Lehigh County Ballpark
Encyclopedia
Coca-Cola Park is a 8,100-seat baseball park
in Allentown, Pennsylvania
, in the Lehigh Valley
region of Pennsylvania
. It is the home field for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
, the Triple-A level minor league baseball
affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies
.
Coca-Cola Park accommodates 10,000 fans, including auxiliary areas (Capital BlueCross Lawn and Dugout Suites), and cost $50.25 million to build. Naming rights
to the stadium were awarded to Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
of the Lehigh Valley on March 7, 2007.
Clubhouse, which houses all team apparel. The Bud Light Trough is an area immediately behind the right field wall that provides patrons the opportunity to stand and socialize while still watching the game. The "pig" theme is used in the majority of concession stands and stores.
The PPL
Picnic Patio is an area immediately adjacent to left field that features buffet style food and can be booked for group outings. The club level of the stadium features an indoor concourse with access to the club level seats, the suites and the two PenTeleData Party Porches. The VIP Dugout Suites are situated immediately behind home plate and provide a unique viewing experience.
The stadium maximum capacity is 10,000 (+1,900 for the grass section). There is one main scoreboard which is located at the 400' mark on the field. The scoreboard, which is the largest in all of the minor leagues, consists of a 22' LED screen as well as a 8'3" classic Coca-Cola
bottle which also serves as a firework launcher when a run is scored. Coca-Cola Park has a wide variety of seating, including grass fields, picnic benches, fold-down seats, and standing room. The initial estimate of the IronPigs stadium was $48.4 million. Its final price tag of $50.25 million, just 4 percent over the estimate, makes the minor league field one of the most expensive in the U.S.
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new ballpark were held on September 6, 2006, and construction was completed in February 2008. Coca-Cola Park was built on land formerly owned by LSI Corporation
. The field dimensions and wall heights are the same as Citizens Bank Park
in Philadelphia, except left field is five feet deeper (334 feet to the foul pole compared to 329), center field is one foot shorter and the right field foul pole is five feet closer (325 feet in Allentown compared to 330 feet at Citizens Bank Park).
With its completion, Coca-Cola Park is Allentown's newest stadium, but it is not the city's largest. That distinction belongs to J. Birney Crum Stadium
, which has a seating capacity in excess of 15,000, and is the second largest outdoor high school stadium in Pennsylvania.
The layout of Coca-Cola Park is slightly different from most ballparks, as the main entrance is located on the right field line rather than the common location behind home plate. Fans with club seating tickets, however, do have a designated entrance behind home plate.
A surprising moment of the park's opening season came on July 2, 2008, when musician John Mayer
attended a Lehigh Valley IronPigs game and caught a foul ball. Mayer had kept a low profile until the television cameras spotted him with the ball. Mayer eventually autographed the ball, which now sits in the Majestic Clubhouse Store.
The park hosted its first major non-sporting event on July 14, 2009, with a concert headlined by Bob Dylan
, Willie Nelson
and John Mellencamp
. More than 10,000 people attended the five-hour show, which was sold out. Following the event's success, Coca-Cola Park management indicated there was a good possibility other concerts would be held at the park in the future.
Tickets for seats at Coca-Cola Park are much less expensive than those at major league ballparks. Club Level seats are $14.00 each, Field Level seats cost $9.00 each, and general admission (Capital BlueCross Lawn and standing room) are only $6.00 per ticket.
. The eastern segment of American Parkway provides access to the main entrance to the stadium. U.S. Route 22
, one of the primary thoroughfares in the Lehigh Valley, serves outside visitors. Union Boulevard and Airport Road serve as local arterials to the stadium. Parking is available via several lots on-site; the cost is $3.
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 Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, in the Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley, known officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area and referred to locally as The Valley and A-B-E, is a metropolitan region consisting of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, and Carbon counties in eastern Pennsylvania and...
region of 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...
. It is the home field for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a minor league baseball team that plays in the International League. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team plays their home games at Coca-Cola Park, which is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
, the Triple-A level minor league baseball
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...
affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
Coca-Cola Park accommodates 10,000 fans, including auxiliary areas (Capital BlueCross Lawn and Dugout Suites), and cost $50.25 million to build. 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 awarded to Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated , headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the largest independent Coca-Cola bottler in the United States, producing, marketing, and distributing nonalcoholic beverages—primarily licensed products of the Coca-Cola Company -- in North Carolina, South...
of the Lehigh Valley on March 7, 2007.
