Thomas More Stadium
Thomas More Stadium is a stadium in Florence, Kentucky. It is primarily used for baseball and is the home field of the Florence Y'alls of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league. It originally opened in 2004 as Champion Window Field and holds 4,500 people.[1]
 Thomas More Stadium in 2023 | |
  Thomas More Stadium Location within Kentucky  Thomas More Stadium Thomas More Stadium (the United States) | |
| Former names | Champion Window Field (2004–2012) UC Health Stadium (2013–2020) Y'alls Ballpark (2021) |
|---|---|
| Address | 7950 Freedom Way Florence, KY 41042 |
| Coordinates | 38.982156°N 84.638479°W |
| Capacity | 4,500 |
| Surface | artificial turf |
| Opened | 2004 |
| Tenants | |
| Florence Y'alls (FL), 2004–present Mount St. Joseph Lions (NCAA), ?–present Northern Kentucky Norse (NCAA), 2006–2008 Thomas More Saints (NAIA; NCAA from 2023–24), 2023–future | |
On November 27, 2012, the then-named Florence Freedom announced that UC Health, the healthcare system of the University of Cincinnati, had signed a 10-year naming rights deal, giving the ballpark its UC Health Stadium name.[2] In May 2021, it was reported that the team was looking for a new naming rights partner after UC Health dropped its sponsorship, and that the team would be using the name Y'alls Ballpark for their home field.[3][4] In March 2022, the Y'alls announced that Thomas More University had acquired the naming rights, and that the university's baseball team would play at Thomas More Stadium starting in 2023.[5][6]
History
2004 ownership scandal
In July 2004, shortly after the opening of Champion Window Field, contractors began filing liens against the Florence Freedom, accusing the team of not paying for work done on the stadium. Eventually, 33 liens totaling $4.7 million were filed. In August, Fifth Third Bank sued team part-owner Chuck Hildebrant for failing to repay multiple loans taken out to finance the stadium construction. As part of the lawsuit, it was revealed that Hildebrant had used 204 acres (0.83 km2) of land that he did not own as collateral for the loans, and that he had given the bank a forged document as proof of ownership.[7] Hildebrant was later the subject of a federal white collar crime investigation and sentenced to prison in October 2005.[8] The team was sold in November 2004 to a new ownership group led by Clint Brown, who was not associated with Hildebrant's ownership group.[9]
Other uses
From 2006 to 2008, the Northern Kentucky Norse baseball team, then of NCAA Division II, moved from on-campus Bill Aker Baseball Complex to play its home schedule at Champion Window Field.[10][11][12] Thomas More Stadium is currently home to the Mount St. Joseph University Lions.[13][14]
References
- "Champion Window Field". BallParkReviews.com. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
- Hansel, Mark (November 27, 2012). "UC inks stadium naming deal with Florence Freedom". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
- Watkins, Steve (May 25, 2021). "Florence Y'alls seeking naming rights sponsor for stadium". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- Engel, Liz (May 26, 2021). "Five things you need to know today, and the worst summer job ever". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- Weber, James (March 1, 2022). "Florence Y'alls baseball franchise to rename home park as Thomas More Stadium". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- "Thomas More University, Florence Y'alls teaming up, partnering to rename ballpark Thomas More Stadium". Northern Kentucky Tribune. March 2, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- Edwards, Jennifer; Kelly, Brenna R. (September 14, 2004). "Family suing Freedom owner". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- "Former team owner sentenced to five years over loans". FortWayne.com. Associated Press. October 21, 2005. Archived from the original on October 27, 2005. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
- Peale, Cliff (November 3, 2004). "Florence Freedom has a deal". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- "Amateur Baseball Schedule at Champion Window Field Announced". OurSportsCentral.com (Press release). March 25, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- "Bellarmine vs. Northern Kentucky Box Score". Athletics.Bellarmine.edu. Bellarmine Sports Information. April 5, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- Mulcahey, Matt (February 4, 2006). "NKU Baseball Slides into New Home". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on April 7, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
- "Current Home of the Mount Saint Joseph University Lions". Retrieved December 5, 2021.
- "Baseball Facilities". Mount St. Joseph University - Official Athletics Website. Mount St. Joseph University. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Host of the FL All-Star Game Champion Window Field 2007 |
Succeeded by |