Cairns Field
{{Short description|Stadium in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Cairns Field
| image = File:Cairns Field.jpg
| caption = Cairns Field in 2024
| address = 1717 Dudley St, Saskatoon
| location = Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
| country = Canada
| owner = Gordie Howe Sports Complex
| dimensions = {{ubl
|Left Field: 335 ft (102 m)
|Center Field: 400 ft 9 in (121.9 m)
|Right Field: 335 ft (102 m)
}}
| tenants = {{ubl
| Saskatoon Berries (WCBL) (2024–present)
|Saskatoon Yellow Jackets (WCBL) (2002-2014)
|Saskatoon Legends (CBL) (2003)
|Saskatoon Stallions (PL) (1994-1997)
|Saskatoon Blues (WCBL) (1964)
|Saskatoon Commodores (NSBL) (1962)
|Saskatoon Ambassadors (NSBL) (1962)
|Saskatoon Commodores (CABL/WCBL) (1959)
|Saskatoon Commodores (WCBL) (1958, 1960-1961, 1963)
|Saskatoon Gems (SBL/WCBL) (1952-1957)
}}
| seating_capacity = 2,000
}}
File:Saskatoon Berries at Cairns Field 2024.jpg warming up at Cairns Field in June 2024.]]
{{coord|52.111273|-106.697089|display=title}}
Cairns Field (also known as NexGen Patch at Cairns Field) is a stadium in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It is primarily used for baseball and serves as the home of the Saskatoon Berries of the Western Canadian Baseball League as well as local baseball.{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Kevin |date=2023-07-14 |title=They have a name and a coach; now, the Saskatoon Berries wait for the 2024 baseball season |work=Saskatoon StarPhoenix |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/they-have-a-name-and-a-coach-now-the-saskatoon-berries-wait-for-the-2024-baseball-season |access-date=2023-07-18}}
Features
Cairns Field features artificial lighting, an electronic scoreboard, an irrigated and groomed grass infield, drainage, an 8-foot outfield fence with wind screening, and dimensions of 335 feet down each line and 400 feet in center field. The supporting facilities at the field include stands seating 2,000 fans,{{Cite web|url=https://gordiehowesportscomplex.ca/venues/|title=Venues - Gordie Howe Sports Complex | Saskatoon, SK}} a clubhouse with four dressing rooms, concession, washrooms, showers, media press box with a public address system, an umpires' room, warm-up mounds, and a permanent batting cage.
History
The original ballpark back in 1914 held a capacity of 1,700 which drew a total of 6,422 spectators for the city's entry into the Western Canada League. The original Cairns Field was situated near the Canadian Pacific Railways station named after James Frederick Cairns, who became the president of the Saskatoon Baseball Club in 1921. The former grandstand used in the current Cairns Field had been constructed for harness racing in the Pion-Era. The park had renovations during the 1980s, with additional renovations after the Berries became tennants in 2024.{{Cite web |title=Saskatoon sports facilities: there's a story behind every name|url=https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/local-sports/saskatoon-sports-facilities-theres-a-story-behind-every-name |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=The Saskatoon Star Phoenix}}
The ballpark hosted for the 2005 Canadian National Junior Championships.{{Cite web |title=Baseball Canada Junior Championship: Historical Results |url=https://www.baseball.ca/files/BaseballCanadaNationalChampionshipHistory(Junior)1.pdf |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=Baseball Canada}} It was home to the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets from 2002 until the team folded in 2014.{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Kevin |date=2015-12-10 |title=Saskatoon would be welcomed back into the WMBL, if it's 'done right', league president says |url=https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/baseball/saskatoon-would-be-welcomed-back-into-the-wmbl-if-its-done-right-league-president-says |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812093255/https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/baseball/saskatoon-would-be-welcomed-back-into-the-wmbl-if-its-done-right-league-president-says |archive-date=2020-08-12 |access-date=2024-06-04 |work=Saskatoon StarPhoenix}} When Saskatoon was awarded an expansion WCBL team in 2023, the team's ownership renovated the facilities, including adding a new video board and expanding seating.{{Cite news |last=Roblin |first=Scott |date=2024-05-22 |title=Saskatoon Berries lift the curtain on Cairns Field makeover ahead of inaugural home game |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10518898/saskatoon-berries-cairns-field-makeover-inaugural-home-game/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523003620/https://globalnews.ca/news/10518898/saskatoon-berries-cairns-field-makeover-inaugural-home-game/ |archive-date=2024-05-23 |access-date=2024-05-23 |work=Global News}} A sold-out crowd of 2,200 turned out for the first home game in Saskatoon Berries history on May 28, 2024.{{Cite news |last=Roblin |first=Scott |date=2024-05-29 |title=Sold-out crowd greets Saskatoon Berries for first home game in franchise history |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10531925/saskatoon-berries-first-home-game-2024/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529180710/https://globalnews.ca/news/10531925/saskatoon-berries-first-home-game-2024/ |archive-date=2024-05-29 |access-date=2024-06-04 |work=Global News}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Category:Minor league baseball venues
Category:Baseball in Saskatchewan
Category:Baseball venues in Canada
Category:Sports venues in Saskatoon
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