The Ballpark at Harbor Yard was a 5,500-seat minor-league ballpark in downtown

Bridgeport, Connecticut Bridgeport is the List of municipalities in Connecticut, most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the List of cities by population in New England, fifth-most populous ...

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 Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was ...

. Located on Bridgeport's

Long Island Sound Long Island Sound is a marine sound and tidal estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. It lies predominantly between the U.S. state of Connecticut to the north and Long Island in New York to the south. From west to east, the sound stretches from the Eas ...

waterfront, Harbor Yard was encircled by

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and the

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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. 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. Harbor Yard was the home field of the

Bridgeport Barrage Bridgeport is the List of municipalities in Connecticut, most populous city and a major port in the U.S. state of Connecticut. With a population of 148,654 in 2020, it is also the List of cities by population in New England, fifth-most populous ...

of Major League Lacrosse from 2001 to 2003. The Barrage relocated to Philadelphia after the 2003 season. On October 1, 2009, the

Atlantic League of Professional Baseball The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league based in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The Atlantic League's ...

granted the ballpark the 2009 Atlantic League Park of the Year award. 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. 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. The former minor-league ballpark was converted to a concert

amphitheater An amphitheatre (British English) or amphitheater (American English; both ) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ...

known as Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater. A groundbreaking ceremony for the replacement amphitheater was held in July 2018. The amphitheater opened July 28, 2021.

All-Star Games

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard hosted four All-Star games in its history: the first

MLL All-Star Game Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game is the all-star game of the MLL. Years 2000s 2001 The inaugural 2001 All-Star Game, was titled the Major League Lacrosse LacrosseStar Game. From 2001–2003, the All-Star Game had the National Division playin ...

2001 The September 11 attacks against the United States by Al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror, were a defining event of 2001. The United States led a Participants in ...

, and the 1999, 2006 and 2015 Atlantic League All Star games.

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.

References

External links

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballpark At Harbor Yard Bridgeport Bluefish Baseball venues in Connecticut Sports venues in Bridgeport, Connecticut Tourist attractions in Fairfield County, Connecticut Former Major League Lacrosse venues Defunct college baseball venues in the United States Defunct minor league baseball venues Sacred Heart Pioneers baseball 1998 establishments in Connecticut 2017 disestablishments in Connecticut Lacrosse venues in Connecticut Sports venues completed in 1998

History

All-Star Games

Attractions

See also

References

External links