Bowling Green Ballpark

The third-base entrance to Bowling Green Ballpark, Aug-2009.

A look in from the right-field line.

The view from behind the plate.

Chronological Tour: Stop 346

• Location: East 8th Avenue between Kentucky and Center streets, Bowling Green, Ky. (map it using Google Maps)
• Opened: 2009
• Home team: Bowling Green Hot Rods, South Atlantic League (2009), Midwest League (2010-present)
• Capacity: 4,559

Rating: 3 baseballs

The former Wilmington Waves, South Georgia Waves, and Columbus Catfish relocated once again for the 2009 season, moving into a new ballpark in Bowling Green, Ky., not far from Western Kentucky University. Bowling Green is known as the home of the General Motors plant that builds the Chevrolet Corvette, so the team is called the Hot Rods.

The field is laid out in an interesting manner here. While most parks built in cities have home plate close to a street corner, in part so that the batter can face northeast, here the two corner entrances lead to the baselines because the downtown street grid is not aligned with the compass rose. There is no entrance directly behind the plate.

Space considerations made it impossible to build a walk-around concourse. The city was able to vacate one block of Center Street in order to fit the park in, but other area streets are intact.

I was unable to actually see a game here when I visited on the Fourth of July in 2009, as the rain started half an hour before game time and lasted until about midnight, leaving a near-sellout fireworks crowd disappointed. However, I got back in August and saw a game. I found the park utilitarian, not fancy at all but dedicated to presenting the game, which they do well. I also found concession prices quite reasonable.

The total solar eclipse of August 2017 passed over the ballpark, which plunged into darkness for 49 seconds in early afternoon. The club took advantage, playing a morning game and then letting fans onto the field to watch the celestial spectacle. Photos are in this Facebook album (public, no account required).