Café, which includes a gourmet buffet, with a waiting service, and views of the Philadelphia skyline and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The Skyline & Bridge Suites, private rooms available for conferences or meetings, also offer views the skyline and professional catering.
tournament for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. The competition will run from October 15 to October 23 and will be contested by the United States
, South Africa
, and Jamaica
. The winner will gain a spot in the World Cup.
performed at the stadium during his 2005 North American Tour
.
On June 5, 2009, Campbell's Field hosted the popular hip-hop artists T-Pain
& Flo Rida
.
Baseball park
A baseball park, also known as a baseball stadium, ball park, or ballpark is a venue where baseball is played. It consists of the playing field and the surrounding spectator seating...
in Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
that hosted its first regular season baseball game on May 11, 2001. The ballpark is home to the Camden Riversharks
Camden Riversharks
The Camden Riversharks is an American professional baseball team based in Camden, New Jersey. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
and the college baseball team of Rutgers University-Camden
Rutgers-Camden
Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey, USA , is a state-funded, coeducational, public, research university. Founded in the 1920s, Rutgers–Camden began as an amalgam of the South Jersey Law School and the College of South Jersey. It is the southernmost of the three regional campuses of Rutgers,...
. The naming rights are owned by the Camden-based Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company , also known as Campbell's, is an American producer of canned soups and related products. Campbell's products are sold in 120 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey...
, which paid $3 million over ten years.
The park, located at Delaware and Penn Avenues, features a commanding view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge
Benjamin Franklin Bridge
The Benjamin Franklin Bridge , originally named the Delaware River Bridge, is a suspension bridge across the Delaware River connecting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Camden, New Jersey...
connecting Camden with Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
across the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
. Views of the Philadelphia skyline are available from the right-field grandstand. These views can be seen through the "Campbell's Field Cam", a stationary weather camera used by KYW-TV
KYW-TV
KYW-TV, virtual channel 3, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW-TV shares a studio facility with its sister station, CW flagship WPSG just north of Center City Philadelphia...
in Philadelphia.
History
Ground was broken for the ballpark on June 15, 1999, with former New Jersey governorGovernor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...
in attendance. Campbell's Field was funded by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, a loan from the Delaware River Port Authority
Delaware River Port Authority
The Delaware River Port Authority is a bi-state instrumentality created by a Congressionally approved interstate compact between the governments of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey...
, a grant from Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, and private financing obtained by the builder, Quaker Construction. During construction, the stadium was owned by the Cooper's Ferry Development Association. Upon completion, it became the property of Rutgers, which signed a lease with Camden Baseball, LLC to operate the stadium in conjunction with the Atlantic League.
The new ballpark involved a $24 million construction project that included $7 million for environmental remediation costs. Prior to construction, Campbell’s Field was a vacant, undeveloped parcel of land that historically housed businesses that included the Campbell Soup Company Plant No. 2, Pennsylvania & Reading Rail Road’s Linden Street Freight Station, David Baird & Company’s lumber mill and Eavenson & Sons’ soap manufacturing company.
Campbell's Field opened in May 2001, and was one of the projects designed to spark urban renewal in Camden. The ballpark was honored in 2003 by DigitalBallparks.com and in 2004 by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
as the "Ballpark of the Year." Campbell's Field has been honored with several local awards, including the Camden County Improvement Authority Entertainment Award in 2000, the International Masonry Institute Golden Trowel Award in 2001, the Urban Land Institute's Award for Excellence in 2002, the Downtown New Jersey Excellence Award, the New Jersey Business and Industry Association Good Neighbor Award, and the Distinguished Award for Engineering Excellence given by the Consulting Engineers Council of New Jersey in 2003.
In April 2009, Campbell Soup announced that it would continue to have its name on the ballpark at least through 2020.
In 2011, the Field will host the Atlantic pool of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
Of the fourteen teams that will participate in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, only two are not automatic inclusions, so must win qualifying matches to enter the tournament, which is to be held in Wales and England...
.
Baseball
On July 14, 2004, Campbell's Field hosted the Atlantic League All-Star Game. It is scheduled to host the 2013 Atlantic League All-Star Game.The ballpark also hosted the 2008 Atlantic 10 baseball tournament, in which the University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Charlotte 49ers
The Charlotte 49ers represent the NCAA Division I sports teams of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Charlotte joined the Atlantic 10 in 2005. The 49ers field 16 teams, 8 men and 8 women....
defeated Xavier University
Xavier University (Cincinnati)
Xavier University is a co-educational Jesuit university in the United States located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and has an undergraduate enrollment of about 4,000 students and graduate enrollment of 2,600 students. Xavier is primarily...
in the championship game to win the tournament. The St. Joseph's University baseball team played six games at Campbell's Field in 2009 and its entire home schedule in 2010. The Saint Joseph's baseball program makes the park its full-time home until it can play home games at an on-campus facility in the future.
