 | |
 7 17 Credit Union Park in 2025 | |
 | |
  7 17 Credit Union Park Location within Ohio Show map of Ohio 7 17 Credit Union Park 7 17 Credit Union Park (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Former names | Canal Park (1997–2025) |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 South Main Street Akron,Ohio |
| Coordinates | 41°04′41″N81°31′20″W / 41.077924°N 81.522202°W /41.077924; -81.522202 |
| Public transit | METRO Regional Transit Authority bus route 1 and 10[1] |
| Owner | City of Akron |
| Operator | Akron Professional Baseball Inc. |
| Executive suites | 25 |
| Capacity | 7,630[2] |
| Record attendance | 8,375 (May 11, 2016, vs. Erie SeaWolves)[3] |
| Field size | Left Field – 331 ft (101 m) Left Center – 376 ft (115 m) Center Field – 400 ft (120 m) Right Center – 375 ft (114 m) Right Field – 337 ft (103 m) |
| Acreage | 8.2-acre (3.3 ha) |
| Surface | Kentucky Bluegrass |
| Scoreboard | Daktronics 41 ft (12 m) high by 67 ft (20 m) wide |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | January 5, 1996 |
| Opened | April 10, 1997 (1997-04-10) |
| Construction cost | $31 million ($60.7 million in 2024 dollars[4]) |
| Architect | Populous (formerly HOK Sport) |
| Project manager | H.R. Gray[5] |
| Structural engineer | DLZ, Inc.[6] |
| Services engineer | Bredson & Associates, Inc.[7] |
| General contractor | Summit Construction Co., Inc.[8][9] |
| Tenants | |
| Akron RubberDucks (EL) 1997–present | |
7 17 Credit Union Park (formerlyCanal Park) is abaseball stadium inAkron, Ohio, United States, and the home of theAkron RubberDucks of theEastern League, the Double-Aminor-league affiliate of theCleveland Guardians. Opened in 1997, the stadium was designed byPopulous—then known as HOK Sport—the same architectural firm responsible for the Guardians'Progressive Field, which had opened three years earlier. The ballpark is named for its location adjacent to theOhio and Erie Canal, which runs behind the left-field wall.
Spearheaded by then-Akron mayorDon Plusquellic, the project replacedThurman Munson Memorial Stadium inCanton, Ohio, where the Canton–Akron Indians played before relocating to Akron and rebranding as the Aeros. 7 17 Credit Union Park originally seated 8,500 spectators, although renovations in 2014 reduced the official capacity to 7,630. The ballpark name is scheduled to change to 7 17 Credit Union Park for the 2026 season.
In anticipation of relocating a team to the region, Mike Agganis, then owner of theVermont Reds inBurlington, Vermont, approached former City of Akron MayorDon Plusquellic in 1987 about building a baseball stadium in downtown Akron, Ohio. While plans did not materialize, and Agganis found a home atThurman Munson Memorial Stadium inCanton, Ohio, Plusquellic shared that vision of a downtown baseball stadium and viewed a stadium as a way to revitalize an area void of entertainment venues.[10]
In the early-1990's, Plusquellic, who served as Mayor from 1987–2015, made it a priority to bring a stadium to downtown Akron. Plusquellic chose a 8.2-acre (3.3 ha) site situated between South Main Street and theOhio and Erie Canal, with several buildings across 11parcels that required demolition.[11] On November 22, 1994,[11] a deal was reached with Agganis for a $20 million, 8,500 seat stadium, with Agganis contributing $1.5 million in private funds. Plusquellic spent time visiting other cities with downtown stadiums built of brick, which was a priority in design for him.[10]
Ground was broken on January 5, 1996, after the City of Akron spent $5 million to secure and prepare the land for development. The ballpark was officially named Canal Park on September 24, 1996.[11] Construction was completed on January 31, 1997.[9] The total cost of $31 million exceeded the original planned investment of $20 million.[10]
7 17 Credit Union Park opened on April 10, 1997, hosting the newly relocatedAkron Aeros and then theMontreal Expos affiliate, theHarrisburg Senators.Jaret Wright, who would pitch later that season for theCleveland Indians in theWorld Series, earned the win in a 13–2 victory. Notably, Plusquellic did not attend the ballpark opener, as the relationship between him and Agganis had grown poor during this time.[10]
Upon theKen Babby-led Fast Forward Sports Group acquiring the Aeros in late 2012, an era of reinvestment in 7 17 Credit Union Park was ushered in.
