The Ballpark at Harbor Yard

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard was a 5,500-seat independent-league ballpark in downtown Bridgeport, Connecticut that opened on May 21, 1998. The stadium was located next to the Webster Bank Arena, now known as the Total Mortgage Arena. It was named "Harbor Yard" as an allusion to Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard
Harbor Yard
Exterior of ballpark from parking lot
Ballpark exterior on opening day of the Bluefish's 2012 season
Location500 Main Street
Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604
Coordinates41°10′19″N 73°11′15″W
Public transit Bridgeport
OwnerCity of Bridgeport
OperatorBridgeport Bluefish
Capacity5,500
Field sizeLeft field: 325 feet (99 m)
Center field: 405 feet (123 m)
Right field: 325 feet (99 m)
Surfacegrass
Construction
OpenedMay 21, 1998
ClosedSeptember 17, 2017
Construction cost$19 million
Tenants
Bridgeport Bluefish (ALPB) 1998–2017
Bridgeport Barrage (MLL) 2001–2003
Sacred Heart Pioneers (NCAA) 2001–2017[1]
Bridgeport Purple Knights (NCAA) 1998–2017[2]
Website
web.archive.org/web/20160303212623/http://bridgeportbluefish.com/stadium

Located on Bridgeport's Long Island Sound waterfront, Harbor Yard was encircled by Interstate 95 and the Northeast Corridor rail line. The site had navigable ingress and egress routes to northern Fairfield County and the Naugatuck River Valley via the 8/25 connector. The city chose not to renew its lease to the Bluefish and closed the stadium after the 2017 baseball season. The venue has been converted to an outdoor concert amphitheater known as Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater.

History

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard opened on May 21, 1998, on the site of the former Jenkins Valve factory. The demolition of the Pequonnock apartment buildings in 2002 improved the parking situation for fans attending games at the Ballpark. The Ballpark and Total Mortgage Arena are credited for revitalizing the city into a prosperous waterfront attraction and destination.[3]

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard was constructed in between 1997 and 1998, and its $19 million price tag was funded through public and team contributions. It had a seating capacity of 5,500. Believing that Harbor Yard would be one of the important pieces of Bridgeport's renewal, team co-founder, Jack McGregor, chose its name as an allusion to Baltimore's renewal of the Camden Yards neighborhood.[3]

Harbor Yard was the home field of the Bridgeport Barrage of Major League Lacrosse from 2001 to 2003.[4] The Barrage relocated to Philadelphia after the 2003 season.[5]

On October 1, 2009, the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball granted the ballpark the 2009 Atlantic League Park of the Year award.[6]

On August 8, 2017, Mayor Joe Ganim announced that city would not renew the Bluefish's lease, ending their 20-year stint at the ballpark at the end of the 2017 season.[7] The Bluefish played their final home game at the park on September 17, 2017, losing by a score of 9–2 to the Somerset Patriots.[8]

The former minor-league ballpark was converted to a concert amphitheater known as Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater.[7][9] A groundbreaking ceremony for the replacement amphitheater was held in July 2018.[10] The amphitheater opened July 28, 2021.[11]

All-Star Games

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard hosted four All-Star games in its history: the first MLL All-Star Game in 2001, and the 1999, 2006 and 2015 Atlantic League All Star games.[12]

Attractions

The park had concessions with traditional ballpark fare served at two restaurants: the People's Bank Marina, an all-you-can-eat buffet; and the Harbor Club, a restaurant that served an upscale ballpark menu.

Children at the ballpark could play on the playground equipment at the United Way Kids' Cove. There was also a party suite was for birthday parties and other special occasions.

The Bluefish added the Two Roads Beer Garden for the 2015 season, sponsored by the Two Roads Brewery from Stratford.[13]

See also

References
  1. "Sacred Heart Pioneers at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard". sacredheartpioneers.com. Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  2. Guinness, Meredith (October 30, 2017). "Batter Up! Bridgeport, UB Unveil Field Of Dreams In Seaside Park". Bridgeport Daily Voice. Retrieved January 18, 2018. ...the Ballpark at Harbor Yard, home to the Bridgeport Bluefish for 20 seasons. The Purple Knights played at Harbor Yard for all of those years, too.
  3. "History of the Ballpark at Harbor Yard". bridgeportbluefish.com. Bridgeport Bluefish. Archived from the original on November 14, 2006. Retrieved January 2, 2007.
  4. Fornabaio, Michael (September 17, 2017). "After 20 seasons, fans, Bluefish say goodbye". Connecticut Post. Retrieved January 12, 2019. It was also home to a professional lacrosse team, the Bridgeport Barrage, 2001-03.
  5. Fornabaio, Michael (December 16, 2020). "Hammerheads' future unclear as MLL merges into PLL". Connecticut Post. Retrieved October 10, 2021. The Bridgeport Barrage played the league's first three seasons mostly at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard before moving to Philadelphia.
  6. "The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball: HARBOR YARD NAMED BALLPARK OF THE YEAR". atlanticleague.com. Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. October 1, 2009. Archived from the original on April 27, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2009.
  7. "City To Turn Bluefish Ballpark Into Concert Venue". bridgeportbluefish.com. Bridgeport Bluefish. August 8, 2017. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  8. "Bridgeport Plays Final Game At Harbor Yard". bridgeportbluefish.com. Bridgeport Bluefish. September 17, 2017. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  9. "Bridgeport amphitheater gets new name ahead of reopening". News 12 Connecticut. February 25, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  10. "Groundbreaking for amphitheater at former Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport". WTNH. Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. July 13, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  11. Naples, Kaitlyn; Passmore, Shawnte (July 28, 2021). "Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater is officially open". WFSB. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  12. "Official Site of the Bridgeport Bluefish: Bluefish Announce All-Star Event Schedule". bridgeportbluefish.com. Bridgeport Bluefish. June 8, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  13. "Two Roads Beer Garden Coming to The Ballpark at Harbor Yard". Ballpark Business (Press release). April 22, 2015.
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