Werner Park is aminor leagueballpark in easternNebraska, the home of theOmaha Storm Chasers (theTriple A affiliate ofMajor League Baseball'sKansas City Royals) andUSL League One professional soccer clubUnion Omaha. TheUniversity of Nebraska OmahaMavericks also occasionally used the stadium for some home college baseball games.

Werner Park

HostingSt. Paul in September 2024
Papillion Location in the United States Show map of the United States Papillion Location inNebraska Show map of Nebraska
Address	12356 Ballpark Way
Location	Papillion, Nebraska, U.S. (Highway 370 & 126th St.)
Coordinates	41°09′06.5″N96°06′23.3″W / 41.151806°N 96.106472°W /41.151806; -96.106472
Elevation	1,150 ft (350 m)AMSL
Owner	Sarpy County
Operator	Omaha Storm Chasers
Capacity	9,023 total; 6,254 fixed seats, 14 private suites, grass berm seating, and standing room[1]
Record attendance	9,351 (March 25, 2019, versus Kansas City Royals)
Field size	Left field: 310 ft (94 m) Center field: 402 ft (123 m) Right field: 315 ft (96 m)
Surface	Kentucky bluegrass /ryegrass blend
Construction
Broke ground	August 12, 2009
Opened	April 11, 2011; 14 years ago (2011-04-11)
Construction cost	$36 million ($50.3 million in 2024[2])
Architect	DLR Group
General contractor	The Weitz Company
Tenants
Omaha Storm Chasers (PCL/AAAE/IL) 2011−present Omaha Mavericks (NCAA) 2013−2020 Union Omaha (USL1) 2020−present

Opened in 2011, the ballpark cost$36 million to construct. It is located alongstate highway 370 just east of South 126th Street, in anunincorporated area less than three miles (5 km) west of downtownPapillion, a suburb southwest ofOmaha inSarpy County, which owns the venue.^[3]

From 1969 through 2010, the Omaha Royals (named the Golden Spikes from 1999 to 2001) played atRosenblatt Stadium located in downtown Omaha. Every year, the Royals had to go on an extended two-week road trip in late May or early June to accommodate the NCAA'sMen's College World Series. The Royals were also hobbled by Rosenblatt's size. At 23,000 seats in its final configuration, it was far too large for a Triple-A team; it had 5,000 more seats than the next-largest Triple-A stadium, theBuffalo Bisons’Coca-Cola Field. In hopes of providing a more intimate setting, capacity was reduced to around 8,500 for Royals games.

When the city of Omaha announced plans to build a new ballpark in downtown Omaha for the College World Series, later named TD Ameritrade Park Omaha (nowCharles Schwab Field Omaha), original plans called for its capacity to be reduced to around 12,000 for Royals games. The Royals were unable to come to terms with the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority (MECA), the intended operator of the new park, and instead opted to build their own park in a different location. The team considered areas both inside and outside Omaha, including other cities nationwide interested in hosting a Triple-A team, and intended to make a final decision on a new location by April 2009.^[4][5] On December 3, 2008, team president Alan Stein announced that the Royals and Sarpy County had signed amemorandum of understanding regarding the construction of a new baseball stadium.^[6] On March 17, 2009, the Royals reached a formal agreement with the county for the stadium, and on July 1, Stein announced the deal had been made official.^[7]

Roger Langpaul, a real estate developer fromDes Moines,Iowa, agreed to donate 310 acres (1.3 km²) of land in Sarpy County for construction of the ballpark and other buildings as part of a plannedmixed-use development. In exchange, the county agreed to build and maintain roads and make infrastructure improvements for the development.^[8] Omaha-based firm DLR Group was chosen as the lead architect and engineer for the project, with the Des Moines-based Weitz Company asgeneral contractor.

Groundbreaking on the ballpark took place on August 12, 2009.^[9] Most of the money for construction came from Sarpy County, but the Royals agreed to pay the county $2.35 million towards the construction costs, plus annual rent that covers roughly one-third of the debt payments.^[10] The grass for the playing field was planted on September 15, 2010. On November 11, 2010, the Royals announced they had reached an agreement with Omaha-based transportation company and longtime sponsorWerner Enterprises for the ballpark's naming rights; the deal was initially valued at $305,000 per year for five years, with an option for a five-year renewal. In 2020, the deal was extended for an additional ten years through the 2030 season.^[11][12][13] The Omaha Storm Chasers, sporting their new name and livery that were announced on November 15, 2010, moved into Werner Park on December 17.

Werner Park's playing field is aligned northeast (home plate to center field) at an approximateelevation of 1,150 feet (350 m) abovesea level; Rosenblatt Stadium had a similar alignment and elevation. Five paved parking lots designated "F1" through "F5" (a reference to theFujita scale for measuring the intensity of tornadoes, consistent with other weather-related references throughout the park) are located on the premises to the west and north of the stadium. Several spaces forrecreational vehicles are located in lot F5. There is an additional overflow gravel lot further to the north, south of Lincoln Road. The main entry gate, ticket office,will call window, and outside team store entrance are located behind home plate, with another entry gate on the third base side. The stadium has a 360-degree concourse, which varies from 50–100 feet (15–30 m) wide at its widest point behind the playing field.

