Sprucing up Visalia ballpark

Baseball fans and players will benefit from a bigger and comfier Recreation Park.

Lewis Griswold The Fresno Bee

Originally published 2009-01-05

Recreation Park stadium opens in April with new comforts for fans and a new playing field for Visalia's minor-league baseball team. The Visalia Rawhide front office hopes the face-lift boosts attendance and breaks records. The partially redesigned stadium will seat 2,700 people, an increase of 650, but will leave intact its status as the smallest minor-league park in the nation. "It's a cozy ballpark," said Tom Seidler, president of the Rawhide, an Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate formerly known as the Oaks. The distance from front-row seats to the field is 20 to 28 feet, compared to 60 feet at most parks. "I've spoken with former players who say it creates a bit of a home-field advantage," Seidler said, because fans at a closer distance can be more intimidating to visitors. Major League Baseball requires minor-league parks to adhere to modern standards, which is why the city-owned stadium, built in 1946, is getting new dugouts, a visitor bullpen, a renovated playing field and better field lighting. The new clubhouse, also required, was completed two years ago. The renovations didn't stop there. A brick-accented entrance will take fans up a staircase. When they reach the top, they'll overlook the playing field and amenities, including a lawn beyond the outfield fence for picnicking, a children's play area, 350 new seats on the first base-right field side, an air-conditioned bar and eating area, souvenir shop and concession stands. New ticket booths, an elevator and offices for the staff also are part of the project. Last season's experiment with the cowbell rooting section is permanent. Seats are painted in a Holstein pattern, and fans get free bells to ring. The cow theme -- the new mascot is Tipper the cow-- matches the new Visalia Rawhide team name. The name was changed at the end of last season after a focus group "steered us to a stronger look," Seidler said. The players favored the name Rawhide, and they chose the new red, brown and black colors. It's Americana, yet the ballpark project hasn't been without controversy. The city owns the stadium and is footing the $11.6 million bill with taxpayer money. But with the economy tanking and city revenues falling, Visalia City Council Member Amy Shuklian is questioning the cost. "The money could be used for a lot better things," Shuklian said, such as finishing the Riverway Sports Park in north Visalia. But Council Member Greg Collins said while the return on investment is admittedly slow, "on quality of life, it certainly has its benefits." It gives the city "some additional identity," he added, and if the City Council had decided not to upgrade the stadium, the team eventually would leave town. That would be a disaster for longtime baseball fans such as John and Dottie Durell, first in line to buy 2009 season tickets. "We've had the same seats for 30 years," Dottie said. But with the renovations, "We've changed our seats to the new section. If it's hot, there's an air-conditioned room three steps away." She's referring to the Hall of Fame Club, a suite with bar and catering options for Hall of Fame season-ticket holders, which is expected to sell out. Those fans can watch the game through foul-ball-resistant hurricane glass. Seidler said there's little doubt in his mind that the renovation will boost ticket sales. "The track record from renovated parks and new parks is attendance doubled," Seidler said. Paid attendance in Visalia in 2007 was about 83,000, although it fell to 67,000 in the 2008 season because the construction, started in March, meant losing hundreds of right-field bleacher seats. But Seidler said he expects paid attendance to reach 100,000 to 130,000 within a season or two. The home opener is April 16. "We are totally excited," fan Norma Price said. "We just can't wait." The reporter can be reached at lgriswold@fresnobee.com.