Cheney Stadium
Tacoma, WA
Review by Mike
Cheney Stadium opened in 1960 as home to the San Francisco Giants AAA affiliate in the Pacific Coast League. The ballpark has hosted top-flight minor league baseball ever since, going through various affiliations, with the current 30-and-counting seasons as the top developmental stop for the nearby Seattle Mariners leading the way.
The original structure featured a main grandstand of three straight stands along 1st base, 3rd base and behind home plate, and bleachers down each line, with an interesting and very 1960s-looking cantilevered concrete roof providing protection from the soggy Pacific Northwest climate. Sadly, this throwback roof is gone, but the main stand survives, with a remarkably modern new ballpark was built around it in time for the 2011 season.
A large structure has been built behind home plate and a little ways down towards 3rd base. This building features two levels of suites as well as hospitality areas and new concessions. A roof extends out over the seating to replace some of that weather protection. The bleachers have been replaced by entertainment and hospitality areas down both lines. A three-tiered structure with food and picnic tables runs along the left field line.
The right field line has a pitched grass berm with picnic tables at the top and there is a biergarten over the left field fence that is raised up above the top of the fence, with two rows of seating and a covered area for concessions. The result is that the designers have created a ballpark with lots of revenue-generating spaces and leveraging that to maintain a very intimate atmosphere in the main grandstand for the everyday fan. Ticket prices for the Rainiers are among the lowest of any AAA club.
The light towers offer a small glimpse of the past as they were moved here from Seals Stadium in San Francisco when the Giants moved into Candlestick Park at the same time their AAA team moved from Phoenix to Tacoma. The original seats also came from Seals Stadium and some of these have been preserved on the 1st base side of home plate. You can buy a ticket to sit in these vintage seats during the game and thrill in the nostalgia… for about two innings, by which time you’ll be wishing you were in a modern, comfortable seat.
Cheney Stadium is a wonderful example upgrading without destroying. What they have created here is a ballpark with all of the modern amenities, while also embracing its past and, most importantly, caring for a devoted fanbase by keeping prices down, and providing an opportunity to see the nearby Mariners’ next group of stars in a warm, intimate environment that may be unmatched at the AAA level. Much thanks to Megan from the Rainiers front office for taking the time to show me around on a drizzly September morning.
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2024
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Ben Cheney, a local businessman who worked tirelessly to bring minor league baseball to Tacoma, and the stadium's namesake, is present at every Rainiers game in his seat of honor. These blue seats are original to the ballpark, having been brought here from Seals Stadium in San Francisco.