Oldsmobile Park
Encyclopedia
Cooley Law School Stadium (previously known as Oldsmobile Park) is a baseball stadium in Lansing, Michigan
, home field of the Lansing Lugnuts
minor league baseball
team. The Michigan State Spartans
college baseball
team also plays select home games at Cooley Law School Stadium. The stadium is situated in downtown Lansing in the Stadium District on a relatively narrow strip of land between and below two streets (Larch and Cedar streets) downtown Lansing. The stadium was initially named Oldsmobile Park after its largest sponsor, Oldsmobile
, the General Motors
automobile line that was discontinued in 2004.
It is primarily used for baseball
, though it is also used as an ice skating rink and a movie theater, among other things. Due to the dimensions of the city block in which the stadium was constructed, the right and left field fences 'notch' sharply in to distances of 305 feet (93 m) at each foul pole.
for the stadium took place on April 3, 1995, and it was officially opened exactly one year later on April 3, 1996. Its first game was between the college baseball
teams of the University of Michigan
and Michigan State University
. Two days later, the Lansing Lugnuts
had their first game at the venue against the Rockford Cubbies. The stadium replaced a block of storefronts along Michigan Avenue. Originally budgeted $10 million for construction, the construction costs rose slightly to $12.8 million. Across the street from Cooley Law School Stadium is the Stadium District, a large complex made up of small businesses. Condominium
s, completed in spring 2009, are also located in the Stadium District.
On February 22, 2010, Lansing mayor Virgil Bernero
announced that the stadium would be renamed Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Stadium, a result of the park's new sponsorship agreement. In March 2010, Lansing-based Jackson National Life
Insurance Company purchased the rights to name the field "Jackson Field" for 1 years. Thus, the full name of the venue is Jackson Field at Thomas M. Cooley Law School Stadium.
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, home field of the Lansing Lugnuts
Lansing Lugnuts
The Lansing Lugnuts are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays, that plays in the Midwest League.The Midwest League came to Lansing, Michigan in 1996. The franchise began in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1955; after two seasons it moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where it...
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...
team. The Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
team also plays select home games at Cooley Law School Stadium. The stadium is situated in downtown Lansing in the Stadium District on a relatively narrow strip of land between and below two streets (Larch and Cedar streets) downtown Lansing. The stadium was initially named Oldsmobile Park after its largest sponsor, Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
, the General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
automobile line that was discontinued in 2004.
It is primarily used for 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...
, though it is also used as an ice skating rink and a movie theater, among other things. Due to the dimensions of the city block in which the stadium was constructed, the right and left field fences 'notch' sharply in to distances of 305 feet (93 m) at each foul pole.
History
GroundbreakingGroundbreaking
Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such ceremonies are often attended by dignitaries such as politicians and...
for the stadium took place on April 3, 1995, and it was officially opened exactly one year later on April 3, 1996. Its first game was between the college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
teams of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. Two days later, the Lansing Lugnuts
Lansing Lugnuts
The Lansing Lugnuts are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays, that plays in the Midwest League.The Midwest League came to Lansing, Michigan in 1996. The franchise began in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1955; after two seasons it moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where it...
had their first game at the venue against the Rockford Cubbies. The stadium replaced a block of storefronts along Michigan Avenue. Originally budgeted $10 million for construction, the construction costs rose slightly to $12.8 million. Across the street from Cooley Law School Stadium is the Stadium District, a large complex made up of small businesses. Condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
s, completed in spring 2009, are also located in the Stadium District.
On February 22, 2010, Lansing mayor Virgil Bernero
Virgil Bernero
Virgil "Virg" Bernero is the current mayor of Lansing, Michigan, elected on November 8, 2005 and re-elected on November 3, 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to serving as mayor, Bernero served as a legislative aide, an Ingham County Commissioner and as a member of the Michigan...
announced that the stadium would be renamed Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Thomas M. Cooley Law School is an American Bar Association accredited law school in the United States. Located in Michigan, its main campus is in Lansing, and its satellite campuses are in Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, and Grand Rapids. Cooley plans on opening another satellite campus in Tampa Bay,...
Stadium, a result of the park's new sponsorship agreement. In March 2010, Lansing-based Jackson National Life
Jackson National Life
Jackson National Life Insurance is a U.S. company that offers life insurance and annuities. It is a subsidiary of the British insurer, Prudential Plc, who bought the company for $608 million in 1986. Founded in 1961, Jackson is headquartered in Lansing, Michigan...
Insurance Company purchased the rights to name the field "Jackson Field" for 1 years. Thus, the full name of the venue is Jackson Field at Thomas M. Cooley Law School Stadium.
Field dimensions
- Left field: 305 feet (93 m)
- Center field: 412 feet (125.6 m)
- Right field: 305 feet (93 m)