Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium explained

Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium
Former Names:Les Miller Field (1996–2013)
Location:901 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Coordinates:41.865°N -87.6494°W
Pushpin Map:United States Chicago#USA Illinois#USA
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Chicago##Location in Illinois##Location in the United States
Pushpin Mapsize:240
Built:1996
Opened:4 May 1996
Renovated:2010, 2014
Owner:University of Illinois at Chicago
Operator:University of Illinois at Chicago
Surface:Artificial turf
Scoreboard:Electronic
Capacity:1,000
Dimensions:330 feet (LF)
374 feet (LCF)
401 feet (CF)
374 feet (RCF)
330 feet (RF)
Tenants:UIC Flames baseball (HL/MVC) (1996–present)

Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium is a baseball venue in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is home to the UIC Flames baseball team of the NCAA Division I Missouri Valley Conference. The facility has a capacity of 1,000 spectators and is named for Les Miller, UIC head baseball coach from 1949 to 1979, and Curtis Granderson, an alumnus of the program. During Miller's tenure, the program won over 500 games. Granderson was named conference player of the year with the Flames in 2002 and later played in Major League Baseball.[1] [2] On 17 September 2013, UIC broke ground on a new stadium on the same site, funded in part by donations from Granderson. It consists of a new structure housing a press box, dugouts, and grandstand, and was completed for the 2014 season.[3] [4]

History

In spring 1996, the construction of Les Miller Field was completed. Its first game came on 4 May 1996, against Wright State. In 1998, 1999, 2001, 2008, and 2012, Miller Field hosted the Horizon League Baseball Tournament. Also, the venue has twice hosted the National Amateur All-Star Baseball Tournament.[5]

Other uses

In 1996, the field was a filming location for the film Primal Fear. Also, scenes from the television show ER have been shot at the venue.

In 2010, the St. Ignatius College Prep high school baseball team used the field as a temporary home.[6]

Features

The field's features include an artificial turf playing surface, a press box, an electronic scoreboard, dugouts, a brick backstop, a padded outfield wall (added in 2010), restrooms, and concessions. The artificial turf surface was installed prior to the 2008 season.[7] [8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Les Miller Field . UIC Flames . University of Illinois at Chicago Athletic Department . 30 January 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110105113006/http://www.uicflames.com/facilities/les.html . 5 January 2011 . dead .
  2. Web site: Former UIC Baseball Coach Les Miller Passes Away . CSTV . 10 May 2012 . 21 February 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130927192340/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/022107aax.html . 27 September 2013 . dead .
  3. Web site: Curtis Granderson Stadium Officially Breaks Ground. UIC Flames. 17 September 2013. 17 September 2013.
  4. Web site: Curtis Granderson Stadium Construction Update - Week One. UIC Flames. 25 September 2013. 25 September 2013.
  5. Web site: Oren . Paul . Crusaders Win Horizon League Tourney, Head to NCAA Baseball Tournament . NWITimes.com . The Times of Northwest Indiana . 28 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120630040344/http://www.nwitimes.com/sports/college/valparaiso-university/crusaders-win-horizon-league-tourney-head-to-ncaa-baseball-tournament/article_ef9daeb3-6f45-5dc3-b8f6-bcbc65e533c5.html . 30 June 2012 . 27 May 2012 . dead .
  6. Web site: Hedger . Brian . High School Baseball: Without a Varsity Field, St. Ignatius' Bus Has Become Its Home . The Chicago Tribune . 10 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100426115901/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-04-24/sports/ct-spt-0425-prep-base-st-ignatius-uic-20100424_1_st-ignatius-wolfpack-tiny-field . 26 April 2010 . 24 April 2010 . dead .
  7. Web site: FieldTurf Project at Les Miller Field Nears Completion . CSTV . 10 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140808050809/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/100907aan.html . 8 August 2014 . 9 October 2007 . dead .
  8. Web site: FieldTurf It Is for UIC's Les Miller Field . Globe Newswire . FieldTurf Tarkett . 10 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160316102143/http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=118590 . 16 March 2016 . 1 May 2007 . dead .