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Post by hc6774 on May 22, 2021 5:55:01 GMT -5
I fully understand why playing the game at Polar Park is taking place this year. It will certainly help HC athletics in branding, marketing and outreach to the Worcester Community. I applaud leadership for the push for innovation, no matter how incremental the step. Too many years, many of us pushed for better engagement at games, only for our request to be rejected. Let’s hope the footing will not be compromised. Remember some of the games at Fitton, before a new sod was installed? I bet they host many Thanksgiving day high school games in the coming years at Polar Park. what is the status of Foley Stadium?
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Post by nycrusader2010 on May 22, 2021 7:25:53 GMT -5
Prior to the completion of the new Hart Turf Fields, Gilmore would sometimes schedule practices at Foley Stadium in advance of night games being played on turf.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on May 22, 2021 9:28:30 GMT -5
The original scheme. The revised scheme Comparing the original to the revised, it appears there was a significant cost-cutting initiative. a.) on the right field side, the 'eating hall' and a rooftop 'beer garden'? were eliminated, as well as an adjacent bump-out (like the old field house). (Bottom right corner of the image.) These may have been intended to be an all-season, sports bar / restaurant. What appears to be a large video board at this location, and facing outward, was eliminated b.) the right field seats were eliminated, and replaced with standing room. c.) the center field bleachers were eliminated. (Stands are shown in the original, but with no fans as it is a day game, just like they do at Fenway!) d.) in the original, there appear to be two elevators flanking the Polar Park entrance sign. These are gone, though I am sure there is at least one elevator, but the revised scheme does not depict what is commonly known as an elevator overrun. e.) the roof appears to be lower, which may mean fewer rows of seats beneath. f.) the standing room concourse at the top of the left field wall was eliminated, and the wall shortened substantially. ----------- The video board was moved from center field to left field, Probably had little effect on cost. I can't tell whether the stands on the left field side were shortened. In the original, by counting roof sections, the left and right field stands were of comparable length.
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Post by trimster on May 22, 2021 9:29:38 GMT -5
I bet they host many Thanksgiving day high school games in the coming years at Polar Park. what is the status of Foley Stadium? Still alive and well. Now called Commerce Bank Field at Foley Stadium.
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Post by timholycross on May 22, 2021 16:06:55 GMT -5
Foley Stadium got a nice face lift this century- artificial surface, not sure at this point how old and in what condition.
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Post by DiMarz on May 22, 2021 18:34:36 GMT -5
Played my HS football at Foley Stadium. It was pretty new back then (69 was my senior football season). Those were days when Foley was pretty full for any game..Locker rooms were small, we dressed at school and bused over.. The stadium gets lots of use, football, field hockey and soccer in the fall and track/field in the spring..It was always a noisy place. The stadium was all metal, lots of banging feet!
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Post by nycrusader2010 on May 22, 2021 20:14:37 GMT -5
Foley Stadium got a nice face lift this century- artificial surface, not sure at this point how old and in what condition. It was definitely Field-Turfed and updated by 2008.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on May 23, 2021 7:15:34 GMT -5
Found these recent images on another site. Hanover Park at Fitton actually looks to have more 'traditional style' seats. Several posters on this other site drought up Hanover park, and what a great little baseball field it was.
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Post by HC92 on May 23, 2021 9:16:12 GMT -5
I wonder if the marketing types for certain sports have concluded that there is a large segment of the potential fan base that likes to hang out in bar areas and kind of casually watch the game while hanging out with friends in a setting more conducive to conversation. I don’t know if that’s so but it seems like the areas where more people can stand and congregate around small tables are becoming more of a thing as stadiums get built, expanded or renovated.
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Post by longsuffering on May 23, 2021 9:26:55 GMT -5
If there are a couple of thousand chairs and stools in the congregate areas, fine. If not, as the poets say:
Too many nooks and crannies, Not enough seats for fannies.
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Post by bfoley82 on May 23, 2021 9:49:19 GMT -5
If there are a couple of thousand chairs and stools in the congregate areas, fine. If not, as the poets say: Too many nooks and crannies, Not enough seats for fannies. To me based on the seating, it is a very small triple A stadium when compared to the most recent stadiums built for that level.
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Post by bfoley82 on May 23, 2021 9:49:34 GMT -5
If there are a couple of thousand chairs and stools in the congregate areas, fine. If not, as the poets say: Too many nooks and crannies, Not enough seats for fannies. To me based on the seating, it is a very small triple A stadium when compared to the most recent stadiums built for that level.
