| Dozer Park | |
| Location: | 730 Southwest Jefferson Street Peoria, IL 61605 |
| Coordinates: | 40.6875°N -89.5975°W |
| Owner: | Peoria Chiefs Community Baseball LLC |
| Operator: | Peoria Chiefs Community Baseball LLC |
| Surface: | Sod (1 - 1¼ inches) |
| Construction Cost: | $23 million ($ in dollars) |
| Architect: | HNTB |
| Services Engineer: | Clark Engineers MW Inc.[1] |
| General Contractor: | River City Construction LLC |
| Main Contractors: | Prairie Construction Systems Inc. |
| Former Names: | O'Brien Field (2002 - 2008) Chiefs Stadium (2009–2013) |
| Tenants: | Peoria Chiefs (MWL/High-A Central) (2002–present) Bradley Braves (NCAA) (2002–present) |
| Capacity: | 8,500 |
| Record Attendance: | 8,825 (May 24, 2002 vs. Kane County Cougars) |
| Dimensions: | Left Field: 310 ft (94.49 m) Left Center: 375 ft (114.3 m) Center Field: 400 ft (121.92 m) Right Center: 375 ft (114.3 m) Right Field: 310 ft (94.49 m) |
| Publictransit: | CityLink |
Dozer Park, originally O'Brien Field and formerly Chiefs Stadium, is a baseball field located in downtown Peoria, Illinois.[2] It is the home of the Peoria Chiefs, the Midwest League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals; the Chiefs previously played at Meinen Field. The college baseball team of Bradley University also uses the field. It opened on May 24, 2002.[3]
Official groundbreaking ceremonies for the $23 million multi-purpose stadium took place on August 16, 2001.[4] The stadium opened on May 24, 2002, as O'Brien Field,[3] with a game between the Chiefs and the Kane County Cougars.[5]
O'Brien Auto Team held the original naming rights to the facility.[5]
In 2011, the stadium hosted to the IHSA Class 1A and 2A baseball state finals. This was the first year the games were played at the facility.[6]
In April 2013, the Chiefs, including the stadium, received $7.35 million in financing and debt forgiveness. The plan included forgiveness of $1.2 million in debt to the City of Peoria; including $2 million in funding from Caterpillar Inc. for naming rights over 10 years; and $2.7 million in new investment of cash and equity by the Chiefs' ownership group of about 50.[7]
On May 10, 2013, Caterpillar and the Chiefs announced that the stadium would be renamed "Dozer Park", a reference to Caterpillar bulldozers.[2] [3]
Dozer Park's sod has an 8inches deep root zone of 90% sand and 10% Dakota peat for nutrition. The high concentration of sand naturally relieves soil compaction.
Beneath the sand and peat mix are 6inches of gravel. Running through the gravel are drainage tiles that run from home plate to center field. A huge sump pump beyond center field then drains into the city sewer system.
The makeup of the pitcher's mound and batter's boxes are almost 100% clay because it packs better and is wear resistant. The rest of the infield skin area is around 40% clay, 30% silt and 20% sand.
The field will hold up to 5inches of rain an hour.
The field is mowed every day during homestands, trimmed to 1inches-NaNinchesin (-in) high. It takes 1.25 hours to cut the outfield grass 2 directions with a 100inches cut mower. A walk-behind mower is used for the infield.
The price tag for the field itself was around $450,000.[8]
Dozer Park accommodates 20 luxury suites. Examples include:
Other than the five fixed concession stands, there are mobile carts around the park. The Chiefs' concessionaire is Professional Sports Catering.[10]