Ballpark attractions
As part of its naming rights contract, the concessions at Campbell's Field feature several Campbell's Soup Company products such as V8V8 (beverage)
V8 Vegetable Juice is a trademark name for beverage products sold worldwide and made from either seven vegetables plus tomatoes or a mixture of vegetables, tomatoes, and other fruits...
beverages, Pace
Pace Foods
Pace Foods is a producer of a variety of salsas located in Paris, Texas. The company was founded in 1947 by David Pace when he developed a recipe for a salsa he called "Picante" sauce "made with the freshest ingredients, harvested and hand-selected in peak season to achieve the best flavor and...
salsa, and Pepperidge Farm
Pepperidge Farm
Pepperidge Farm is a commercial bakery in the U.S. founded in 1937 by Margaret Rudkin, who named the brand after her family's property in Fairfield, Connecticut, which in turn was named for the pepperidge tree, Nyssa sylvatica. Since 1961, the company has been owned by the Campbell Soup Company...
rolls and snacks. A traditional ballpark menu is also available, with hot dogs produced by the Philadelphia-based Dietz & Watson
Dietz & Watson
Dietz & Watson is an American manufacturer of delicatessen foods, based in Philadelphia.-History:Dietz & Watson was founded in 1939 by Gottlieb Dietz, a German sausage maker fleeing the economic collapse of his country in wake of World War I...
Inc. Additional options are available at the Picnic Pavilion, that includes items from a local barbecue restaurant called Fat Jack's BBQ. The Flying Fish Brewing Company
Flying Fish Brewing Company
Flying Fish Brewing Company is a small craft beer brewer founded in Cherry Hill, New Jersey in 1995 and opened for business in late 1996...
, based in nearby Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
, caters to beer connoisseurs in the pub area.
The Acme Fun Zone is a playground are that provides entertainment for children. The zone is hosted by the Riversharks mascot, Finley, and includes a carousel and various inflatables. It was formerly called the Utz Fun Zone and Holman Fun Zone.
Campbell's Field offers multiple seating options for its patrons. Executives can enjoy the Diamond Café, which includes a gourmet buffet, with a waiting service, and views of the Philadelphia skyline and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The Skyline & Bridge Suites, private rooms available for conferences or meetings, also offer views the skyline and professional catering.
Rugby league
In 2011, Campbell's Field will host the Atlantic Qualifiers2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
Of the fourteen teams that will participate in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, only two are not automatic inclusions, so must win qualifying matches to enter the tournament, which is to be held in Wales and England...
tournament for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. The competition will run from October 15 to October 23 and will be contested by the United States
United States national rugby league team
-2008 & 2013 Rugby League World Cup Qualifying:In October 2006, The Tomahawks were to participate in a four team Atlantic qualifying pool for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, but South Africa and the West Indies withdrew. As a result, The Atlantic qualifying pool was reduced to a single game...
, South Africa
South Africa national rugby league team
The South Africa national rugby league team are a growing force in rugby league football, South Africa competes sporadically against other international nations because of their location and their absence from any major international competitions. They are ranked twenty-third in the world...
, and Jamaica
Jamaica national rugby league team
-See also:* Rugby League in the West Indies* West Indies National Team-External links:*...
. The winner will gain a spot in the World Cup.
Concerts
On June 16, 2005, 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...
performed at the stadium during his 2005 North American Tour
Never Ending Tour
The Never Ending Tour is the popular name for Bob Dylan’s endless touring schedule since June 7, 1988. During the past 23+ years, musicians have come and gone and the band has continued to evolve...
.
On June 5, 2009, Campbell's Field hosted the popular hip-hop artists T-Pain
T-Pain
Faheem Rasheed Najm , better known by his stage name T-Pain, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, currently signed to Young Money Entertainment. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, was released in 2005. In 2007, T-Pain released his second studio album Epiphany,...
& Flo Rida
Flo Rida
Tramar Dillard , better known by his stage name Flo Rida , is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. He released his debut album, Mail on Sunday, in March 2008. His debut single "Low", featuring T-Pain, was a #1 hit for ten weeks in United States in early 2008. Two other singles resulted from...
.