Gold Mine on Airline
{{Short description|Stadium in Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Gold Mine on Airline
| nickname =
| image = File:Zephyr Field - Metairie, LA (New Orleans, LA Suburb).jpg
| former_names = Shrine on Airline (2017–2020)
Zephyr Field (1997–2016)
| location = 6000 Airline Drive
Metairie, Louisiana, 70003
| coordinates = {{coord|29|58|31.59|N|90|11|59.07|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = November 30, 1995{{cite news |title=Work Begins on Ballpark in New Orleans; Site Preparations for Arena Near Superdome Under Way |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3D61F1355C0CD&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |newspaper=The Dallas Morning News |date=December 1, 1995 |accessdate=September 21, 2011 |agency=Associated Press}}
| opened = April 11, 1997
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = State of Louisiana
| operator =
| surface = Grass
| construction_cost = US$26 million
(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|26000000|1997}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = Populous (then HOK Sport)
Perez Apc
ARCHITECTS PLUS (2006 Hurricane Katrina Restorations)
| project_manager = The Tobler Company{{cite web |title=Clients |url=http://thetoblercompany.com/clients.php|publisher=The Tobler Company |accessdate=September 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209213715/http://thetoblercompany.com/clients.php |archive-date=2013-12-09}}
| structural engineer = Kulkarni Consultants{{cite web |title=New Orleans Zepyhrs Baseball Stadium |url=http://www.kulkarniconsultants.com/projects/zephyrs.html |publisher=Kulkarni Consultants |accessdate=July 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225753/http://www.kulkarniconsultants.com/projects/zephyrs.html |archive-date=2016-03-03}}
| services engineer =
| general_contractor = Joseph Caldarera & Company{{cite web |title=Commercial Construction |url=http://www.jcaldarera.com/commercial/index.html |publisher=Joseph Caldarera & Company |accessdate=September 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819003051/http://www.jcaldarera.com/commercial/index.html |archive-date=2018-08-19}}
| 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
| seating_capacity = 10,000
| dimensions = Left Field: {{convert|330|ft|m}}
Center Field: {{convert|400|ft|m}}
Right Field: {{convert|330|ft|m}}
}}
Gold Mine on Airline, formerly Shrine on Airline,{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Rod |title=NOLA Gold eager for return after COVID pandemic cut 2020 rugby season short |url=https://www.nola.com/sports/article_fa1642e2-89bc-11eb-831b-eb2d4f188b74.html |access-date=June 4, 2021 |work=The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate |date=March 20, 2021 |quote=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.}} is a 10,000-seat stadium in Metairie, Louisiana, United States, a suburb of New Orleans. It is home field for the New Orleans Gold team in Major League Rugby.{{Cite news |last=Mackel |first=Travers |url=https://www.wdsu.com/article/when-baby-cakes-leave-what-happens-to-shrine-on-airline/28849596 |title=When Baby Cakes leave, what happens to "Shrine On Airline?" |publisher=WDSU |date=August 30, 2019 |accessdate=October 7, 2019}} Known as Zephyr Field when built in 1997 as the home ballpark for the New Orleans Zephyrs (later New Orleans Baby Cakes), the stadium was renamed when the Minor 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.{{cite web |last1=East |first1=Les |title=Minor league baseball is gone, but won't be forgotten in Jefferson Parish |url=https://crescentcitysports.com/minor-league-baseball-is-gone-but-wont-be-forgotten-in-jefferson-parish/ |website=Crescent City Sports |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130214847/https://crescentcitysports.com/minor-league-baseball-is-gone-but-wont-be-forgotten-in-jefferson-parish/ |archivedate=January 30, 2020 |date=September 2, 2019}}
