Duffy Fairgrounds
{{Short description|Multi-Purpose building in Watertown, New York}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds
| nickname = Duffy Fairgrounds
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| image = Duffy Fairgrounds.jpg
| image_alt = The Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds
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| former names = Watertown Fairgrounds (Until 1978) {{Cite news|title=Your Hometown: The Alex Duffy Fairgrounds|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2015/10/31/your-hometown--the-alex-duffy-fairgrounds|access-date=2021-12-02|website=spectrumlocalnews.com|language=en}}
| address = 970 Coffeen Street
| country = United States
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| coordinates = {{Coord|43.985353012178074|-75.92772068813214|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
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| type =Fairgrounds
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| capacity =5,000 (1948); 4,500 (1951); 3,500 (1995)
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| dimensions = 325-402-325
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| acreage =67 acres
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| currentuse =Baseball
Fairgrounds
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| opened =1851
| renovated =1936
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| rebuilt =1948
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| project_manager = Alex T. Duffy
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| tenants =Watertown Athletics (1946-1951)
Watertown Pirates (1983-1988)
Watertown Indians (1989-1998)
Watertown Rapids (2017-present)
| website = {{URL|https://www.jeffcofair.org/}}
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The Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Stephen|title=Pulling for United Way at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds {{!}} Newzjunky|date=October 2, 2021 |url=https://www.newzjunky.com/pulling-for-united-way-at-the-alex-t-duffy-fairgrounds/|access-date=2021-12-02|language=en-US}} is a multi-purpose facility in Watertown, New York, spanning 67 acres. The stadium capacity is 3,500.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ballparkreviews.com/template2.php?in_name=Duffy+Fairgrounds&in_city=Watertown&in_state=New+York|title=Duffy Fairgrounds - Watertown, New York|website=www.ballparkreviews.com}} It contains the longest-running fair in the United States, The Jefferson County Fair,{{Citation|last=WPBS-TV|title=Discovering Watertown|date=2017-09-22|url=https://vimeo.com/ondemand/discoveringwatertown|access-date=2022-02-23}}{{Cite web|last=Lynn|first=Naomi|title=The Longest Running Fair in the US Can Be Found in New York|url=https://lite987.com/longest-running-fair-in-us-is-in-ny/|access-date=2022-02-23|website=Lite 98.7|date=February 14, 2017 |language=en}} and was named after Alex T. Duffy.
Events
=Baseball=
A baseball park on the grounds serves as home to the Watertown Rapids of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. The ballpark has a capacity of 2,500 people and opened in 1936. It served as minor league baseball home to the 1936 Watertown Grays of the Class C level Canadian-American League and Watertown Athletics of the Class C level Border League from 1946 to 1951.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-2859|title=Alex Duffy Stadium in Watertown, NY minor league baseball history and teams on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.intheballparks.com/pgcbl/duffy|title=In The Ballparks - Duffy Fairgrounds|website=www.intheballparks.com}} From 1983 until 1998 it was the home of the Watertown Pirates and Watertown Indians of the Class A level New York–Penn League.{{cite web|url= http://www.funwhileitlasted.net/2014/07/15/1983-1988-watertown-pirates/|title=1983–1988 Watertown Pirates|publisher=www.funwhileitlasted.net|accessdate=2014-07-14}} In 1999, the New York Penn-League franchise moved to Staten Island and became the Staten Island Yankees through 2019.{{cite web|title=Staten Island move in 1999|url=http://www.frontiernet.net/~rochballparks/watertown/watertown.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205181526/http://www.frontiernet.net/~rochballparks/watertown/watertown.htm|archive-date=5 December 2021|publisher=www.frontiernet.net|accessdate=2008-06-10}}
=Football=
The Watertown Red & Black play their home games at the fairgrounds. The stadium's namesake, Alex Duffy, was a longtime member of the Red & Black during its prime days as a professional team.
=Ice hockey=
The Watertown Municipal Arena is located on the fairgrounds. Since 2012, the arena has been used for a minor professional hockey team now called the Watertown Wolves of the Federal Prospects Hockey League. It was originally called the 1000 Islands Privateers when it moved from Alexandria Bay to Watertown, and it took the 2015–16 season off for arena renovations.
=Other events=
As its name implies, the area is home to the Jefferson County Fair in late July of each year.
Built in the late 1800s, it originally included a horse racing track where the grandstands now sits.{{Cite news|title=Your Hometown: The Alex Duffy Fairgrounds|url=https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/news/2015/10/31/your-hometown--the-alex-duffy-fairgrounds|access-date=2022-12-22|website=spectrumlocalnews.com|language=en}}
From 1951 until 1974 it was home to the Watertown Speedway.{{cite web|title =The Legends of Watertown Speedway|url=https://www.paperbackswap.com/Legends-Watertown-Speedway-Dave-Stoodley/book/0967743842/|publisher=Speedway Press|accessdate=December 26, 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.frontiernet.net/~rochballparks/watertown/watertown.htm Photographs of Alex P. Duffy Fairgrounds – Rochester Area Ballparks]
Category:Sports venues in Jefferson County, New York
Category:Minor league baseball venues
Category:Baseball venues in New York (state)
Category:Ice hockey venues in New York (state)
Category:American football venues in New York (state)