The Blatt | |
 Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in 2006 | |
 | |
| Former names | Omaha Municipal Stadium (1947–1964) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1202 Bert Murphy Avenue |
| Location | Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 41°13′33″N95°55′52″W / 41.22583°N 95.93111°W /41.22583; -95.93111 |
| Elevation | 1,150 ft (350 m)AMSL |
| Owner | Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium |
| Capacity | 23,145 (CWS) 8,859 (Royals) 24,000 (Nighthawks)[1] |
| Field size | Left Field – 335 ft (102 m) Left-Center – 375 ft (114 m) Center – 408 ft (124 m) Right-Center – 375 ft (114 m) Right Field – 335 ft (102 m) Fence height Left and Right Fields – 10 ft (3.0 m) Center Field – 12 ft (3.7 m) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | Yes |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1947; 78 years ago (1947) |
| Opened | 1948; 77 years ago (1948) |
| Closed | 2010; 15 years ago (2010) |
| Demolished | July 25, 2012 to June 7, 2013; 12 years ago (2013-06-07) |
| Architect | Leo A Daly |
| General contractor | Peter Kiewit Company |
| Tenants | |
| Omaha Cardinals (WL /AA) (1949–1959) Omaha Dodgers (AA) (1961–1962) Omaha Mustangs (PFLA/CoFL/TFL) (1965–1970) Omaha Royals (AA /PCL) (1969–2010) Creighton Bluejays men's soccer (1980–1986) Omaha Nighthawks (UFL) (2010) | |
Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium was abaseball stadium inOmaha, Nebraska, United States. It was the former home to the annualNCAA Division ICollege World Series and theTriple-A Omaha Royals (nowStorm Chasers). It was the largestminor leagueballpark in the United States until its demolition (Sahlen Field inBuffalo now holds the distinction).
The final College World Series game at Rosenblatt Stadium was played on June 28, 2010 with theSouth Carolina Gamecocks winning theCollege World Series. The final game for the Royals in the stadium, and under the Royals name, was played on September 2, with the Royals defeating theRound Rock Express. TheOmaha Nighthawks played their 2010 season at Rosenblatt.
Following those events, Rosenblatt was replaced byCharles Schwab Field Omaha. Rosenblatt Stadium began renovation in late July after being reopened during the2012 College World Series for fans to visit again. The pressbox girders were imploded on the morning of August 22, 2012. Re-construction of Rosenblatt in playground-esque form began in March 2013, and was officially opened by MayorJim Suttle on June 7, 2013. The site is currently owned by the adjacentHenry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.
Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium originally began development in 1944 as the Omaha Municipal Stadium. The stadium was developed by the Municipal Stadium Committee, with then-Omaha mayorJohnny Rosenblatt as chairman. It was built to replace the formerVinton Street Park, which was destroyed by fire in 1936.[2] A site near the now-Henry Doorly Zoo was chosen for construction, and by 1945, plans were approved by the city of Omaha. Designed byLeo A. Daly architects and built by thePeter Kiewit Company construction began in 1947.
Construction was halted following a structural steel supply shortage. This delayed the stadiums opening by a year.[3] Opening was again delayed after vandals broke in and caused extensive damage to the sod, causing the sod to be replaced.[4] The Omaha Municipal Stadium officially opened with an inaugural game on October 17, 1948.[5] The following year, theOmaha Cardinals became the first team to make it its home stadium. In 1950, theCollege World Series was moved to the stadium.[6] The stadium was later re-named for Rosenblatt, with it officially being dedicated as the Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in May 1964.[7]
By 2007, Rosenblatt Stadium's condition had been described as "rickety". The stadium was also described as too small, and while renovations and expansions were considered, they were described as too expensive when compared to new construction. TheNational Collegiate Athletic Association, the organizer of the College World Series, itself favored a new stadium. Local organizers decided that in order to renew the expired contract, a new stadium would be built.[8]
However, said decision came under widespread opposition from many of Rosenblatt's fans. The Save Rosenblatt Committee was formed in 2007 to renovate the stadium to keep it as the host of the College World Series. However, said plans were rejected by the NCAA.[9] Rosenblatt held its final College World Series game in 2010. It was succeeded byTD Ameritrade Park andWerner Park, both of which opened the following year.[10]
In 2011,Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium purchased the site and planned on turning it into a parking lot for the zoo. The field was opened in June 2012 for visitors attending the College World Series.[11] Demolition began the following month, with the press box being imploded in August 2012.[12] Demolition was completed in June 2013, with a mini-ballpark, known as Memorial to Rosenblatt, opening that same month.[13]
.jpg)
Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium was used by the Omaha Cardinals, Omaha Dodgers, Omaha Mustangs, the Omaha Royals, Creighton Bluejays men's soccer, and the Omaha Nighthawks. Rosenblatt was also used by theNational Collegiate Athletic Association to host theCollege World Series.
| Seasons | Team | League | Class | MLB Affiliate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949–1954 | Omaha Cardinals | Western | A | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 1955–1959 | Omaha Cardinals | American Assn. | AAA | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 1961–1962 | Omaha Dodgers | American Assn. | AAA | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 1969–2010[14] | Omaha Royals | Amer. Assn. –PCL | AAA | Kansas City Royals |
Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium was aminor leagueballpark located inSouth Omaha, Nebraska, United States. It was designed byLeo A. Daly and was built byKiewit Corporation. The field was aligned northeast (home plate to center field) at an approximateelevation of 1,150 feet (350 m) abovesea level, nearly 200 feet (60 m) above theMissouri River. The foul lines were 335 ft (102 m), the power alleys were 375 ft (114 m), and center field was 408 ft (124 m).[15] Before its demolition, it was the largest minor league ballpark in the United States.Sahlen Field inBuffalo, New York now holds the distinction.[16]
