Oldsmobile Park

Infobox_Baseball_Stadium
stadium_name = Oldsmobile Park
nickname = Lugnuts Stadium


location = 505 E. Michigan Ave.
Lansing, Michigan 48912
broke_ground = April 3, 1995
opened = April 3, 1996
closed =
demolished =
owner = City of Lansing
operator = Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA)
surface = Grass
construction_cost =
architect = HNTB Corporation (Kansas City)
former_names =
tenants = Lansing Lugnuts (1996-present)
Michigan State Spartans (1996-present)
seating_capacity = 11,000 (+ lawn seating)
dimensions = Left Field - 305 ft
Center Field - 412 ft
Right Field - 305 ft

Oldsmobile Park is a baseball stadium in Lansing, Michigan, and home field of the Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball team. The Michigan State University college baseball team also plays select home games at Oldsmobile Park. The stadium is situated in the heart of downtown Lansing in the Stadium District on a relatively narrow strip of land between and below two streets (Larch and Cedar Streets) of the Capitol Loop, making for a unique urban feel. The stadium was named after its largest sponsor, Oldsmobile, the General Motors automobile line that was discontinued in 2004.

It is primarily used for baseball, though when baseball season is over it is used for everything from an ice skating rink to a movie theater. 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 at each foul pole (although the park is of normal dimensions otherwise).

History

Groundbreaking for the stadium took place on April 3, 1995, and it was officially opened exactly one year later on April 3, 1996 with a game between the baseball teams of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Two days later, the Lansing Lugnuts had their first game there against Rockford. [ [http://www.oldsmobilepark.com/ParkInfo/StadiumFacts/tabid/75/Default.aspx Oldsmobile Park Official Website, Stadium Facts Page] accessed May 27, 2008] The stadium replaced a block of historic, but dilapidated, storefronts along Michigan Avenue, many of which were occupied by porn shops. Originally budgeted $10 million for construction, the construction costs rose slightly to $12.8 million. [ [http://www.lansinglugnuts.com/fan_action/101404.html Lansing Lugnuts Official Website, Homepage] , accessed May 27, 2008]

Field Dimensions

Left Field: 305 feet
Center Field: 412 feet
Right Field: 305 feet

References

External links

* [http://www.oldsmobilepark.com/home.aspx Official Lansing Lugnuts Website]
* [http://www.littleballparks.com/Stadium/2006/Lansing/Lansing.htm Oldsmobile Park Views - "Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues"]