Jackson Field
Lugnuts Stadium
Map
Former namesCooley Law School Stadium (2011–2020)
Jackson Field at Thomas M. Cooley Law School Stadium (2010)
Oldsmobile Park (1996–2009)
Location505 East Michigan Avenue
Lansing, MI 48912
Coordinates42°44′5″N 84°32′43″W / 42.73472°N 84.54528°W / 42.73472; -84.54528
OwnerCity of Lansing
OperatorLansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA)
Capacity7,527 (+ 2,000 lawn, patio and standing room)
Field sizeLeft field: 305 feet (93 m)
Center field: 404 feet (123 m)
Right field: 305 feet (93 m)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundApril 3, 1995
OpenedApril 3, 1996
Construction cost$12.8 million
($24.9 million in 2023 dollars[1])
ArchitectHNTB Corporation (Kansas City)
Structural engineerJ&S Structural Engineers[3]
General contractorClark Construction[2]
Tenants
Lansing Lugnuts (MWL/High-A Central) (1996–present)
Michigan State Spartans (NCAA) (1996–present)
Lansing Ignite FC (USL1) (2019)

Jackson Field is a baseball stadium in Lansing, Michigan, home field of the Lansing Lugnuts minor league baseball team. The Michigan State Spartans college baseball team also plays select home games at Jackson Field. The stadium is situated in downtown Lansing in the Stadium District on a relatively narrow strip of land between and below Larch and Cedar streets.

It is primarily used for baseball, though it has also hosted an ice skating rink, an outdoor movie theater, a haunted house, and served as a concert venue for the annual Common Ground Music Festival. Due to the dimensions of the city block in which the stadium was constructed, the right and left field fences 'notch' sharply into distances of 305 feet (93 m) at each foul pole.

History

The stadium replaced a block of storefronts along Michigan Avenue. Originally budgeted $10 million for construction, the construction costs rose slightly to $12.8 million.[4]

Groundbreaking for the stadium took place on April 3, 1995, and it was officially opened exactly one year later on April 3, 1996 as Oldsmobile Park. Its first game was between the college baseball teams of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Two days later, the Lansing Lugnuts had their first game at the venue against the Rockford Cubbies.[5]

On February 22, 2010, Lansing mayor Virgil Bernero announced that the stadium would be renamed Thomas M. Cooley Law School Stadium, a result of the park's new sponsorship agreement.[6] In March 2010, Lansing-based Jackson National Life Insurance Company purchased the rights to name the field "Jackson Field" for 1 year. Thus, the full name of the venue was Jackson Field at Thomas M. Cooley Law School Stadium.[7]

On March 12, 2014, a $22 million renovation proposal for the stadium was announced named "The Outfield." It would include $11 million in public bonds for renovation of the actual stadium structure including new turf, and updated locker rooms, concessions and new box seats. $11 million in additional private investments which would include 80 apartments, a year-round bar and grill, and a new scoreboard. The proposal also includes the city negotiating a new contract with the team which is proposed to bring in an additional 25% revenue for the city.[8]

On September 1, 2020, the stadium announced an official name change to Jackson Field after a 7-year naming rights agreement was signed with Jackson National Life Insurance Company.[9]

Other uses

Rugby

On October 19, 2018, the Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines had their rivalry match, the Battle for the Mitten, at Cooley Law School Stadium.[10] Michigan State defeated Michigan 25-15.

Soccer

On October 25, 2018, the newly planned Lansing Ignite soccer team announced it would begin playing its home games at the stadium. The Ignite ceased operations after just one season.[11]

Field dimensions

Views of Jackson Field from behind home plate (left) and from the outfield (right)

See also

References

  1. ^ 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 February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Cooley Law School Stadium Information". Minor League Baseball. February 28, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  3. ^ "Sports Facility Experience". J&S Structural Engineers. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  4. ^ "City of Lansing and Lugnuts Announce Exciting New Developments at Oldsmobile Park". Minor League Baseball. October 14, 2004. Archived from the original on November 3, 2004. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
  5. ^ "Cooley Law School Stadium Facts". Cooley Law School Stadium. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
  6. ^ Domsic, Melissa (February 22, 2010). "Lugnuts Ballpark Soon Will be Cooley Law School Stadium". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved February 22, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Jackson National Lands Lugnuts Field Naming Rights". Lansing State Journal. March 22, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Anders, Melissa (March 12, 2014). "Living above the outfield: Lansing Lugnuts' stadium renovation plan includes apartments, restaurants". MLive.com. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  9. ^ Zide, Jeffrey (September 1, 2020). "Lansing Lugnuts stadium renamed to Jackson Field". WILX-TV. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  10. ^ "Battle for the Mitten Field Transformation". WSYM-TV. October 17, 2018.
  11. ^ "Lansing Ignite FC Ceases Operations". USLLeagueOne.com. October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

External links

Lansing Ignite FC
Ballparks in the Midwest League
Baseball parks of the Big Ten Conference
NCAA Division I college baseball venues in Michigan
Lansing–East Lansing, Michigan
Categories