Lawrence–Dumont Stadium

Lawrence-Dumont Stadium
Location 300 South Sycamore Street
Wichita, Kansas 67213 USA
Capacity Baseball: 6,400
Field size Left - 344'
Center - 401'
Right - 312'
Construction
Opened 1934
Renovated 2001
Tenants
Wichita Indians (Western League) (1950-1955)
Wichita Aeros (American Association) (1970-1984)
Wichita Pilots/Wranglers (TL) (1987-2007)
Wichita Wingnuts (AA) (2008-present)

Coordinates: 37°40′53″N 97°20′45″W / 37.68139°N 97.34583°W / 37.68139; -97.34583

Lawrence–Dumont Stadium is a stadium in the Delano Neighborhood of Wichita, Kansas, United States. It holds 6,400 fans and primarily used for baseball. It is the home field of the Wichita Wingnuts independent baseball team, and also home to the annual National Baseball Congress World Series, the annual North American championship of the NBC, an organization of 15 amateur and semi-professional baseball leagues operating in the United States and Canada. It has been played at this stadium annually since 1935.

History

The stadium is named for Charles S. Lawrence, former Wichita mayor from 1933 to 1934 who died on September 20, 1934 after convincing the city to move the park within the city limits. The construction of the stadium was a WPA project; Works Progress Administration which employed workers during the depths of the Great Depression. Blue laws earlier prohibited baseball within the city and games were played on Ackerman Island in the middle of the Arkansas River. That stadium burned in 1934. Ray "Hap" Dumont had promised to hold semi-pro games in the new ball park (which was built with WPA help. He paid Satchel Paige $1,000 to bring the Bismarck Churchills to the stadium to play in the first NBC Championship.[1][2]

In 1949, the ballpark was the last to host the College World Series before Omaha, Nebraska became its permanent address the following year.

The stadium underwent renovations in 2001 which brought improvements to the stadium sound system, new infield turf, a new outfield fence with tables behind it, and fresh paint to the seating area.

The stadium was again renovated in 2011. It was one of the few stadiums in the world that features a natural grass outfield with an astroturf infield. This would change during the April 2011 renovation when the entire field (including the grass outfield) would be replaced with RamTurf. Other changes included all new lights, exterior cosmetic improvements, new infield turf, dugout expansion, and improvements to the concourse areas.

It was home to the Wichita Wranglers minor league baseball team. The Wranglers left Wichita at the end of the 2007 season and moved to Springdale, Arkansas, where the team was renamed the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The Wichita Wingnuts now play at Lawrence-Dumont.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.wichitadelano.com/history/baseballandapplepie.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.kansas.com/2010/10/17/1545807/the-night-he-took-on-a-legend.html
Historical
Events and tenants
Preceded by
QuikTrip Park		 Host of the AAB All-Star Game
Lawrence-Dumont Stadium
2010 		Succeeded by
future
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