Peoples Natural Gas Field

Peoples Natural Gas Field is a 7,210-seat baseball-only stadium in Altoona, Pennsylvania, that opened in 1999. It is the home ballpark of the Eastern League's Altoona Curve Minor League Baseball team.

Peoples Natural Gas Field
B.C.B.
Curve, PA

Former namesBlair County Ballpark (1999–2012)
Location1000 Park Avenue
Altoona, PA 16602
Coordinates40°28′25″N 78°23′41″W
OwnerBlair County
OperatorLozinak Baseball, LLC
Capacity7,210 [1]
Record attendance10,164 (Baseball; Altoona Curve vs. Akron RubberDucks; August 26, 2023)
Field sizeLeft Field: 325 feet
Left–Center: 365 feet
Center Field: 405 feet
Right–Center: 375 feet
Right Field: 325 feet
Fence Height: Mostly 8 feet but varies from 6 to 16
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundMarch 7, 1998
OpenedApril 15, 1999
Construction cost$20 million
($35.1 million in 2022 dollars[2])
ArchitectL. D. Astorino Companies
Services engineerLoftus Engineers LLC[3]
General contractorRalph J. Albarano & Sons
Tenants
Altoona Curve (EL/Double-A Northeast) (1999–present)

History

The groundbreaking ceremony for the stadium, then known as Blair County Ballpark, was held on March 7, 1998.[4] The addition of Major League Baseball teams in Phoenix, Arizona, and St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1998 also created room for Minor League Baseball to expand. Two additional teams were added to the Eastern League for the 1999 season: the Altoona Curve and the Erie SeaWolves. The city of Altoona won the favor of the Eastern League over a bid from Springfield, Massachusetts. The stadium hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 15, 1999, as the Curve defeated the Bowie Baysox, 6–1.

From 1999 to 2002, total seating capacity was listed at 6,176. Prior to the 2003 season, an additional 1,034 seats were created with the construction of the new left-field reserved bleacher section, the third-base picnic pavilion, and the left-field party deck.[1] Blair County Ballpark hosted the Eastern League All-Star Game on July 12, 2006, before a record crowd of 9,308 fans.[5] The largest regular-season crowd was 9,255, recorded on August 10, 2003, for a doubleheader against the Harrisburg Senators.

On January 31, 2012, it was announced that Peoples Natural Gas had signed a naming-rights deal, making the new Peoples Natural Gas Field name official. In addition, Peoples Natural Gas is conducting a study for on-site green energy.[6]

Features

Peoples Natural Gas Field has a façade that resembles an old-fashioned railroad roundhouse that are prevalent throughout the city of Altoona. The stadium is double-decked, with the Diamond Club seating section making up the lower level. The main concourse with concessions and restrooms sits behind this section, and is covered by the upper levels of seating.

Peoples Natural Gas Field is unique because of its roller coaster located beyond the right-field wall. This ride, called Skyliner, is actually part of the Lakemont Park amusement park located next door. The ridges of the Allegheny Mountains can also be viewed from inside the stadium. The ballpark's picturesque view earned it a runner-up position in the "Best View in the Minors" competition in 2018.[7] It finished behind only Southwest University Park, home of the El Paso Chihuahuas.

Oddly enough, in MLB 2K13 the minor league field labeled, "AA East Field" is extremely similar to Peoples Natural Gas Field.

Seating
  • Diamond club: 1,634 seats
  • Terrace level: 1,204 seats
  • Grandstand level: 2,646 seats
  • Outfield reserved: 744 seats
  • Third-base picnic pavilion: 250 seats
  • "Rail Kings" (on party deck): 40 seats
  • Skyboxes: 292 seats
  • Bleachers: 400 seats[1]
  • Infield of Peoples Natural Gas Field
    Infield of Peoples Natural Gas Field
  • Seating section
    Seating section
  • Field at Peoples Natural Gas Field from third base side with Lakemont Park's Skyliner roller coaster in the background
    Field at Peoples Natural Gas Field from third base side with Lakemont Park's Skyliner roller coaster in the background
  • Façade of Peoples Natural Gas Field
    Façade of Peoples Natural Gas Field

References
  1. "2012 Altoona Curve Media Guide". Minor League Baseball. 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  2. 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.
  3. "Markets: Sports". Loftus Engineers LLC. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  4. Binette, Chad (March 8, 1998). "Excav-AA-tion: 150 Area Residents Look on as Stadium Ground is Broken". Altoona Mirror. p. A1. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  5. Giger, Cory (July 10, 2013). "Curve Eager to Host 2014 EL All-Star Game". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  6. "Curve, Peoples Natural Gas Forge Unique Agreement". Minor League Baseball. January 30, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  7. "THE BEST View in the Minors (MiLB) - Vote Now!". TheBallparkGuide.com. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
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