AutoZone Park is a small League Baseball stadium located in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, and is home to the Memphis Redbirds of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). The Redbirds is a Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball (MLB) St. Louis Cardinals. In 2009, the stadium was named Minor League Ballpark of the Year by Baseball America.
Video AutoZone Park
History
Designed by Looney Ricks Kiss Architects from Memphis with Kansas City-based HOK Sport, AutoZone Park cost $ 80.5 million to build it. This is the most money ever spent on a structure dedicated to a small league baseball team. AutoZone Park was built for "MLB standards", but in the absence of outside seats or food vendors far below the foul lines, making it, for comparison purposes, the main league stadium with only 'good' seats. It opened in 2000., replacing Tim McCarver Stadium, the stadium also hosts several matches for the University of Memphis baseball team, and most famously, the annual game with Ole Miss.
The Redbirds are unique in baseball to date, as they are owned by a nonprofit community foundation, the Memphis Redbirds Foundation; The NFL Green Bay Packers have similar ownership structures. However, the Foundation failed to pay bond payments in 2010. On November 15, 2013, the Foundation announced that the defaults will be fixed by St. Louis Cardinals who repay the bonds at a discounted price and earn Redbirds, while the city of Memphis resumes the ownership of the stadium.
The stadium hosts the Triple-A All-Star Game 2003 in which the International All-Stars League defeats the Pacific Coast All-Stars League, 13-9.
In October 2004 and 2005, AutoZone Park was home to the Greater Mid-South Jaycees Field of Screams Haunted House.
In October 2005, AutoZone Park became the first place outside of New Orleans to host the Voodoo Music Experience. One day this music festival was transferred to Memphis due to Hurricane Katrina.
On 4 December 2006, in Major League Baseball Winter Meetings, MLB announced that an exhibition game called Civil Rights Game will be held at AutoZone Park, with the first game on March 31, 2007. The game features Cardinals and Indian Cleveland, with Cardinals winning 5 -1. The second game was played on March 29, 2008, between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets. Mets beat White Sox 3-2.
On August 31, 2008, the largest audience of ballpark to date saw Redbirds lose to RedHawks Oklahoma, 10-7 ahead of 18,620 fans.
Maps AutoZone Park
Size
AutoZone Park has a seating capacity of 10,000, and has been best described as "a third" of the premier league baseball park.
For construction 17,586 cubic meters (13,445 m 3 ) of concrete is used, or enough to cover 11 hectares (4.5 ha). There are 125,738 square feet (11,681.4 m 2 ) of the surrounding brick walls, utilizing 380,000 specially constructed bricks. It holds 3,400 short tons (3,100 metric tons) of steel and 227 miles (365 km) of power lines. To build a playing field, 350 short tons (320 metric tons) of clay, and 5,000 short tons (4,500 metric tons) of sand are required. Outfield contains 100,000 square feet (9,300m 2 ) from the ground. The infield is able to drain 1 inch (25 mm) of rain per hour. but can still be played, which means that this field rarely has to be closed during the game.
AutoZone Park also has one of the largest video screens in a small baseball league. It lies 127 feet (39 m) above the playground, giving board views to many of downtown Memphis areas. On January 10, 2012, the Commercial Submission of Memphis reports that Redbirds will install a full HD 60 x 60 foot video screen (18 by 18 m), replacing the old video screen. The new video board will be the biggest in "Minor League Baseball".
Facilities
AutoZone Park contains several special seating sections designed to give customers a variety of display options.
- The Leisure Family picnic pavilion is located east of the park, and contains several picnic tables and space for food vendors. It's usually used for hosting special events, and can hold up to 500 people.
- The Bluffs, located on every corner of the park have grass-covered lawn seating, and tickets to this area are sold cheaply, but in limited quantities. This is a favorite place for many fans because of the picnic atmosphere. Chairs are not allowed in Bluff.
- The upper club level contains 700 seats in 48 suites, and is generally reserved for local groups or companies. Many of Memphis's bigger companies maintain one suite for the entire season, for all games.
- Normal club seating has access to air-conditioned concourse, along with several restaurants and bars located in the concourse itself.
- In total, the average has 1,600 club seats.
- There are two open party decks, each of which can accommodate up to 175 people, and three pre-game balconies.
References
External links
- AutoZone Park | Memphis Redbirds AutoZone Park
- AutoZone Park View - Small League Soccer Garden
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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