Following the announcement of the team rebranding from the Aeros to the RubberDucks for the 2014 season, new premium picnic and restaurant spaces were also added throughout 7 17 Credit Union Park at a total cost of $3.5 million. In consultation with 7 17 Credit Union Park's original architect Populous (formerly HOK Sport), multiple picnic areas were added including "Fowl Territory" with a capacity of 400 people behind 3rd base, "Duck Row" with a capacity of 56 people, "Tiki Terrace" with a capacity of 191 people in right field, and an indoor event space known as "The Duck Club", which can accommodate up to 150 people. Atiki bar was also added next to the Tiki Terrace, in addition to the creation of a 4,000 Sq foot, full-service restaurant known as "The Game Grill & Bar".[12]
After a smaller project to extend the safety netting in 2018, the team decided to extend the netting fromfoul pole to foul pole in 2020, a relatively common act at baseball stadiums nationwide. The team cited a safer viewing environment for fans as the reason for the extension. The new net reaches a maximum height of 37 feet (11 m).[13]
Between 2021 and 2022, the City of Akron invested $3 million to repair roof leaks, concrete, replace box office windows, and replace every seat at 7 17 Credit Union Park, which were initially installed when the stadium opened in 1997. Hussey Seating Company manufactured the new seats.[14]
For the 2023 season, the field was replaced, which included modifications to the bullpens, warning track, and drainage system. A series of investments was also made to locker room facilities to comply with standards set by Major League Baseball.[15]
In advance of the 2025 season, anew scoreboard was installed as the tallest in Minor League Baseball, along with a renovation of all concourse-level restrooms to replace sinks, toilets, partitions, reseal floors, and repaint walls.[16]
The RubberDucks announced on September 4, 2025, that naming rights to the park had been purchased by 7 17 Credit Union, acredit union headquartered inWarren, Ohio. The agreement spans 6 years, from 2025 to 2031.[17][18]
7 17 Credit Union Park was constructed on a relatively small plot of land, approximately 8.2-acre (3.3 ha), in the heart of downtown Akron, between South Main Street and the Ohio & Erie Canal, the stadium's namesake.[19] When opened, then-Mayor Plusquellic called the park a "tight squeeze", comparing the stadium toFenway Park and its asymmetrical outfield wall.[10] Primarily featuring a brick facade and location in an urban development, the stadium drew comparisons toOriole Park at Camden Yards, also designed byPopulous, then known as HOK Sport. A defunct clock tower on the outside of the stadium is modeled after the one that stood atThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's former headquarters in downtown Akron.[9]
The stadium is designed with a single deck, featuring a concourse at the top of the seating bowl. Seats extend from onefoul pole to the other, and most sections contain 20–25 rows, although they taper to as few as five near the foul poles. A series of 25luxury boxes, and thepress box, covers the concourse and the top few rows of seats fromfirst base around tothird base. The concourse along the first base line is also partially covered, containing the 1,200 square foot Team Shop.[20][9]
The field is situated on 100,0000 square feet ofKentucky Bluegrass. The stadium features distinctive dimensions; left field is 331 feet (101 m) fromhomeplate with a 11.5-foot (4 m) high fence that stretches from left field to center field. Center field reaches a maximum distance of 400 feet (122 m) with a 60-foot (18 m) highbatter's eye positioned behind it. Only 12-foot (4 m) of this fence is consideredin play. Most of right field also features a 12-foot (4 m) high fence, with a portion lowering to 8-foot (2 m) near the foul poul with a distance of 337 feet (103 m) from homeplate. Thebullpens are positioned in right field under the scoreboard, with the RubberDucks positioned closest to the field and visitors elevated 3.5-foot (1.1 m) behind it.[2]
The home clubhouse is approximately 9,000 square feet on the third base side of the ballpark. In proximity are two batting/pitching cages, a workout facility, a training room, a player's lounge, and offices. The visitor's clubhouse, along the first baseline, is approximately 6,000 square feet and features a training room and offices.[9] A dining room for the team was added to both clubhouses for the 2023 season.[15] Both the home and visitorsdugouts are considered some of the largest in Minor League Baseball.[21]
In August 2006, the park completed the installation of a new 18-foot (5.5 m) by 25-foot (7.6 m) digitalscoreboard to replace the original board withlight bulbs. The new board had full-color animation capacity and featured a four-color matrix display. The $386,000 project was originally expected to be completed in early July.[22] The entire scoreboard measured 56¼'x68' and was the largest free-standing scoreboard inMinor League Baseball at the time.
