Pelicans Ballpark Explained

Pelicans Ballpark
Address:1251 21st Avenue North
City:Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Coordinates:33.7117°N -78.8845°W
Owner:City of Myrtle Beach 70% / Horry County 30%
Operator:City of Myrtle Beach
Capacity:6,599
Surface:Tifway 419 Bermuda Grass
Broke Ground:March 11, 1998
Cost:$12.8 million
($ in dollars)
Architect:Mozingo + Wallace Architects
Project Manager:Opening Day Partners
Services Engineer:Rast & Associates, Inc.[1]
General Contractor:McDevitt Street Bovis, Inc.[2]

Pelicans Ballpark (previously known as Coastal Federal Field, BB&T Coastal Field, and TicketReturn.com Field) is located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and is the home field of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in the Carolina League. The stadium opened in 1999. It holds up to 6,599 people.[3] Since its opening, it has been the finish point of the annual Myrtle Beach Marathon, held annually in March.[4]

On April 16, 2021, Myrtle Beach Pelicans leaders told WPDE-TV that the facility would need a significant investments in order to keep Minor League Baseball there. The most urgent upgrades to Pelicans Ballpark are to the visiting and home clubhouses, additional team facilities for women staff members, and upgrades to lighting and wall height. The team general manager told the city council during its budget retreat that it is likely to cost $15 million to bring the stadium's current player development facilities up to par and that the stadium won't last another 20 years as it stands.[5]

On April 27, 2023, it was announced that the team’s lease agreement with the city of Myrtle Beach and Horry County will expire at the end of this season. Pelicans Ballpark is due for major upgrades worth tens of millions, but some members of county council want out of the deal with one council member asking if they could sell their share for $1. The county attorney stated it was a horrible contract and that the only way the can get out of the contract is to breach it, which is a possibility.[6]

Other tenants

Pelicans Ballpark formerly was the site of the annual "Baseball At The Beach" collegiate baseball tournament which has since moved to Springs Brooks Stadium on the campus of Coastal Carolina University.[7] While Charles Watson Stadium was renovated during the 2013 season, the Chanticleers played their home schedule at TicketReturn.com Field.[8]

The venue served as a regional host site for the 2007 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. Coastal Carolina hosted the regional, with VCU, Clemson, and St. John's also participating. The ballpark also hosted a regional and super regional in the 2010 NCAA tournament, with the Chanticleers ultimately losing the super regional to South Carolina in the Gamecocks' first national championship season.[9]

The Texas Rangers (then parent club of the Pelicans) played an exhibition game on March 29 at Pelicans Ballpark against Coastal Carolina University as a part of 2011 spring training.[10]

Season 3 of HBO's Eastbound & Down was filmed there.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Entertainment Facilities. Rast & Associates. September 23, 2011.
  2. Web site: Coastal Federal Field. Mozingo + Wallace. September 23, 2011.
  3. Web site: Facts and Figures. Minor League Baseball. March 8, 2010. February 24, 2014.
  4. Web site: BI-LO Marathon. Myrtle Beach Marathon. February 24, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20061211223137/http://www.mbmarathon.com/events/marathonfc22.htm. December 11, 2006.
  5. News: Costa . Crystal . MB Pelicans GM: The ballpark won't last another 20 years as it stands . . April 16, 2021 . April 16, 2021.
  6. News: Manny . Martinez . 2023-04-27 . Horry County, Myrtle Beach clash over Myrtle Beach Pelicans' contract, upcoming stadium renovations . 2023-05-02 . . en-US.
  7. Web site: 2005 Baseball Schedule . Coastal Carolina Sports Information . February 24, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050213225001/http://www.goccusports.com/baseball/?tool=schedule . February 13, 2005.
  8. Web site: Select-A-Seat at TicketReturn.com Field Tuesday, 3–5 PM . Coastal Carolina Sports Information . February 27, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140228182421/http://www.goccusports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/020413aab.html . February 28, 2014 . February 4, 2013 . dead.
  9. Web site: 2011 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2011. February 27, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120817164313/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/baseball_champs_records/2011/d1/champs.pdf. August 17, 2012. dead.
  10. News: Texas Rangers in Full Force for Exhibition Against CCU. Alan. Blondin. The State. Columbia, SC. March 29, 2011. September 24, 2011. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110515011826/http://www.thestate.com/2011/03/29/1755529/texas-rangers-in-full-force-for.html. May 15, 2011.