Werner Park has thirteen climate-controlled luxury suites on two levels behind the first and third base lines, flanking thepress box, which is centrally located on the upper level; there are covered open-air "party decks" on each side of the upper level between the suites and the press box. There is also a field-level "dugout suite" along the third base line adjacent to the homedugout. The upper suite level and dugout suite each have their own private restrooms.^[14] Seat widths vary from 22 inches (56 cm) in the seating sections directly behind home plate, to 20 inches (51 cm) in the seating sections along the baselines, compared to 18–19 inches (46–48 cm) at Rosenblatt Stadium.^[15] All seats havecup holders. Two rows of "Diamond Club" cushioned seats are located at the top of seating sections 110 and 111. Luxury suite, Diamond Club, or Club ticket holders can access an enclosed, climate-controlled bar and seating area on the first level of the third base luxury suites. Seating section 100, adjacent to the right field foul pole, recently had the fixed seats removed and replaced with rows of standing drink rails. This section is normally a non-reserved area open to any fans with tickets, but is available for reservation by groups of at least 20 fans for a fee.

Werner Park has a grass berm beyond the outfield fence that serves as an additional seating area for fans. A small section ofbleachers with backrests called the "Home Run Porch," another non-reserved area open to any fans with tickets, is located on the berm in left field next to the left field foul pole. The twobullpens are located on the berm in center field, to the right of thebatter's eye.

Werner Park's original scoreboard andvideo display was 31 feet (9.4 m) wide and 16 feet (4.9 m) tall.^[16] By 2014, the display was malfunctioning frequently and had become difficult to maintain. In January 2015, the Sarpy County board of commissioners voted 4-1 to accept a nearly $600,000 bid fromDaktronics ofBrookings,South Dakota, for a new high-definition display. The display is 45.5 feet (13.9 m) wide and 25 feet (7.6 m) tall, twice as large as the old display. The display can either show one large image, or show combinations of live video, instant replays, scoring information, statistics, graphics, animations or sponsor messages.^[17][18][19] A bar andbeer garden is located below the scoreboard.

The park features a 6,500 square feet (600 m²) children's play area located along the concourse behind left field with acarousel,inflatable bounce house, and other activities. There is also awiffle ball field and a half-basketball court behind the concourse in left-center field.^[20] Tented picnic areas for large groups are located behind the children's play area and along the concourse in right field.^[21] A statue of hometown pitching legendBob Gibson was unveiled outside Werner Park's main entrance in 2013.^[22][23]

The stadium's first event was a high school rivalry game on April 11, 2011, between thePapillion-La Vista Public Schools' two high schools,Papillion-La Vista South andPapillion-LaVista; the South Titans won, 2–0, over the Monarchs.

Having returned to Omaha from two road series versus theAlbuquerque Isotopes andRound Rock Express to open their 2011 season, the Storm Chasers opened Werner Park five days later on April 16 with a 2–1 victory over theNashville Sounds with 6,533 fans in attendance, as top Royals prospectEric Hosmer went 3-for-3 in the victory. The game was originally scheduled to take place on April 15, but was delayed one day because of inclement weather.^[24]

The stadium is sometimes used as one of the host sites for the annualNebraska School Activities Association high school baseball state tournament.^[25]

From 2013 to 2020, the Omaha Mavericks of the University of Nebraska Omaha sometimes used the venue for several college baseball games each season.^[26]

In July 2015, Werner Park hosted theTriple-A All-Star Game andHome Run Derby, the first time the events had been held in Omaha. The Derby, which was won by theNorfolk Tides'Dariel Álvarez, was held on July 13.^[27] The All-Star Game was held two days later on July 15. The Storm Chasers were represented at the game byCheslor Cuthbert,Louis Coleman, andJohn Lamb as well as trainer Dave Innicca and managerBrian Poldberg, who skippered the PCL team. The IL All-Stars defeated the PCL All-Stars, 4–3.^[28]

On March 25, 2019, the Storm Chasers hosted the Kansas City Royals in an exhibition game prior to the start of the 2019 season that drew 9,351 fans, the largest announced attendance in the history of Werner Park. The Storm Chasers defeated the Royals 3-2 on a walkoff sacrifice fly by outfielder D.J. Burt. The largest crowd for a regular-season Storm Chasers game came on July 3, 2024, when Werner Park saw 9,313 fans as the Storm Chasers defeated the Iowa Cubs 7-3 before the team's annualIndependence Day fireworks celebration.

From fall 2019 to spring 2020, Werner Park underwent a $2.4 million renovation in order to prepare the playing surface and facilities for USL League One professional soccer club Union Omaha, that was originally scheduled tobegin play in spring 2020; this schedule was subsequently affected by the emergence of theCOVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Modifications included a retractablepitcher's mound, alterations to the right fieldfoul pole, and a new building beyond left field to house team staff and equipment.^[29]

• Sports in Omaha

• Official website
• Omaha Storm Chasers: official siteArchived September 27, 2010, at theWayback Machine
• Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks baseball: official site