Wild Things Park
"The House of Thrills" | |
| ) (2014–2016) |
Wild Things Park is a 3,200-seat multi-purpose baseball stadium in
The stadium was known as Falconi Field until April 12, 2007, when Consol Energy and Washington County Family Entertainment entered a naming rights partnership to rename the complex CONSOL Energy Park.[1] Consol Energy has let the naming rights deal expire as of January 2017.
History
In 2001, a 16-member "baseball exploratory committee" led by
Trich originally hoped to bring an affiliated Class A minor league team to Washington, however he was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, a local group purchased the Canton Crocodiles of the independent Frontier League and moved them to the stadium to begin play as the Washington Wild Things in 2002. The team lost its inaugural game 3-0 to the Canton Coyotes.
The Wild Things rebounded from losing their first game to finish 56-28 and reached the Frontier League championship, which they lost to the Richmond Roosters three games to one. Playoffs included, the Wild Things drew 132,901 to Falconi Field in 2002. The year before the franchise had their games attended by just 29,703 fans in Canton, which is five times the population of Washington.
On April 12, 2007, the stadium's name was changed to CONSOL Energy Park after the Washington County-based coal mining company paid an undisclosed sum as part of a 10-year naming rights agreement. A plant garden just inside of the main entrance in right field contains a sign thanking Falconi for his contribution in the stadium's construction.
In 2012, WashCo Ballpark Holdings purchased the park from the non-profit Ballpark Scholarships Inc. in a deal that guaranteed that baseball will remain in the park for a decade.[2] Leo Trich played a role in selling the park.[2] At that time, Dermontti Dawson joined the ownership team.[2] The Washington BlueSox played at the stadium from 2006 to 2008 until the team was moved to Butler. They also played at Ross Memorial Park and Alexandre Stadium during their tenure in Washington.
Concerts
Bob Dylan played at Falconi Field in 2006. He returned to the park in 2009, this time with John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson.
On August 25, 2012, the
See also
References
- ^ [1] Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Observer-Reporter. Archived from the originalon 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
External links
- Photographs of CONSOL Energy Park, home of the Washington Wild Things - Rochester Area Ballparks
- Washington County Family Entertainment and CONSOL Energy Form Complex Naming Rights Partnership
- Baseball Pilgrimages: CONSOL Energy Park
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by T.R. Hughes Ballpark |
Host of the All-Star Game Falconi Field 2005 |
Succeeded by |