4Rivers Equipment Stadium
Windsor, CO
Review by Mike
4Rivers Equipment Stadium is yet another temporary home for the Northern Colorado Owlz of the Pioneer League. Since moving from Orem, Utah, the Owlz have bounced around baseball diamonds between Denver and Fort Collins while they wait… and wait… and wait… for their new ballpark to be complete. As of this writing, the website still says “Spring 2024” for Ticketsmarter Stadium, but the posted video shows only a barely half complete structure of bare concrete.
After a season at minimalist, but charming, Nelson Farm Park, the Owlz moved into 4Rivers Equipment Stadium at the Future Legends Complex in Windsor, Colorado, right next to their alleged new ballpark, which slooooowly rises beyond the right field fence. Judging this little stadium just on its own merits, it seems to be an upgrade from their prior Colorado homes. It feels a bit like a Pecos League or college summer league home, but at least it has seats, which is the least one can hope for at a baseball stadium.
The ballpark is so new that it was still being painted when I stopped by. A small metal grandstand of fixed blue seats curves behind home plate. This is a nice structure and a small press box at the top, but the backstop is made of standard chain link with lots of poles, obstructing the view much more than standard netting would.
There is a set of bleachers along the right field line and no seating on the left field line. This bleacher section is pushed towards the foul pole because of a massive concrete ramp that is curiously placed behind the first base dugout. I do not question the need for this access, merely the location. With no seating on the 3rd base side, couldn’t they put the ramp there and move the bleachers 50 feet closer to the infield?
The field is artificial turf has no dirt cutouts at all for the baseball diamond, not even at home plate. The turf was set up for soccer when I dropped in and, with the soccer lines on the turf, plus no dirt, it made for a bit of a confusing jumble when looking at the field from the stands. A pretty nice looking digital scoreboard stood beyond the right center field fence.
A couple of food trucks were parked behind the main grandstand in lieu of a fixed concession stand. I like the food truck model that some smaller parks are going to as it provides the opportunity to give fans variety by simply changing the trucks on hand from time to time.
Understanding that this is a temporary facility, I still found it lacking. The no dirt field, the dense backstop and the bland location in the middle of a vast sports complex with no appealing backdrops leaves me to hope that the Owlz can get their act together and finally finish their new home in Windsor, because I can’t see people clamoring to come here for very long.
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2023
218
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