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Post by hc87 on May 23, 2021 11:58:48 GMT -5
I wonder if the marketing types for certain sports have concluded that there is a large segment of the potential fan base that likes to hang out in bar areas and kind of casually watch the game while hanging out with friends in a setting more conducive to conversation. I don’t know if that’s so but it seems like the areas where more people can stand and congregate around small tables are becoming more of a thing as stadiums get built, expanded or renovated. I want to sit on an aluminum bench and drink my smuggled-in beers when watching football....preferably in the rain or snow.
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Post by longsuffering on May 23, 2021 12:36:31 GMT -5
Aluminum conducts electricity, although not as well as copper. Has anyone ever gotten a hot seat at Fitton during lightning?
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Post by HC92 on May 23, 2021 13:03:20 GMT -5
I think the top AAA teams draw 7500-9000 on average so the listed capacity seems about right even if almost a third of it is standing and drinking room.
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Post by bfoley82 on May 23, 2021 14:07:04 GMT -5
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Post by bfoley82 on May 23, 2021 14:11:11 GMT -5
Found these recent images on another site. Hanover Park at Fitton actually looks to have more 'traditional style' seats. Several posters on this other site drought up Hanover park, and what a great little baseball field it was. Looking at these pics, who the hell designed the bullpen areas like that? What a waste of space!! They could have easily been in the outfield in a tiered setup or split up without hurting a berm area. When you look at Hartford's stadium, you don't even recognize the bullpens because they are underneath the outfield seats ballparkdigest.com/2017/04/17/dunkin-donuts-park-hartford-yard-goats/
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Post by thecrossisback on May 23, 2021 17:55:03 GMT -5
I think some of the third base line seats can not see the video board clearly. They can still see it but it obstructed. Other then that I have heard nothing but great reviews. Attachments:
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Post by rgs318 on May 23, 2021 17:59:37 GMT -5
In the double negative category...if you "can't not" see the video board clearly, doesn't that mean that everyone gets a clear view?
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Post by longsuffering on May 23, 2021 18:23:03 GMT -5
In the double negative category...if you "can't not" see the video board clearly, doesn't that mean that everyone gets a clear view? Yes, it means it's impossible not to see it even if you are trying to concentrate on whether the pitcher threw a slider or a curve. At Fenway you can see the plate from right field but you are twisting your back all game because the seat points straight ahead to center field and is a size made for the girth of the average American in 1912, not 2021.😏
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Post by Crucis#1 on May 23, 2021 18:36:35 GMT -5
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Post by hcgrad94 on May 24, 2021 5:51:26 GMT -5
Found these recent images on another site. Hanover Park at Fitton actually looks to have more 'traditional style' seats. Several posters on this other site drought up Hanover park, and what a great little baseball field it was. Looking at these pics, who the hell designed the bullpen areas like that? What a waste of space!! They could have easily been in the outfield in a tiered setup or split up without hurting a berm area. When you look at Hartford's stadium, you don't even recognize the bullpens because they are underneath the outfield seats ballparkdigest.com/2017/04/17/dunkin-donuts-park-hartford-yard-goats/Janet Marie Smith.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on May 24, 2021 6:51:31 GMT -5
The HC promotional video confirmed comments I had read that much of the exterior is corrugated metal siding. ^^^This stuff, that was/is common surrounding junkyards, which is what I associate it with. In some circles, I guess it is now considered quite chic to use this. The cost per square foot is about $5; a third or less than the cost of brick.
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Post by rgs318 on May 24, 2021 8:31:19 GMT -5
Used almost exclusively in Iceland in building rows of homes and painted to give the illusion of separate wood buildings. It is (as was mentioned) cost efficient, holds up well to their weather (not sure if it would help with the current volcanic eruptions) and lasts.
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Post by ndgradbuthcfan on May 24, 2021 8:48:56 GMT -5
Looking at these pics, who the hell designed the bullpen areas like that? What a waste of space!! They could have easily been in the outfield in a tiered setup or split up without hurting a berm area. When you look at Hartford's stadium, you don't even recognize the bullpens because they are underneath the outfield seats ballparkdigest.com/2017/04/17/dunkin-donuts-park-hartford-yard-goats/Janet Marie Smith. Fans can interact with the players and watch pitchers warming up.
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