Maimonides Park(formerlyMCU ParkandKeySpan Park) is aminor league baseballstadium on theRiegelmann Boardwalkin theConey Islandneighborhood ofBrooklyninNew York City.Thehome teamand primary tenant is theNew York Mets-affiliatedBrooklyn Cyclonesof theSouth Atlantic League.The stadium has also hosted other teams and sports; theNYU VioletsBaseball team began playing at Maimonides Park in 2015, and soccer clubBrooklyn FCwill have itswomen's teamplaying at the ballpark in 2024, with itsmen's teamjoining them in 2025.
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 Seen in 2012; thestatue of Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reeseis at the right | |
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| Former names | KeySpan Park (2001–2009) MCU Park (2010–2021) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1904 Surf Avenue Brooklyn,New York 11224 |
| Coordinates | 40°34′28″N73°59′03″W/ 40.57444°N 73.98417°W |
| Public transit | New York City Subway:     atConey Island–Stillwell Avenue |
| Owner | City of New York[3] |
| Operator | New York Mets |
| Capacity | 7,000 |
| Field size | Left Field– 315 feet (96 m) Center Field– 412 feet (126 m) Right Field– 325 feet (99 m) |
| Surface | Artificial Turf (2013–present) Grass (2001–2012) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | August 22, 2000[1] |
| Opened | June 25, 2001[2] |
| Construction cost | $55 million ($91.1 million in 2023 dollars[4]) |
| Architect | Jack L. Gordon Architects PC, AIA |
| Structural engineer | Ysrael A. Seinuk, P.C.[5] |
| Services engineer | Keyspan Energy Management[5] |
| General contractor | Turner Construction[3] |
| Tenants | |
| Brooklyn Cyclones(NYPL/SAL) 2001–present Brooklyn Bolts(FXFL) 2014–2015 NYU Violets(NCAA) 2015–present New York Cosmos(NASL) 2017 Rugby United New York(MLR) 2019–2020 New York Crush (ACBL) 2022 Brooklyn FC(USLS/USLC) 2024–present | |
The officialseating capacityat Maimonides Park is 7,000, though the Cyclones sell up to 2,500 more standing-room tickets. Prior to 2016, the capacity was 7,500 plus 2,500 standing room. Features include a concourse with free-standing concession buildings and overhangingfluorescent lampsin different colors, evoking anamusement parkatmosphere. In addition, the park overlooks the Atlantic Ocean as well as theParachute Jumpin right field, and theWonder WheelandConey Island Cyclonein left field.
Site
editMaimonides Park stands on the old site ofSteeplechase Park,an old-time Coney Island amusement park that closed in 1964 amid crime and general deterioration ofConey Islandand of the subway routes that run to the area. Maimonides Park is accessible via theNew York City Subwayat theConey Island–Stillwell Avenue station,served by theD,F,<F>,N, andQtrains.
History
editPart of a general reinvestment in the Coney Island neighborhood, the stadium opened in 2001 asKeySpan Park,which had a capacity of 6,500. The opening of the park, and the Cyclones' permanent move there from their prior temporary home inQueens,marked the return of professional baseball to Brooklyn—albeit on a minor-league level—for the first time since MLB'sBrooklyn Dodgershad played their last game atEbbets Fieldin 1957 before moving to California the following season. Demand for Cyclones tickets was so great that the team added 1,000 seats in a right-field bleacher pavilion within three weeks after the park opened.
Maimonides Park and theStaten Island Yankees'Richmond County Bank Ballparkwere paid for with public money, part of a deal that involved both the Mets and Yankees. The Yankees had to approve the arrival of the Cyclones, and the Mets had to approve a Yankee farm team in Staten Island. The two teams share MLB territorial rights to the New York City market, and have veto power over each other (and any other MLB organization).
In October 2012,Hurricane Sandyhit Brooklyn and caused extensive damage to the ballpark, including the front office, clubhouses, and team store. The entire playing surface, previously a natural grass field, had to be replaced with synthetic FieldTurf before the 2013 season.
