Knights Stadium
{{for|the Melbourne Knights' home stadium|Knights Stadium (Melbourne)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Knights Stadium
| nickname = The Castle
| image = CharlotteKnightsStadium.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| location = 2280 Deerfield Drive
Fort Mill, SC 29715
| coordinates = {{coord|35|3|9|N|80|57|16|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = February 20, 1989{{cite news |title=Knights' Shinn Ready to Break More Ground|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-0ksAAAAIBAJ&pg=6789,3509253&dq=en|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|date=February 10, 1989|accessdate=September 16, 2011}}
| built =
| opened = April 5, 1990
| closed = September 2, 2013
| demolished = Early 2015
| owner = York County
| operator = Charlotte Knights Baseball, LLC
| surface = Grass
| construction_cost = $12 million{{cite news|title=Pinstripes to Adorn Knights Stadium|author=Cal Harrison|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4ystAAAAIBAJ&pg=2286,177337&dq=en|newspaper=The Herald (Rock Hill)|date=September 2, 1989|accessdate=September 16, 2011}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|12000000|1990}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = Odell Associates
| structural engineer = Geiger Engineers{{cite web|title=Karen Allen Lynch, P.E.|url=http://www.geigerengineers.com/karen-lynch|publisher=Geiger Engineers, P.C|accessdate=September 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210054330/http://www.geigerengineers.com/karen-lynch|archive-date=February 10, 2015|url-status=dead}}
| general_contractor = McDevitt & Street Construction Co.{{cite news |title=Rain Temporary Setback at Stadium|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CO&s_site=charlotte&p_multi=CO&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB6C536496FA3BF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|date=October 10, 1989|accessdate=September 16, 2011}}
| seating_capacity = 10,002
| former_names = Knight's Castle
| tenants = Charlotte Knights (SL/IL) (1990–2013)
Big South Conference baseball tournament (1997–1998)
Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament (2000–2001)
| dimensions = Left Field — 326 feet
Center Field — 400 feet
Right Field — 325 feet
}}
Knights Stadium was a baseball stadium which served as the home of the International League's Charlotte Knights from 1990 to 2013 and had a capacity of 10,002. The park was located across the state line from Charlotte, North Carolina, in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The stadium closed at the end of the 2013 season and the Knights moved to Truist Field in uptown Charlotte for the 2014 season.
Knights Stadium was easily accessible from Interstate 77. Exit 88 (Gold Hill Road) connects the expressway with the stadium. Near the stadium is a water tower painted to resemble a baseball on a tee, which can be seen from Interstate 77 and remains painted in that pattern as of the summer of 2023.
History
The stadium was built to Major League Baseball specifications to be used should Charlotte land a major league team. It was designed to expand to 40,000 seats by completely or partially enclosing the outfield.
During construction, the Knights, then a member of the Class AA Southern League, played in an 8,000-seat temporary stadium known as Knights Castle. The present stadium was originally known as Knights Castle, but was renamed to Knights Stadium in the late 1990s. The stadium was still known among Charlotteans as The Castle.{{citation needed|date=February 2012}}
On July 13, 1992, the ballpark hosted the Double-A All-Star Game in which a team of American League-affiliated All-Stars defeated a team of National League-affiliated All-Stars, 4–3, before 4,009 people in attendance.{{cite news|last=Olson|first=Stan|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49391847/walbeck-not-quite-the-hero/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Walbeck Not Quite the Hero|work=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte|date=July 14, 1992|page=B1}}
The venue hosted the 1997 and 1998 Big South Conference baseball tournaments, won by UNC Greensboro and Liberty, respectively.{{cite web|title=2011 Big South Baseball Record Book |url=http://www.bigsouthsports.com/pdf8/731221.pdf |publisher=Big South Conference |accessdate=February 18, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702053934/http://www.bigsouthsports.com/pdf8/731221.pdf |archivedate=July 2, 2013 |pages=20–22 |url-status=dead }} It also hosted the 2000 and 2001 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournaments, won by Georgia Tech and Wake Forest, respectively.{{cite web|title=2012 ACC Baseball Guide |url=http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-basebl/2012-acc-baseball-guide.html |publisher=Atlantic Coast Conference |accessdate=May 29, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519085643/http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-basebl/2012-acc-baseball-guide.html |archivedate=May 19, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
On July 4, 2007, a franchise record 15,427 fans attended the game between the Knights and the Durham Bulls.{{cite web |title=IL News and Notes|url=http://www.milb.com/gen/articles/printer_friendly/leagues/l117/press/y2007/m07/d05/c270512.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063511/http://www.milb.com/gen/articles/printer_friendly/leagues/l117/press/y2007/m07/d05/c270512.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|publisher=International League|date=July 5, 2007|accessdate=July 5, 2007}} This would be the exception rather than the norm for much of the new millennium, which saw sagging attendance. The stadium was located 20 minutes south of Charlotte, and many fans were reluctant to brave traffic on Interstate 77 to get there.
The stadium hosted its last Knights game on September 2, 2013, a 4–0 Knights victory over the Gwinnett Braves.[http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/09/02/4283167/charlotte-knights-close-out-era.html#.UiaId2TwJZ8 Charlotte Knights close out era] The Charlotte Observer September 2, 2013 {{dead link|date=June 2023}} After the game, several longtime employees dug up home plate and each of the bases and presented them to team mascot Homer the Dragon. Homer then saluted Knights Stadium one last time, and boarded a helicopter bound for Uptown Charlotte and BB&T Ballpark.{{Cite web |url=http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/09/03/5169344/fans-turn-out-for-last-game-before.html |title=FORT MILL: Fans turn out for last Knights game before move from Fort Mill | Local News | Rock Hill Herald Online |access-date=2013-09-04 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130904053936/http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/09/03/5169344/fans-turn-out-for-last-game-before.html |archive-date=2013-09-04 |url-status=dead }} In June 2014, York County sold the land to Cato Corporation, a Charlotte-based retailer of women's fashions and accessories. The contract Cato signed permits them to use the land for any industrial, commercial or residential purpose. The stadium was demolished in early 2015.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/team1/page.jsp?ymd=20060303&content_id=44895&vkey=team1_t494&fext=.jsp&sid=t494 Charlotte Knights - Knights Stadium]
- [http://www.littleballparks.com/Stadium/2003/Fort_Mill/Fort_Mill.htm Knights Stadium Views - Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues]
- [http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/AAA/charlotte.html Baseball Pilgrimages - Knights Stadium]
{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sta|et}}}}
{{succession box
| title = Home of the
Charlotte Knights
| years = 1990 – 2013
| before = Knights Castle
| after = BB&T Ballpark
}}
{{end}}
{{Charlotte sports venues}}
Category:Fort Mill, South Carolina
Category:Defunct minor league baseball venues
Category:Defunct baseball venues in the United States
Category:Sports venues in Charlotte, North Carolina
Category:Baseball venues in South Carolina
Category:Defunct sports venues in South Carolina
Category:1990 establishments in South Carolina
Category:Sports venues completed in 1990