Hoover Metropolitan Stadium: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Regions Park 1st base stands.jpg|thumb|right|300px|First base stands in May 2006.]]
[[Image:Regions Park 1st base stands.jpg|thumb|right|300px|First base stands in May 2006.]]
'''Regions Park''' (formerly '''Hoover Metropolitan Stadium''', or the '''Hoover Met'''), is a minor league baseball stadium located in [[Hoover]]. It has been the home of the [[Birmingham Barons]] of the [[Southern League]] since [[1988]], replacing historic [[Rickwood Field]] in Birmingham. It was designed by Kansas City, Missouri-based HOK Sport. The stadium is located at 100 [[Ben Chapman Drive]], just off [[Stadium Trace Parkway]] near [[Interstate 459]] at Exit 10.
'''Hoover Metropolitan Stadium''' (or the '''Hoover Met''', formerly '''Regions Park''') is a multi-purpose stadium located in [[Hoover]]. It was the home of the [[Birmingham Barons]] of the [[Southern League]] from [[1988]] to [[2012]]. The stadium was designed by Kansas City, Missouri-based HOK Sport. It is located at 100 [[Ben Chapman Drive]], just off [[Stadium Trace Parkway]] near [[Interstate 459]] at Exit 10.


Many sports experts regard the stadium as one of the best of its kind in the nation. The seating capacity is 10,800 for baseball and can accommodate up to 16,000 when the patio, banquet, and grassy side areas are used. The stadium also houses 12 suites and state-of-the-art dressing and training rooms. It features a meeting/banquet room named for [[Michael Jordan]], who played for the [[1994 Birmingham Barons]].
Many sports experts regard the stadium as one of the best of its kind in the nation. The seating capacity is 10,800 for baseball and can accommodate up to 16,000 when the patio, banquet, and grassy side areas are used. The stadium also houses 12 suites and state-of-the-art dressing and training rooms. It features a meeting/banquet room named for [[Michael Jordan]], who played for the [[1994 Birmingham Barons]].
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In November [[2010]] the Barons signed a letter of intent to relocate to a planned new [[Downtown baseball park]] in [[Birmingham]] as early as [[2012]]. Hoover Mayor [[Tony Petelos]] has said that the city will accept nothing short of a 5-year extension of the team's lease, which is up for renewal in December 2010, complicating the planned move. [[Art Clarkson]] has said he would bring an independent league team to Regions Park if it became available.
In November [[2010]] the Barons signed a letter of intent to relocate to a planned new [[Downtown baseball park]] in [[Birmingham]] as early as [[2012]]. Hoover Mayor [[Tony Petelos]] has said that the city will accept nothing short of a 5-year extension of the team's lease, which is up for renewal in December 2010, complicating the planned move. [[Art Clarkson]] has said he would bring an independent league team to Regions Park if it became available.


The Barons opened the gates for free admission to the team's last two games of the 2012 season.
The Barons opened the gates for free admission to the team's last two games of the 2012 season. After the Barons' departure, Hoover officials returned the stadium to its original name.


==References==
==References==
* Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. (2006, December 25). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 14:49, January 31, 2007, [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hoover_Metropolitan_Stadium&oldid=96369631]
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hoover_Metropolitan_Stadium Hoover Metropolitan Stadium]" (December 25, 2006) Wikipedia - accessed January 31, 2007
* Batson, Roger Jr (March 14, 2007) "Met becomes Regions Park." {{BN}}
* Batson, Roger Jr (March 14, 2007) "Met becomes Regions Park." {{BN}}
* DeButts, Jimmy (March 6, 2008) "Daktronics will install new Barons scoreboard." {{BBJ}}
* DeButts, Jimmy (March 6, 2008) "Daktronics will install new Barons scoreboard." {{BBJ}}

Revision as of 15:43, 20 December 2012

First base stands in May 2006.

Hoover Metropolitan Stadium (or the Hoover Met, formerly Regions Park) is a multi-purpose stadium located in Hoover. It was the home of the Birmingham Barons of the Southern League from 1988 to 2012. The stadium was designed by Kansas City, Missouri-based HOK Sport. It is located at 100 Ben Chapman Drive, just off Stadium Trace Parkway near Interstate 459 at Exit 10.

Many sports experts regard the stadium as one of the best of its kind in the nation. The seating capacity is 10,800 for baseball and can accommodate up to 16,000 when the patio, banquet, and grassy side areas are used. The stadium also houses 12 suites and state-of-the-art dressing and training rooms. It features a meeting/banquet room named for Michael Jordan, who played for the 1994 Birmingham Barons.

The Hoover Parks and Recreation Board operates the stadium and an adjacent recreational vehicle park.

The stadium also serves as the home for the SEC baseball tournament as well as Hoover High School football. Hoover Metropolitan Stadium hosted the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Birmingham Open on July 13-16, 2006, the first beach volleyball tournament to ever be played in Alabama. The feature court was above the baseball diamond as well as eight other courts on the field, made of 222 tons of sand per court.

In March 2007 the Barons purchased naming rights for the stadium from the parks board for $110,000 per year for 9 years. The Barons, in turn, struck a deal with Regions Bank to rename the stadium "Regions Park".

In 2008 the Barons purchased a new 42'-9" tall by 56' wide scoreboard from Daktronics, Inc. It has a 35' x 15' main video screen for replays and a smaller second screen for player information.

In November 2010 the Barons signed a letter of intent to relocate to a planned new Downtown baseball park in Birmingham as early as 2012. Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos has said that the city will accept nothing short of a 5-year extension of the team's lease, which is up for renewal in December 2010, complicating the planned move. Art Clarkson has said he would bring an independent league team to Regions Park if it became available.

The Barons opened the gates for free admission to the team's last two games of the 2012 season. After the Barons' departure, Hoover officials returned the stadium to its original name.

References

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Birmingham Barons
Birmingham Black Barons * Managers * Records * Rickwood Classic * Teams
Venues: Slag Pile Field, Rickwood Field, Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, Regions Field
Managers: Harry Vaughn, Carlton Molesworth, Rick Woodward, Phil Cavaretta, Terry Francona
Barons: Jeff Abbott, Wilson Alvarez, Sal Bando, Jason Bere, Vida Blue, Mark Buehrle, Mike Cameron, Joe Crede, Rob Dibble, Ray Durham, Scott Eyre, Rollie Fingers, John Garland, Burleigh Grimes, Roberto Hernandez, Catfish Hunter, Bo Jackson, Reggie Jackson, Howard Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tony LaRussa, Carlos Lee, Rube Marquard, Jack McDowell, Miguel Olivo, Magglio Ordonez, Aaron Rowand, Pie Traynor, Bob Wickman, Bobby Thigpen, Frank Thomas, Robin Ventura
Black Barons: Lorenzo "Piper" Davis, Willie Foster, Willie Mays, Satchel Paige, Willie Wells
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