PNG 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.

History

The groundbreaking ceremony for the stadium, then known as Blair County Ballpark, was held on March 7, 1998. 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.
Blair County Ballpark hosted the Eastern League All-Star Game on July 12, 2006, before a record crowd of 9,308 fans. 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.

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. 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

Gallery

Image:1847-1851 - Altoona - Blair County Ballpark.jpg, Infield of Peoples Natural Gas Field
File:BPBallparkINSIDE.jpg, seating section
Image:Field_at_BCB.JPG, Field at Peoples Natural Gas Field from third base side with the Skyliner roller coaster from Lakemont Park in the background.

References

External links

Altoona Curve
* ttp://www.frontiernet.net/~rochballparks2/altoona/altoona.htm Photographs of Blair County Ballpark - ''Rochester Area Ballparks''

{{Altoona, Pennsylvania

Baseball venues in Pennsylvania
Minor league baseball venues
Buildings and structures in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Tourist attractions in Blair County, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
1999 establishments in Pennsylvania
Sports venues completed in 1999

Eastern League (1938–present) ballparks