Naming rights
edit
The park's original name was part of anaming rightsdeal withKeySpanEnergy, a utility company whose primary holding is the former Brooklyn Union Gas, until 2020. However, in 2007, KeySpan was acquired byUnited Kingdom-basedNational Grid plc,who retired the KeySpan name. On January 29, 2010, the Cyclones announced that they had ended the deal with National Grid, because the KeySpan name no longer existed. On February 4, 2010, it was announced that theMunicipal Credit Union,the city's largest credit union, signed an agreement for the ballpark to be called MCU Park in an eleven-year naming rights deal.[6][7]
In 2021, MCU did not renew the naming rights deal.Maimonides Medical Centerbecame the new sponsor.[8][9]
Policies
editMaimonides Park prohibits fans from bringing outside food into the stadium, a policy in every minor league stadium, but not in effect atCiti FieldandYankee Stadium.
Baseball
edit
In 2005 and 2014, MCU Park hosted theNew York–Penn LeagueAll-Star Game.
In early 2015, theNew York University Violetsmoved in and made Maimonides Park their home stadium. In the process, they forced theSt. Joseph's College Bearsto move out.Baruch Collegeplays a few games at Maimonides Park, as do a few high school teams.
Following the 2015 season, a set of bleachers were removed, removing 500 seats from the ballpark. The area which housed the bleachers was turned into a picnic area.
Maimonides Park hosted aqualifying roundfor the2017 World Baseball Classicin September 2016.[10]Israel won the Qualifier over Great Britain, Brazil & Pakistan.
Maimonides Park served as the Mets' alternate training site in 2020 when theCOVID-19 pandemicforced the cancellation of theMinor League Baseballcampaign and the shortening of theMajor League Baseball season.[11]
As part of the restructuring of Minor League Baseball over the 2020–21 offseason, it was announced the Cyclones would continue to operate in the Mets farm system, now their High-A team playing in the newHigh-A East.
Other uses
editSoccer
editIn February 2017, theNew York Cosmosofficially announced they would host their home games at Maimonides Park for the2017 NASL season.[12]The Cosmos had previously used Maimonides Park as a home field: once for a regular season match against theOttawa Fury[13]and once for a post season match against theFort Lauderdale Strikers,[14]both in 2015. The NASL cancelled its 2018 season, and the Cosmos later announced they will move toMitchel Athletic ComplexinNassau Countyfor their 2019 home games.
On January 19, 2024, it was announced that newUSL Championshipexpansion sideBrooklyn FCplanned to play home matches at Maimonides Park for their inaugural 2025 season.[15]On February 10, 2024, Brooklyn FC announced that it had been granted an additional expansion side in the new first-division women's leagueUSL Super League,to begin play at Maimonides Park for the 2024 season.[16]
Football
editTheBrooklyn Boltsplayed their home games at Maimonides Park during the 2014 and 2015Fall Experimental Football Leagueseasons before folding. The football field was positioned in the outfield.
Rugby
editRugby United New Yorkplayed its first twoMajor League Rugbyseasons at MCU Park before moving toCochrane StadiuminJersey City, New Jersey.[17][18]
Concerts
edit- In 2003,Björkperformed two shows at Maimonides Park: on August 22[19]and August 23.[20]Portions of these concerts appear in the Icelandic music documentaryScreaming Masterpiece.
- In summer 2004, the jam bandPhishbegan what was billed as its last tour with a two-night stand at Maimonides Park, with a guest appearance by rapperJay-Z,a native of Brooklyn, on the second evening. The first concert was simulcast in movie theaters and in 2006, released (along with selected songs from the second night) as a concert album and DVD under the namePhish: Live in Brooklyn.
- In 2005, the stadium hosted the Across the Narrows Festival along with Richmond County Bank Ballpark. In the same year,The White Stripesperformed one of their recent tours following the release of their albumGet Behind Me Satan.
- In summer 2005,Def LeppardandBryan Adamsperformed at Maimonides Park on July 9 as a part of their efforts to bring major league rock 'n' roll to America's Minor League Baseball parks during their 2005 cross-country "Rock 'N Roll Double-Header" tour.
- On August 9, 2007, the Frenchelectronic musicduoDaft Punkperformed in Maimonides Park during theirAlive 2007Tour.
- On July 16, 2008,311andSnoop Doggplayed a show together.
- On July 13, 2009,Wilcoperformed with "very special guests"Yo La Tengo.
- On June 26 and 27, 2010,Furthur,featuringGrateful DeadmembersPhil LeshandBob Weir,performed at the park; they returned to perform again on July 13 and 14, 2012.
