Fairfield Properties Ballpark is a 6,002-seat baseball park in Central Islip, New York that serves as the home of the Long Island Ducks, an independent professional baseball team that is a member of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Its first regular season game took place on May 14, 2000, when the Ducks played host to the Aberdeen Arsenal. The game was the first in the history of both franchises, as they both entered the Atlantic League at the same time. Fairfield Properties Ballpark hosted the 2002, 2010, and 2018 Atlantic League All-Star Games.
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| Former names | Bethpage Ballpark (2010–2020) Suffolk County Sports Park (2010) Citibank Park (2001–2010) EAB Park (2000–2001) |
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| Location | 3 Court House Drive Central Islip, NY 11722 |
| Coordinates | 40°45′54″N 73°11′32″W / 40.76500°N 73.19222°W |
| Operator | Long Island Ducks |
| Capacity | 6,002 |
| Field size |
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| Surface | grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April, 1999 |
| Opened | May 14, 2000 |
| Architect | Beatty Harvey Associates HNTB Sports Architecture |
| Tenants | |
| Long Island Ducks (ALPB) (2000–present) Long Island Lizards (MLL) (2001) | |
Naming rights
editThe stadium was initially named EAB Park, after European American Bank.[1] On July 17, 2001, Citigroup acquired EAB,[1] resulting in a name change from EAB Park to Citibank Park.[2] Citigroup ended its corporate sponsorship in the spring of 2010[2] and the ballpark was given the temporary name Suffolk County Sports Park for the 2010 season.
On December 15, 2010, Suffolk County officials agreed to a $2.1 million deal with Bethpage Federal Credit Union to name the stadium Bethpage Ballpark until the 2020 season.[3]
On September 1, 2020, Suffolk County officials signed an agreement with the Long Island-based Fairfield Properties for $7 million over 15 years. When the Bethpage naming rights ended in December 2020, the official name changed to Fairfield Properties Ballpark. [4]
Facilities
editFairfield Properties Ballpark has a capacity of 6,002 seats, including 20 luxury suites and a 126-seat bar/restaurant.[5] Family attractions, such as an inflatable jump house and an inflatable fast pitch tent, are located on the concourse. Concession stands offer mainly traditional ballpark foods.
References
edit- ^ a b "Citigroup – History". Citi.com. Citigroup. 2007. Archived from the original on May 5, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
- ^ a b Baumbach, Jim (January 29, 2010). "Citibank ends sponsorship of LI Ducks' stadium". Newsday. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
- ^ Epstein, Reid J. (December 15, 2010). "Bethpage Federal tags Ducks' home field". Newsday. Archived from the original on November 7, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
- ^ "Fairfield Properties Land Naming Rights for Ducks Ballpark". September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Park History". Long Island Ducks Baseball. Retrieved November 7, 2019.