Northwest Federal Field at Pfitzner Stadium explained

Former Names:Davis Ford Park (1984–1985)
Prince William County Stadium (1986–1995)
G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium (1996–2017)
Location:7 County Complex Court
Woodbridge, Virginia 22192
Coordinates:38.6842°N -77.3525°W
Broke Ground:1983
Opened:April 19, 1984
Owner:Prince William County Park Authority
Operator:Potomac Baseball LLC.
Surface:Patriot Bermuda Grass
Construction Cost:$2 million[1]
($ in dollars)
Architect:Hughes Group Architects[2]
Tenants:Potomac Nationals (CL) 1984–2019
Seating Capacity:6,000
Record Attendance:10,789 (July 4, 2009)
Dimensions:Left Field: 315
Center Field: 400
Right Field: 315
Scoreboard:Daktronics BA-2026

Northwest Federal Field at Pfitzner Stadium, nicknamed "The Pfitz", is a stadium in the Coles Magisterial District of Prince William County, Virginia.[3] It is primarily used for baseball, and was the home field of the Potomac Nationals before they relocated to Fredericksburg in 2020. Built in 1984, the stadium is near the McCoart Government Center, the offices of the Prince William County Service Authority, and the Sean Connaughton Community Plaza. It seats 6,000 people.

Layout

The fences at Pfitzner Stadium are 315 feet down the lines and 400 feet to straight-away center field. There is an electronic scoreboard in left-center field capable of displaying images as well as some video. The dugouts at the stadium are unusual in that they are located at field level, and prior to 2018 there was no fence or rail separating them from the field. However, as part of renovations completed following the 2017 season, netting was added in front of both the home and visiting dugouts.[4]

History

2011-2012 improvements

After the 2011 season, the field was redone to upgrade it to MLB specifications, as the previous field failed to meet those standards. This was done due to moving a series because of unsafe conditions.[5]

2012 fire

A one-alarm fire caused by an inside gas leak destroyed the facility's business offices on June 29, 2012. There were no fatalities or injuries. Other parts of the stadium, including the concession stands one level below the offices, were not damaged.[6] The fire put the Nationals' mascot Uncle Slam out of action for the remainder of the Carolina League season.[7]

Naming history

The stadium was originally known as Davis Ford Park before being renamed Prince William County Stadium in 1986 and then G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium in 1996.[8] [9]

On May 3, 2018, the Potomac Nationals announced that as part of a sponsorship deal with Northwest Federal Credit Union, the stadium would be renamed Northwest Federal Field at Pfitzner Stadium. The naming rights deal also included the stadium's field tarp and bullpen picnic area.[10]

Potomac Nationals occupation

Departure of the Potomac Nationals

The Potomac Nationals, playing at Pfitzner Stadium since 1984, began seeking a better ballpark at least as early as 1998,[11] with various proposals made in 2000,[12] 2002,[13] 2005,[14] 2010,[15] 2011,[16] and 2016.[17] [18] [19]

In December 2016 reports emerged of a possible new Potomac Nationals stadium. Two County Supervisors said that team owner Art Silber told them Minor League Baseball is requiring the team to be out of Pfitzner Stadium by the end of the 2018 season.[20]

In June 2018, Potomac Nationals owner Art Silber announced that he had signed a letter of intent to build a new stadium in Fredericksburg, Virginia that would open in April 2020,[21] though the deal actually calls for the facility to be ready for public events by April 1, 2021.[22] The Potomac Nationals played their last regular season game at Pfitzner Stadium on August 29, 2019.[23] [24]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Owner Moving Cannons North. Tim. Bullis. The Free Lance–Star. Fredericksburg, VA. July 1, 1998. March 3, 2012.
  2. Web site: Addition Community Projects. Hughes Group Architects. July 2, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20081201072927/http://www.hgaarch.com/other%20community.htm. December 1, 2008.
  3. Web site: Ballpark History Potomac Nationals Pfitzner Stadium . . . 19 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220170103/http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?sid=t436&ymd=20061118&content_id=145250&vkey=team1 . 20 December 2016.
  4. Web site: Potomac Nationals Announce Upgrades to Pfitzner Stadium for the 2018 Season. MiLB.com. April 6, 2018. March 28, 2018.
  5. Web site: Potomac Nationals Install New Grass Field at Pfitzner Stadium. Byron. Kerr. Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. January 4, 2012. February 24, 2014.
  6. Web site: Potomac's Pfitzner Stadium Sustains Damage from Fire, All Employees Accounted For. Byron. Kerr. Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. June 29, 2012. February 24, 2014.
  7. Web site: Mascot Uncle Slam Placed on 60-Day DL. Minor League Baseball. July 6, 2012. February 24, 2014.
  8. Gignilliat . David . All for Love of the Game . July 1, 2020 . Northern Virginia Magazine . April 27, 2012.
  9. News: Anderson . Ruth . Letter: Supervisor Ruth Anderson to vote no on P-Nats stadium deal . July 1, 2020 . InsideNoVa.com . Rappahannock Media LLC . July 13, 2017 . en.
  10. Web site: P-Nats Announce Field Naming Rights Partnership with Northwest Federal Credit Union . . Potomac Nationals . May 4, 2018 . May 3, 2018.
  11. News: Shear. Michael D.. Cannons Aim for Stadium in Fairfax. March 2, 2019 . The Washington Post. March 21, 1998.
  12. News: Eggen. Dan. Cannons Set Sights on Fairfax. March 2, 2019 . The Washington Post. November 1, 2000.
  13. News: Weiss. Eric M.. Stadium Deal to Keep Cannons in Pr. William. March 2, 2019 . The Washington Post. July 4, 2002.
  14. News: Campbell. Rich. Cannons Make Name Change; New Stadium Also Will Be Built for the Potomac Nationals. March 2, 2019 . The Washington Post. February 14, 2005. D04.
  15. News: Reichard. Kevin. P-Nats, Prince William County working on new ballpark plan. March 2, 2019 . Ballpark Digest . August Publications . September 27, 2010.
  16. News: Buske. Jennifer. Aging Potomac Nationals' stadium field to get a makeover. March 2, 2019 . The Washington Post. August 1, 2011.
  17. News: Koma. Alex. Potomac Nationals, Prince William County nearing stadium agreement. March 2, 2019 . InsideNoVa.com. December 14, 2016.
  18. News: Koma. Alex. New Potomac Nationals stadium construction may face hurdles. March 2, 2019 . InsideNoVa.com. December 30, 2016.
  19. News: Rist. Hugh. Potomac Nationals face 2018 deadline for new stadium. March 2, 2019 . InsideNoVa.com. February 16, 2016.
  20. News: Koma. Alex. New Potomac Nationals stadium construction may face hurdles. January 3, 2017. InsideNoVa.com. Northern Virginia Media Services. December 30, 2016. Leesburg, Virginia.
  21. News: Potomac Nationals announce plans for Fredericksburg stadium. Greg. Hambrick. InsideNoVa.com. March 2, 2019 . June 26, 2018. en.
  22. News: Spedden . Zach . Could Fredericksburg Ballpark Open in 2021? . May 20, 2019 . Ballpark Digest . August Publications . May 20, 2019.
  23. News: Murillo . Mike . Thanks for the memories: Potomac Nationals play last regular game in Prince William Co. . August 31, 2019 . . August 30, 2019 . en.
  24. News: Corredor's Bomb Drives P-Nats to 5–1 Victory . August 31, 2019 . MiLB.com . Potomac Nationals . August 29, 2019 . en.

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