Stadium Minor League History:
Evangeline League
1934-1942, 1946-1957
Texas League
1972-1975
Texas-Louisiana League 1994-present
Current Status:
Home of the Alexandria Aces of the Texas-Louisiana
League (independent)
What's Good: This
is a cozy ballpark, with a relatively small seating capacity and the seats
pushed up close to the action. Foul territory is small, and the box
seats are at ground level -- there's no wall between the grandstand and
the field. There's also a large roof (and powerful electric fans
suspended from it) to keep folks cool in the sticky Louisiana summer.
Like many older parks, it is quirky and unique, and harkens back to a different
era.
What's Not So Good: The grandstand itself is pretty insubstantial -- there's no real structure, just rows of seating and a roof. Furthermore, while the stadium itself has seen much better days (plenty of peeling paint, rust, and splinters), it was the frenetic, over-the-top, 1990s-style minor league experience that turned me off. I know teams need to draw fans and make money, but sound effects between every pitch and a corporate sponsor for every foul ball and strikeout? It was all a little much.
This Photo:
June 2, 1998 Alexandria Aces vs. Abilene Prairie Dogs