Summer Road Trip Day 3(a) - Lowell, MA
So why is Peter giving the “up yours” to LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Mass.?
Until 1995, Pete’s beloved Elmira Pioneers were a part of the New York Penn League, at which time the team was sold to business interests in Lowell. Don’t know if there were Mayflower vans at midnight or anything like that, but there probably were a couple pick up trucks and a U-haul, and just like that organized professional baseball was gone from Elmira forever.
I’m walking around, marveling at this beautiful gem of a ballpark, with its decorative ornate wrought iron gates, and brick facade, lush landscaping, spacious merchandise store near the main entrance. Pete, meanwhile, is shaking his head and muttering to himself.
Get over it! That was 13 years ago!
LeLacheur Park is one pretty stadium, situated right near downtown Lowell and just blocks away from their AHL venue, Tsongas Arena. The venue opened in 1998, and the team has a continuous sellout streak which goes all the way back to 1999. Incredible!
The nice thing about this ballpark is that it has all the bells and whistles of a state of the art ballpark - a video board, spacious concession stands, a nicely appointed team store, a ground floor picnic and buffet area called the Gator Pit, an open concourse with a view of the field. Yet no suites or club level, glass enclosed bar area for premium customers, valet parking, and all that nonsense.
Jon Boswell, the team’s Media Relations guy, couldn’t have been nicer, and spent time with us showing all the features of the ballpark, took us downstairs and fixed us up with a great meal, and made us feel very welcome.
Out in the concourse they have a glassed display with all the bobbleheads distributed at LeLacheur Park over the years. And there we spotted it - a Wade Boggs bobblehead, with Boggs wearing the Elmira Pioneers “E” cap. A piece of Elmira at LeLacheur Park. That made Pete one very happy boy!
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Lowell scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly RBI. Just like that the game was official, and for the USRT, one more milestone - all 14 NY-Penn venues DONE! A journey that began at Batavia’s Dwyer Stadium in 2002 was capped here in Lowell. We high fived our accomplishment, then raced out of the building to head up to Manchester. That game was already in the bottom of the second, and we had more baseball on this evening’s plate!
Jon Says:August 2nd, 2008 at 10:52 pm
What did you guys think of Joe Bruno Stadium in Troy? (I know that it wasn’t on this trip, I just was curious after I saw you guys completed all of the NY-Penn stadiums.)
Looks like it was yet another successful trip!
Jon Says:August 2nd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Nevermind, I should have checked your official site first.
onscrn Says:August 4th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I don’t imagine it’s in your plans, but let me mention that I also recently made a trip to Lowell MA to watch a game played on a local diamond; only the one I went to was pro softball played by women. I wrote the experience up in a blog post called “An Evening in Lowell: Mixing in a Changeup.” The game was well-played, and the enthusiasm of the players downright inspiring. The sight of so much hustle by athletes that get paid so little was very refreshing in the midst of the Manny Ramirez (you can’t make me play) story that was then dragging on in Boston.
Peter Farrell Says:August 5th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
@ Jon….honestly have no real memories of Bruno stadium. Not much really stood out for me there(good or bad). A nice place though, seems to follow the trend of some NY-P parks that are shared by a college club in the spring(see:Vermont, State College, Lowell…)
I’d go again if I happened to be in town.