Features
The stadium features the MajesticMajestic Athletic
Majestic Athletic is a maker of sports apparel. The company is also the current uniform provider for Major League Baseball. It has been a subsidiary of VF since 2007.-Origins:Majestic was founded by Faust Capobianco III in 1976...
Clubhouse, which houses all team apparel. The Bud Light Trough is an area immediately behind the right field wall that provides patrons the opportunity to stand and socialize while still watching the game. The "pig" theme is used in the majority of concession stands and stores.
The PPL
PPL (utility)
PPL, formerly known as PP&L or Pennsylvania Power and Light, is an energy company headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. It currently controls about 19,000 megawatts of electrical generating capacity in the United States, primarily in Pennsylvania and Montana, and delivers electricity to...
Picnic Patio is an area immediately adjacent to left field that features buffet style food and can be booked for group outings. The club level of the stadium features an indoor concourse with access to the club level seats, the suites and the two PenTeleData Party Porches. The VIP Dugout Suites are situated immediately behind home plate and provide a unique viewing experience.
The stadium maximum capacity is 10,000 (+1,900 for the grass section). There is one main scoreboard which is located at the 400' mark on the field. The scoreboard, which is the largest in all of the minor leagues, consists of a 22' LED screen as well as a 8'3" classic Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
bottle which also serves as a firework launcher when a run is scored. Coca-Cola Park has a wide variety of seating, including grass fields, picnic benches, fold-down seats, and standing room. The initial estimate of the IronPigs stadium was $48.4 million. Its final price tag of $50.25 million, just 4 percent over the estimate, makes the minor league field one of the most expensive in the U.S.
More information
LSI Corporation
LSI Corporation is an electronics company based in Milpitas, California that designs semiconductors and software that accelerate storage and networking in datacenters and mobile networks.-History:...
. The field dimensions and wall heights are the same as Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park is a 43,647-seat baseball park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, and home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Citizens Bank Park opened on April 3, 2004, and hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 12 of the same year, with the...
in Philadelphia, except left field is five feet deeper (334 feet to the foul pole compared to 329), center field is one foot shorter and the right field foul pole is five feet closer (325 feet in Allentown compared to 330 feet at Citizens Bank Park).
With its completion, Coca-Cola Park is Allentown's newest stadium, but it is not the city's largest. That distinction belongs to J. Birney Crum Stadium
J. Birney Crum Stadium
J. Birney Crum Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The stadium seats 15,000 and is used by several area high schools and the Pennsylvania Stoners of the NPSL and the Northampton Laurels of the WPSL soccer teams. J...
, which has a seating capacity in excess of 15,000, and is the second largest outdoor high school stadium in Pennsylvania.
The layout of Coca-Cola Park is slightly different from most ballparks, as the main entrance is located on the right field line rather than the common location behind home plate. Fans with club seating tickets, however, do have a designated entrance behind home plate.
A surprising moment of the park's opening season came on July 2, 2008, when musician John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
attended a Lehigh Valley IronPigs game and caught a foul ball. Mayer had kept a low profile until the television cameras spotted him with the ball. Mayer eventually autographed the ball, which now sits in the Majestic Clubhouse Store.
The park hosted its first major non-sporting event on July 14, 2009, with a concert headlined by Bob Dylan
Bob 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...
, 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...
and 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...
. More than 10,000 people attended the five-hour show, which was sold out. Following the event's success, Coca-Cola Park management indicated there was a good possibility other concerts would be held at the park in the future.
Seats and pricing
Location and transportation
The stadium is located on the east side of Allentown, near two buildings owned by LSI CorporationLSI Corporation
LSI Corporation is an electronics company based in Milpitas, California that designs semiconductors and software that accelerate storage and networking in datacenters and mobile networks.-History:...
. The eastern segment of American Parkway provides access to the main entrance to the stadium. U.S. Route 22
Lehigh Valley Thruway
U.S. Route 22 is an east–west route stretching from Cincinnati, Ohio in the west to Newark, New Jersey in the east. In Pennsylvania, the route runs for between the West Virginia state line at Washington County, where it is a limited-access expressway-grade route through the western suburbs...
, one of the primary thoroughfares in the Lehigh Valley, serves outside visitors. Union Boulevard and Airport Road serve as local arterials to the stadium. Parking is available via several lots on-site; the cost is $3.