- On July 4, 2013, the String Orchestra of Brooklyn[21]performed music of Dvorak and patriotic favorites as part of an Independence Day celebration with fireworks.
Wrestling
editOn July 2, 2010, Maimonides Park hosted a liveTotal Nonstop Action Wrestlinghouse show which also broke the TNA attendance record and became the most attended live TNA house show in the United States to date with a crowd of just under 5,550 fans.
On August 15, 2014,Ring of Honor Wrestlingdebuted at Maimonides Park with Field of Honor.
On August 22, 2015, Ring of Honor Wrestling returned to Maimonides Park withthe second edition of Field of Honor.
On August 27, 2016,Ring of Honor Wrestlingreturned to Maimondes Park for the third time with Field of Honor.
Other
editThe ballpark hosted the annualNathan's Famous Hot Dog Conteston July 4, 2021. The contest is usually held in a public plaza on Coney Island (at the location of The OriginalNathan'sRestaurant on the corner ofSurf and Stillwell), but, for 2021, was temporarily relocated due to capacity restrictions and other health and safety requirements related to theCOVID-19 pandemic.At that event,Joey Chestnutset a world record of 76 hot dogs and buns within 10 minutes.
References
edit- ^Lueck, Thomas J. (August 23, 2000)."Opposition Precedes Arrival of Teams at New Coney Island Stadium".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 4,2010.
- ^Vecsey, George(June 26, 2001)."Summer Rite Returns To Borough of Churches".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 4,2010.
- ^abRope, John (April 9, 2001)."Le xing ton, Others Continue Building Boom for Minors".SportsBusiness Daily.RetrievedSeptember 14,2011.
- ^1634–1699:McCusker, J. J.(1997).How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda(PDF).American Antiquarian Society.1700–1799:McCusker, J. J.(1992).How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States(PDF).American Antiquarian Society.1800–present:Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis."Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–".RetrievedFebruary 29,2024.
- ^ab"KeySpan Park".Architectural Record.2002.RetrievedJune 3,2014.
- ^Brown, Stephen (January 29, 2010)."Lights Out at Keyspan Park as Naming Rights Deal Ends".The Brooklyn Paper.RetrievedJanuary 31,2010.
- ^Epstein, Victor; Yaniv, Oren (February 4, 2010)."Brooklyn Cyclones' KeySpan Park Renamed MCU Park".Daily News.New York. Archived fromthe originalon February 7, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 4,2010.
- ^DeJesus, Jaime (May 20, 2021)."Goodbye MCU Park, hello Maimonides Park in Coney".The Brooklyn Home Reporter.RetrievedJune 22,2022.
- ^"Goodbye MCU Park, hello Maimonides Park in Coney Island".Brooklyn Eagle.May 21, 2021.RetrievedJune 22,2022.
- ^"2017 World Baseball Classic qualifiers are set".Major League Baseball.RetrievedAugust 5,2017.
- ^Dykstra, Sam. "Roundup: Major League alternate training sites," Minor League Baseball, Thursday, July 16, 2020.Retrieved August 28, 2020
- ^"New York Cosmos Moving to MCU Park in Brooklyn".New York Cosmos.RetrievedFebruary 23,2017.
- ^"Match Center – NASL".nasl.RetrievedAugust 5,2017.
- ^"Cosmos to host NASL playoff match at MCU Park".Empire of Soccer.June 2003.RetrievedFebruary 23,2017.
- ^Nalton, James (January 19, 2024)."New York Pro Soccer Club Brooklyn FC To Play At Maimonides Park, Coney Island".Forbes.RetrievedJanuary 19,2024.
- ^Leigh, Andrew (February 10, 2024)."Brooklyn FC women's team to play in USL Super League".hudsonriverblue.Hudson River Blue.RetrievedApril 15,2024.
- ^Rugby United NY (November 7, 2018),Rugby United New York's Stadium Announcement,retrievedNovember 8,2018[dead YouTube link]
- ^@rugbynewyork (April 12, 2021)."We have finally found a location for our first two home games Thanks to the people of Jersey City, we will be playing at Cochrane Stadium"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
- ^August 22, 2003
- ^August 23, 2003
- ^"String Orchestra of Brooklyn » July 4 Fireworks in Coney Island".
External links
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