In January 2013, shortly after theKen Babby-led Fast Forward Sports Group acquired the team, the Aeros' announced a $1.65 million project to install a new scoreboard at 26-foot high (7.9 m) and 68-foot wide (21 m), continuing to be one of the largest in Minor League Baseball. Additionally, a new, smaller ribbon board display was installed in left field. Both displays were designed and built byDaktronics.[23][24]
Before the 2025 season, the 7 17 Credit Union Park video boards were replaced once again, with a $4 million project to upgrade the main right field video board, left field ribbon board, and add two displays on the Suite Level facade. At 41-foot high (12 m) and 67-foot wide (20 m), the new video board is the tallest in Minor League Baseball by LED length.[25][16]
Aside from Akron RubberDucks baseball, 7 17 Credit Union Park occasionally hosts special events. In 2016, the RubberDucks hostedEastern LeagueAll-Star Game and its associated events for the first time.[26] During the next summer, 7 17 Credit Union Park also hosted its first concert ever, featuring aRascal Flatts charity concert withAkron Children's Hospital.[27] The stadium previously served as the finish line of theAkron Marathon from its inaugural year of 2003 through 2019.[28]
Since the stadium's opening in 1997, it has also hosted numerous high school games each season. Since 2019, it has hosted theOhio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) State Baseball Tournament. The Tournament was moved to Akron fromHuntington Park inColumbus, Ohio.[29][21]
7 17 Credit Union Park was chosen as one of the host cities of the 2023 Banana Ball World Tour, featuring theSavannah Bananas andParty Animals. The exhibition games were hosted on July 2 and 3, in front of two sold-out crowds.[30][31]
All firsts were by the then-Akron Aeros unless otherwise stated
| Statistic | Person(s) | Date |
|---|---|---|
| First game | vs.Harrisburg Senators | April 10, 1997 |
| First batter | Hiram Bocachica (Harrisburg Senators) | April 10, 1997 |
| First hit | Rob Lukachyk (Harrisburg Senators), single | April 10, 1997 |
| First Aeros hit | Greg Thomas, double | April 10, 1997 |
| First double | Greg Thomas | April 10, 1997 |
| First triple | Greg Thomas | April 10, 1997 |
| First home run | Todd Betts | April 10, 1997 |
| First run | Chan Perry scored on a Greg Thomas double | April 10, 1997 |
| First winning pitcher | Jaret Wright | April 10, 1997 |
| First stolen base | David Miller | April 10, 1997 |
| First save | Tony Dougherty | April 10, 1997 |
| First grand slam | Mike Moyle | April 29, 1997 |
| First Aeros no-hitter | Giovanni Soto | July 15, 2012 |
On July 24, 2015, the RubberDucks reported their largest attendance ever of 8,301.[33]
| Season | Total attendance | League rank | Total Aeros/RubberDucks openings | Average attendance per Aeros/RubberDucks opening | Average attendance per Eastern League opening (not including Aeros/RubberDucks openings) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 473,232 | 1st | 71 (approx.) | 6,665 | 4,260 |
| 1998 | 521,122 | 1st | 71 (approx.) | 7,340 | 4,334 |
| 1999 | 522,459 | 1st | 71 (approx.) | 7,359 | 4,954 |
| 2000 | 481,060 | 1st | 71 (approx.) | 6,775 | 4,147 |
| 2001 | 485,582 | 1st | 71 (approx.) | 6,839 | 4,294 |
| 2002 | 400,187 | 3rd | 71 (approx.) | 5,636 | 4,284 |
| 2003 | 445,603 | 2nd | 71 (approx.) | 6,276 | 4,128 |
| 2004 | 478,611 | 1st | 71 (approx.) | 6,741 | 4,399 |
| 2005 | 455,056 | 2nd | 71 (approx.) | 6,409 | 4,468 |
| 2006 | 412,995 | 3rd | 71 (approx.) | 5,817 | 4,353 |
| 2007 | 355,376 | 6th | 64 | 5,553 | 4,831 |
| 2008 | 342,816 | 7th | 67 | 5,117 | 4,570 |