Minor league baseball left New Orleans at the end of the 2019 season, when the Baby Cakes relocated to Wichita, Kansas, where they continue as the Wichita Wind Surge.{{cite news|url=https://www.kansas.com/sports/mlb/article222660690.html|title=Triple-A team moving in 2020 wants name to be about the new, vibrant Wichita|newspaper=The Wichita Eagle|date=December 5, 2018| access-date=December 12, 2018}} Initially, the city of New Orleans hoped to bring a Double-A Southern League team to the city and continue operations as the Baby Cakes.{{cite web|url=https://www.wdsu.com/article/its-official-wichita-confirms-baby-cakes-filed-for-request-to-relocate/23008704 |title=It's official: Wichita confirms Baby Cakes filed for request to relocate |website=WDSU |date=September 6, 2018| access-date=September 6, 2018}} However, due to Major League Baseball's reorganization of Minor League Baseball, the league ceased operations in 2021 and the campaign ultimately failed.{{cite web |last=Reichard |first=Kevin |title=Minor League Baseball Overhaul Unveiled|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2021/02/12/minor-league-baseball-overhaul-unveiled/|website=Ballpark Digest|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=February 13, 2021}} With the departure of the Baby Cakes, the stadium was repurposed with a rectangular field for football of all codes, with a more thorough renovation scheduled for late 2024.{{Cite web |last=Fuentes |first=Andrés |date=2023-11-10 |title=Jefferson Parish approves $15 million for Shrine on Airline renovations |url=https://www.fox8live.com/2023/11/10/jefferson-parish-approves-15-million-shrine-airline-renovations/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=WVUE-DT |language=en}}
The facility hosted the 1998 and 2001 Conference USA baseball tournaments and the 1999 Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament. Shrine on Airline was also the site of the Class 5A Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) baseball tournament in 2004 and 2005.
History
Zephyr Field hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 11, 1997, in which tenants New Orleans Zephyrs (later the New Orleans Baby Cakes), defeated the Oklahoma City 89ers 8-3.
The stadium also hosted select games of the Tulane University Green Wave baseball program. The team plays annual games at the ballpark against cross-town rival, the University 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, but Hurricane Katrina significantly damaged Turchin Stadium, forcing a delay in the project. In the hurricane's aftermath, Zephyr Field was utilized by the Louisiana Army National Guard and the Federal 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 the New Orleans Saints' training facility, located behind the ballpark, and the New Orleans Arena.{{cite web |title=About Zephyr Field|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-159784|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=January 23, 2007|access-date=February 20, 2014 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305115025/http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/ballpark/page.jsp?ymd=20070123&content_id=159784&vkey=ballpark_t588&fext=.jsp&sid=t588 |archive-date=2009-03-05}}
The stadium hosted the 1999 Triple-A All-Star Game in which the Pacific Coast League All-Stars defeated the International League All-Stars, 9–5. New Orleans' Daryle Ward was selected as the PCL MVP.{{Cite web|url=http://www.triple-abaseball.com/ASGSummaries3.jsp|title=Triple-A All-Star Game Results (1998–2002)|publisher=Triple-A Baseball|accessdate=July 7, 2017|archive-date=April 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414011253/http://www.triple-abaseball.com/ASGSummaries3.jsp|url-status=usurped}}
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 the Nashville Sounds.{{cite web |title=New Orleans Zephyrs History |url=https://milb.bamcontent.com/documents/9/5/2/271957952/78_133_History.pdf |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=January 30, 2007 |access-date=February 20, 2014}}
The Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic college baseball game was held annually at the Shrine on Airline beginning in 2004.{{cite web| title=Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic is poignant LSU tradition|publisher=lsureveille.com|url=http://www.lsureveille.com/daily/opinion-wally-pontiff-jr-classic-is-poignant-lsu-tradition/article_84a96b44-d72d-11e4-89ab-5f64a369af01.html|accessdate=2015-04-03}} The LSU 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.{{cite news |last1=Chrisman |first1=Spencer |last2=Doucet |first2=Jacques |title=No. 22 LSU meets UL-Lafayette in final Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic |url=https://www.wafb.com/2022/04/19/no-22-lsu-meets-ul-lafayette-final-wally-pontiff-jr-classic/ |access-date=December 29, 2022 |work=WAFB |date=April 19, 2022 |language=en}} 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 of Louisiana defeat LSU 6-5. In 2022 it was announced that the 2022 game (to be played in Baton Rouge, and again against Louisiana), will be the final game for the Classic.
