Frontier Field
Encyclopedia
Frontier Field is a baseball
stadium
located at One Morrie Silver Way in downtown Rochester, New York
. The park opened in 1996, replacing Silver Stadium in northern Rochester, which had been home to professional baseball in Rochester since 1929. Although the stadium was built for baseball, Frontier Field has had several tenants in numerous sports, including the Rochester Raging Rhinos of the USL First Division
from 1996 to 2005, the Rochester Rattlers
of Major League Lacrosse
from 2001 to 2002, and the Rochester Red Wings
of the International League
since 1997. The ballpark seats 10,868 spectators for baseball.
Telecommunications company Frontier has held the naming rights to the ballpark since its opening in 1996. Frontier Field hosted the Triple-A All-Star Game
on July 12, 2000.
, opened on July 11, 1996. Although Frontier Field was always intended to be primarily a baseball facility, it was constructed to be able to accommodate the Rochester Raging Rhinos soccer team as well.
After the Rhinos left Frontier Field for PAETEC Park in 2005, the Rochester Red Wings
became the sole full-time tenant at Frontier Field. As a result, the Wings made upgrades to the park to make the stadium a better baseball facility. The first notable upgrade, the installation of a new 24 feet (7.3 m) by 32 feet (9.8 m) video scoreboard in left field, was completed in time for the 2006 season. Originally, a new grass turf was to be installed following the 2006 season to replace the grass that has been beat up over the years from extensive use in baseball, soccer, and lacrosse. No such replacement was made for 2007, but work commenced following that season and a new grass surface with an improved drainage system was installed prior to the 2008 season.
Naming rights
to the stadium were purchased by Frontier, the primary telephone company in Rochester, for $3.5 million over 20 years in 1996.
on July 11, 1996. The first sporting event was contested the following night as the Rochester Raging Rhinos played the Montreal Impact
in an American Professional Soccer League (original A-League) regular season match. Rochester won 3–2 in front of an A-League record 14,717 fans. The first baseball
game at the stadium was the 1997 Rochester Red Wings
home opener against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons on April 11, 1997. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre won 8–5.
The Rhinos played briefly at the University of Rochester
's Fauver Stadium before moving to Frontier Field during their inaugural 1996 season. The Rhinos played at Frontier until 2005, when the team moved to the soccer-specific PAETEC Park (now Sahlen's Stadium) three blocks northwest of Frontier Field.
The Red Wings moved from Silver Stadium to Frontier Field at the conclusion of the 1996 International League season. Currently, the Red Wings are the sole full-time tenant at Frontier Field and thus the stadium is now used exclusively for baseball and special events.
The Rochester Rattlers
of Major League Lacrosse
played at Frontier from 2001 to 2002, when the team moved to Bishop Kearney High School. They moved again to then-PAETEC Park in 2006.
Frontier Field hosted the Triple-A All-Star Game
on July 12, 2000.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
located at One Morrie Silver Way in downtown Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. The park opened in 1996, replacing Silver Stadium in northern Rochester, which had been home to professional baseball in Rochester since 1929. Although the stadium was built for baseball, Frontier Field has had several tenants in numerous sports, including the Rochester Raging Rhinos of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
from 1996 to 2005, the Rochester Rattlers
Rochester Rattlers
The Rochester Rattlers are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Rochester, New York. They are a charter member of the MLL. From their inaugural season in 2001 to 2005, they were in the National Division. From 2006 to 2008, they were a member of the Eastern...
of Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
from 2001 to 2002, and the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
since 1997. The ballpark seats 10,868 spectators for baseball.
Telecommunications company Frontier has held the naming rights to the ballpark since its opening in 1996. Frontier Field hosted the Triple-A All-Star Game
Triple-A All-Star Game
The Triple-A All-Star Game is a single baseball game held between the two Triple-A leagues in minor league baseball—the International League and the Pacific Coast League...
on July 12, 2000.
History
Ground was broken on Frontier Field in 1995. The stadium, designed by Ellerbe BecketEllerbe Becket
Ellerbe Becket, an AECOM Company, is a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based architectural, engineering, interior design and construction firm – ranked as one of the world's largest architectural firms – and with offices in Dallas, TX, Kansas City, MO, San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, Dubai,...
, opened on July 11, 1996. Although Frontier Field was always intended to be primarily a baseball facility, it was constructed to be able to accommodate the Rochester Raging Rhinos soccer team as well.
After the Rhinos left Frontier Field for PAETEC Park in 2005, the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
became the sole full-time tenant at Frontier Field. As a result, the Wings made upgrades to the park to make the stadium a better baseball facility. The first notable upgrade, the installation of a new 24 feet (7.3 m) by 32 feet (9.8 m) video scoreboard in left field, was completed in time for the 2006 season. Originally, a new grass turf was to be installed following the 2006 season to replace the grass that has been beat up over the years from extensive use in baseball, soccer, and lacrosse. No such replacement was made for 2007, but work commenced following that season and a new grass surface with an improved drainage system was installed prior to the 2008 season.
Naming rights
Naming rights
In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...
to the stadium were purchased by Frontier, the primary telephone company in Rochester, for $3.5 million over 20 years in 1996.
Events
The first event at Frontier Field was a concert by The Beach BoysThe Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
on July 11, 1996. The first sporting event was contested the following night as the Rochester Raging Rhinos played the Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
in an American Professional Soccer League (original A-League) regular season match. Rochester won 3–2 in front of an A-League record 14,717 fans. The first baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
game at the stadium was the 1997 Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
home opener against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons on April 11, 1997. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre won 8–5.
The Rhinos played briefly at the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
's Fauver Stadium before moving to Frontier Field during their inaugural 1996 season. The Rhinos played at Frontier until 2005, when the team moved to the soccer-specific PAETEC Park (now Sahlen's Stadium) three blocks northwest of Frontier Field.
The Red Wings moved from Silver Stadium to Frontier Field at the conclusion of the 1996 International League season. Currently, the Red Wings are the sole full-time tenant at Frontier Field and thus the stadium is now used exclusively for baseball and special events.
The Rochester Rattlers
Rochester Rattlers
The Rochester Rattlers are a Major League Lacrosse professional men's field lacrosse team based in Rochester, New York. They are a charter member of the MLL. From their inaugural season in 2001 to 2005, they were in the National Division. From 2006 to 2008, they were a member of the Eastern...
of Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
played at Frontier from 2001 to 2002, when the team moved to Bishop Kearney High School. They moved again to then-PAETEC Park in 2006.
Frontier Field hosted the Triple-A All-Star Game
Triple-A All-Star Game
The Triple-A All-Star Game is a single baseball game held between the two Triple-A leagues in minor league baseball—the International League and the Pacific Coast League...
on July 12, 2000.