PNC Field

PNC Field is a 10,000-seat minor league baseball stadium that is located in Moosic, Pennsylvania in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area that was built in 1989 and rebuilt in 2013. The stadium is home to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.

For the Pittsburgh Pirates ballpark, see PNC Park.
PNC Field
PNC Field, August 2018
PNC Field is located in Pennsylvania
PNC Field
PNC Field
Location within Pennsylvania
PNC Field is located in the United States
PNC Field
PNC Field
PNC Field (the United States)
Former namesLackawanna County Stadium (1989–2006)
Address235 Montage Mountain Road
Moosic, Pennsylvania
United States
Coordinates41°21′37.46″N 75°41′2.28″W
OwnerLackawanna County Stadium Authority
OperatorMandalay Baseball Properties
Capacity10,000 (2013–present)
10,310 (2007–2011)
10,982 (1989–2006)
Record attendance11,515
Field sizeLeft field line: 326 ft (99 m)
Left-center field: 371 ft (113 m)
Center field: 408 ft (124 m)
Right-center field: 371 ft (113 m)
Right field line: 330 ft (100 m)[1]
SurfaceAstroturf (1989–2006)
Grass (2007–present)
Construction
Broke groundAugust 28, 1986[2]
OpenedApril 26, 1989 (1989-04-26)
Renovated2012 (reconstructed)
ReopenedApril 4, 2013
Construction costUS$25 million
($59 million in 2022 dollars[3])
US$43.3 million (renovation)
($55.2 million in 2022 dollars[3])
ArchitectGSGSB Inc.
EwingCole (renovation)
Structural engineerGreenman-Pedersen, Inc.[4]
General contractorMelon Stuart Construction[5]
Alvin H. Butz, Inc. (renovation)
Tenants
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (IL/AAAE) 1989–2011, 2013–present
Website
www.milb.com/scranton-wb/ballpark/visitpncfield

The stadium also hosts high school sports games. It hosts the PIAA District II baseball district championship games for high school baseball. It also hosts high school football games such as the Railriders Bowl for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area high school football teams, sponsored by the Railriders.

PNC Field was formerly known as Lackawanna County Stadium from 1989 to 2006; Lackawanna County sold the naming rights to PNC Bank on February 1, 2007, and the stadium became known as PNC Field.[6]

History

Original structure

The stadium opened on April 26, 1989, and was built as a "mini version" of the Phillies' Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The artificial turf surfaced stadium was used as a multipurpose facility. The upper-level seats of the stadium were orange and the lower-level seats were green. They also have bleacher seats at the stadium. Many amateur sports competitions were held there, as well as regional band competitions, ice skating, and car shows.

On July 12, 1995, the stadium hosted the Triple-A All-Star Game. The American League affiliate stars shutout their National League opponents, 9–0, in front of 10,965 fans. Future major leaguers to appear in the game included Derek Jeter, Jeromy Burnitz, Jason Isringhausen, and manager Grady Little.[7]

In 2007, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre franchise signed a Player Development Contract with the New York Yankees,[8] ending an 18-year agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies. This new contract called for the conversion of the playing surface to natural grass. The stadium still plays host to several amateur baseball competitions throughout the season.

In February 2010, the SWB Yankees announced that they have reached an agreement with PNC Bank to renew the naming rights to the stadium. Terms of the deal were not released.[9] PNC Field hosted the 2017 Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game at the end of the season, where the winner of the Pacific Coast League faced the winner of the International League.

Renovations/reconstruction and new structure

At a public hearing on November 8, 2010, officials from Lackawanna County, Mandalay Baseball Properties and the Lackawanna County Multipurpose Stadium Authority discussed the potential sale of the SWB Yankees and possible renovation of PNC Field. The following day, the club announced plans to pursue a $40 million renovation to the stadium which would dramatically alter the layout of PNC Field.[10]

The $43.3 million renovation project was revealed to be a complete reconstruction of the stadium. The reconstruction consisted of demolishing the existing upper deck, press box, and concourse behind the playing field, while retaining the seating bowl and ticket office. The stadium would receive a new press box, luxury suites, and wrap-around concourse.

The renovation officially began on April 27, 2012, with the removal of seats in the stadium's upper deck.[11] The architect of the renovation was EwingCole while the general contractor was Alvin H. Butz, Inc.[12]

The renovation/reconstruction of PNC Field was completed in time for opening day in 2013.[13]

It was the Yankees' alternate training site in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball campaign and the abbreviation of the Major League Baseball season.[14]

  • PNC Bank Park – Scranton, PA July 16, 2022
    PNC Bank Park – Scranton, PA July 16, 2022
  • PNC Field as seen from behind home plate
    PNC Field as seen from behind home plate
  • PNC Field as seen from the third base side
    PNC Field as seen from the third base side
  • PNC Field as seen from right field
    PNC Field as seen from right field
  • Exterior of PNC Field
    Exterior of PNC Field

References
  1. Crumlish, Paul (May 17, 2009). "PNC Field". Ballparks of the Minor Leagues. Archived from the original on May 24, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  2. "Triple-A Franchise Sale Paves Way For Phils Farm Team In Scranton". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 30, 1986. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  3. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  4. "Lackawanna County Baseball Stadium". Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. Archived from the original on August 16, 2003. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  5. Flannery, Joseph X. (June 11, 1988). "Pitching for a Baseball Comeback". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 16, 2011.
  6. "Triple-A Yanks to Play at PNC Field". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. February 1, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  7. "Triple-A All-Star Game Results (1993–1997)". Triple-A Baseball. Archived from the original on October 28, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  8. "It's Now the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees!!". MiLB.com. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. December 12, 2006. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
  9. Schillinger, Charles (February 24, 2010). "Stadium Authority Hires Lobbying Firm to Seek Funds for Improvements". The Times-Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  10. "SWB Yankees, LLC Welcome Stadium Authority Decision on Renovation". MiLB.com. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. November 10, 2010. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  11. Lange, Stacy (April 27, 2012). "Demoltion Underway at PNC Field". WNEP. Scranton, Pennsylvania. Retrieved April 27, 2012.
  12. Singleton, David (April 24, 2012). "Proposed Baseball Deal Reached; Hearing Set". The Times-Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  13. "Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders New PNC Field". YouTube. YES Network. April 10, 2013.
  14. Dykstra, Sam (July 16, 2020). "Roundup: Major League alternate training sites". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
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