Fitton Field

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Fitton Field
nickname = Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field
Fitton Football Stadium


fullname =
location = Worcester, MA
coordinates =
broke_ground =
built =
opened = 1905
owner = College of the Holy Cross
operator =
surface = Grass
former_names =
tenants = Worcester Tornadoes (Can-Am League) (2005-"present")
Holy Cross Crusaders (NCAA) (1905-"present")
seating_capacity = Football - 23,500
Baseball - 3,000
dimensions =

Fitton Field is a multi-purpose sports stadium in Worcester, Massachusetts. Primarily used for College of the Holy Cross sporting events, the baseball stadium also serves as the home field for the Can-Am League Worcester Tornadoes.

History and layout

The stadium opened in 1924 as the official home for the Holy Cross Crusaders. Named after Reverend James Fitton, who donated land to the Archdiocese of Boston to found the college, it is an irregularly shaped three-sided horseshoe on the edge of the college's campus.

The northern football stands are shorter than the southern due to Interstate 290 being adjacent to the field. Because of the interstate and the football field, the baseball portion lacks any outfield bleachers.

Football

Officially known as Fitton Football Stadium, the football facility is a 23,500-seat stadium, home to the Holy Cross Crusaders football team. The field itself was used as the football field, and termed Fitton Field, as early as 1908. A wooden structure was constructed at that time, but a more sturdy cement structure did not appear until 1908. In 1924, the concrete was replaced with the steel structure that still stands today, increasing the stadium's capacity. It would remain identical until 1986, when the wooden seating was replaced with aluminum bleachers, further expanding its capacity to its current level.

Baseball

Officially known as Hanover Insurance Park at Fitton Field, the Holy Cross baseball team began playing at what was known as Fitton Field in 1905. The field became baseball-only following the 1924 renovation of the football field, as the baseball site was where most games were played. The stadium remained essentially the same until 2005, when the Worcester Tornadoes made it their home, changed the name, and upgraded the seating and lighting of the stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 3,000 spectators.

External links

* [http://www.holycross.edu/athletics/facilities/ Holy Cross College] : Facilities
* [http://goholycross.cstv.com/facilities/holy-facilitylist.html Holy Cross Crusader Sports] : Facility List.
* [http://www.worcestertornadoes.com/field/ Worcester Tornadoes] : Various Field Views.