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| Former names | Shrine on Airline (2017–2020) Zephyr Field (1997–2016) |
|---|---|
| Location | 6000Airline Drive Metairie, Louisiana, 70003 |
| Coordinates | 29°58′31.59″N90°11′59.07″W / 29.9754417°N 90.1997417°W /29.9754417; -90.1997417 |
| Owner | State of Louisiana |
| Capacity | 10,000 |
| Field size | Left Field: 330 feet (100 m) Center Field: 400 feet (120 m) Right Field: 330 feet (100 m) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | November 30, 1995[1] |
| Opened | April 11, 1997 |
| Construction cost | US$26 million ($50.9 million in 2024 dollars[2]) |
| Architect | Populous (then HOK Sport) Perez Apc ARCHITECTS PLUS (2006 Hurricane Katrina Restorations) |
| Project manager | The Tobler Company[3] |
| Structural engineer | Kulkarni Consultants[4] |
| General contractor | Joseph Caldarera & Company[5] |
| Tenants | |
| New Orleans Baby Cakes (AA/PCL) 1997–2019 New Orleans Storm (USISL) 1998–1999 Tulane Green Wave (NCAA) 2006–2007 New Orleans Gold (MLR) 2020–present | |
Gold Mine on Airline, formerlyShrine on Airline,[6] is a 10,000-seat stadium inMetairie, Louisiana, United States, a suburb ofNew Orleans. It is home field for theNew Orleans Gold team inMajor League Rugby.[7] Known asZephyr Field when built in 1997 as the home ballpark for the New Orleans Zephyrs (laterNew Orleans Baby Cakes), the stadium was renamed when theMinor League Baseball team's name changed from Zephyrs to Baby Cakes in 2017. Shrine on Airline had been an unofficial name for Zephyr Field used by the public address announcer since the stadium opened and it became the new name.[8]
Minor league baseball left New Orleans at the end of the 2019 season, when the Baby Cakes relocated toWichita, Kansas, where they continue as theWichita Wind Surge.[9] Initially, the city of New Orleans hoped to bring aDouble-ASouthern League team to the city and continue operations as the Baby Cakes.[10] However, due toMajor League Baseball'sreorganization of Minor League Baseball, the league ceased operations in 2021 and the campaign ultimately failed.[11] With the departure of the Baby Cakes, the stadium was repurposed with a rectangular field forfootball of all codes, with a more thorough renovation scheduled for late 2024.[12]
The facility hosted the1998 and2001Conference USA baseball tournaments and the 1999Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament. Shrine on Airline was also the site of the Class 5ALouisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) baseball tournament in 2004 and 2005.
Zephyr Field hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 11, 1997, in which tenants New Orleans Zephyrs (later theNew Orleans Baby Cakes), defeated theOklahoma City 89ers 8-3.
The stadium also hosted select games of theTulane University Green Wave baseball program. The team plays annual games at the ballpark against cross-town rival, theUniversity of New Orleans Privateers, and arch-rival,Louisiana State University Tigers, at the ballpark. During the 2006 and 2007 baseball seasons, Zephyr Field was the primary home of the Green Wave, as Tulane's on-campus facility,Greer Field at Turchin Stadium, was undergoing renovations. The renovations were scheduled to be completed in time for the 2006 season, butHurricane Katrina significantly damaged Turchin Stadium, forcing a delay in the project. In the hurricane's aftermath, Zephyr Field was utilized by theLouisiana Army National Guard and theFederal Emergency Management Agency as a rescue facility. In 2006, the state of Louisiana approved $21 million to recover Zephyr Field from the effects of Katrina. Additional funds from the bill covered recovery costs for theNew Orleans Saints' training facility, located behind the ballpark, and theNew Orleans Arena.[13]
The stadium hosted the 1999Triple-A All-Star Game in which thePacific Coast League All-Stars defeated theInternational League All-Stars, 9–5. New Orleans'Daryle Ward was selected as the PCL MVP.[14]
On July 3, 2003, the largest crowd in Shrine on Airline history for a Zephyrs game, 11,925, watches the Zephyrs lose 1–0 to theNashville Sounds.[15]
The Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic college baseball game was held annually at the Shrine on Airline beginning in 2004.[16] TheLSU Tigers baseball team played an opponent in the game to honor the former Metairie resident, LSU Baseball player and Oakland A's draftee, Wally Pontiff Jr., who died at the age of 21 from a genetic heart disorder.[17] In 2004, LSU won the first game of the series vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 9-3. The last Classic played at Zephyr Field was played in April 2019, and saw the Ragin Cajuns ofLouisiana defeat LSU 6-5. In 2022 it was announced that the 2022 game (to be played in Baton Rouge, and again againstLouisiana), will be the final game for the Classic.
The ballpark is featured in several scenes in the 2004 movieMr. 3000, and one from the 2006 movie calledFailure to Launch. Also, part of an episode ofSpike TV'sPros vs. Joes was also filmed at the ballpark.
A new playing surface was installed prior to the 2008 season. Its new dimensions are 330 feet (100 m) from home plate to left and right fields, and 400 feet (120 m) to center.[18] The ballpark traditionally has allowed some of the fewest home runs in the Pacific Coast League. The ballpark's grass berm seating area, "the Levee", is located beyond center field and is the highest point in Metairie.
As a soccer venue, Shrine on Airline served as home of theNew Orleans Storm soccer team in the late 1990s and hosted the semifinals of the1998 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.[19]
Concessions at Shrine on Airline feature traditional ballpark fare as well as several regional offerings, such as friedcatfish,muffulettas,po' boy sandwiches,jambalaya, and pigskin nachos.
The New Orleans Zephyrs added an extra $5 million to the 2006 state-funded recovery bill for additional amenities, including 16 luxury suites, a swimming pool, two hot tubs, the Coors Light Party Shack, and the Metairie Bank Home Run Porch.[20]
NOLA Gold will host Old Glory DC at the stadium that used to be called the Shrine on Airline. They are now referring to it as the Gold Mine on Airline.
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Home of the New Orleans Baby Cakes 1997 – 2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Home of the New Orleans Gold 2020 – present | Succeeded by current |