The ballpark is featured in several scenes in the 2004 movie Mr. 3000, and one from the 2006 movie called Failure to Launch. Also, part of an episode of Spike TV's Pros vs. Joes was also filmed at the ballpark.
A new playing surface was installed prior to the 2008 season. Its new dimensions are {{convert|330|ft|m}} from home plate to left and right fields, and {{convert|400|ft|m}} to center.{{cite news |title=New Turf to Be Installed at Zephyr Field This Week |first=David |last=Gladow |url=http://blog.nola.com/gladow/2008/02/new_turf_to_be_installed_at_ze.html |newspaper=The Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans |date=February 25, 2008 |accessdate=March 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116102147/http://blog.nola.com/gladow/2008/02/new_turf_to_be_installed_at_ze.html |archive-date=2016-11-16}} 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 the New Orleans Storm soccer team in the late 1990s and hosted the semifinals of the 1998 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.{{cite web |title=1998 Lamar Hunt United States Open Cup|url=http://lhusoc.tripod.com/history/1998/1998e.htm|publisher=Lamar Hunt United States Open Cup|year=1998|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}
Ballpark attractions
Concessions at Shrine on Airline feature traditional ballpark fare as well as several regional offerings, such as fried catfish, 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.{{cite web |title=Zephyr Field|first=Brian|last=Merzbach|url=http://ballparkreviews.com/template2.php?in_name=Shrine+on+Airline&in_city=Metairie&in_state=Louisiana |work=Ballpark Reviews|year=2008|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}
Gallery
Image:Zephyr Field - New Orleans, LA.jpg|Main Entrance
Image:Zephyr Field - New Orleans, Louisiana.jpg|Shrine on Airline
Image:Zephyr Field - Grandstand, Leftfield.jpg|Grandstand, Left field
Image:Zephyr Field - Grandstand.jpg|Grandstand, Right field
Image:Zephyr Field New Orleans, LA.jpg| Grandstand
Image:Portland Beavers vs. New Orleans Zephyrs, Zephyr Field, New Orleans.jpg|View behind home plate
Image:President George W. Bush, Zephyr Field, New Orleans.jpg|Then-U.S. President George W. Bush speaking at the Shrine on Airline (then Zephyr Field) in 2001
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.shrineonairline.com/ Shrine on Airline]
- [http://ballparkreviews.com/template2.php?in_name=Shrine+on+Airline&in_city=Metairie&in_state=Louisiana Ballpark Reviews]
{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sta|et}}}}
{{succession box
| title = Home of the
New Orleans Baby Cakes
| years = 1997 – 2019
| before = Privateer Park
| after = Riverfront Stadium
(as Wichita Wind Surge)
}}
{{succession box
| title = Home of the
New Orleans Gold
| years = 2020 – present
| before = Joe Zimmerman Stadium
| after = current
}}
{{s-end}}
{{New Orleans Gold}}
{{Metairie, Louisiana}}
{{Music venues of Louisiana}}
Category:American football venues in Louisiana
Category:High school football venues in Louisiana
Category:Baseball venues in Louisiana
Category:Minor league baseball venues
Category:New Orleans Baby Cakes stadiums
Category:New Orleans Gold stadiums
Category:New Orleans Zephyrs stadiums
Category:Soccer venues in Louisiana
Category:Sports venues in the New Orleans metropolitan area
Category:Tulane Green Wave baseball venues
Category:Music venues in Louisiana
Category:Rugby union stadiums in Louisiana
Category:1997 establishments in Louisiana