Thomas More Stadium

{{short description|American sports venue}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}

{{Infobox venue

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| image = Thomas More Field, Florence, Kentucky.jpg

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| image_alt = Thomas More Field

| caption = Thomas More Stadium in 2023

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| pushpin_map = USA Kentucky#USA

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| former names = Champion Window Field (2004–2012)
UC Health Stadium (2013–2020)
Y'alls Ballpark (2021)

| address = 7950 Freedom Way

| city = Florence, KY 41042

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| coordinates = {{Coord|38.982156|-84.638479|type:landmark|display= inline,title}}

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| capacity = 4,500

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| surface = artificial turf

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| opened = {{Start date|2004}}

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| tenants = Florence Y'alls (FL), 2004–present
Mount St. Joseph Lions (NCAA), ?–present
Thomas More Saints (NCAA), 2023–present
Northern Kentucky Norse (NCAA), 2006–2008

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Thomas More Stadium is a stadium in Florence, Kentucky. It is primarily used for baseball and is the home field of the Florence Y'alls of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league. It originally opened in 2004 as Champion Window Field and holds 4,500 people.{{cite web |url=http://www.ballparkreviews.com/florence/florence.htm |title=Champion Window Field |website=BallParkReviews.com |access-date=October 18, 2009}}

On November 27, 2012, the then-named Florence Freedom announced that UC Health, the healthcare system of the University of Cincinnati, had signed a 10-year naming rights deal, giving the ballpark its UC Health Stadium name.{{cite news |url=http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20121127/NEWS0103/121127036/?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CNEWS |title=UC inks stadium naming deal with Florence Freedom |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=November 27, 2012 |access-date=November 28, 2012 |last=Hansel |first=Mark}} In May 2021, it was reported that the team was looking for a new naming rights partner after UC Health dropped its sponsorship, and that the team would be using the name Y'alls Ballpark for their home field.{{cite news |last1=Watkins |first1=Steve |title=Florence Y'alls seeking naming rights sponsor for stadium |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/05/25/here-s-your-chance-to-get-your-company-name-on-a.html |access-date=May 29, 2021 |work=Cincinnati Business Courier |date=May 25, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Engel |first1=Liz |title=Five things you need to know today, and the worst summer job ever |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2021/05/26/five-things-waiting-tables.html |access-date=May 29, 2021 |work=Cincinnati Business Courier |date=May 26, 2021}} In March 2022, the Y'alls announced that Thomas More University had acquired the naming rights, and that the university's baseball team would play at Thomas More Stadium starting in 2023.{{cite news |last1=Weber |first1=James |title=Florence Y'alls baseball franchise to rename home park as Thomas More Stadium |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2022/03/01/florence-yalls-franchise-rename-home-park-thomas-more-stadium/6977705001/ |access-date=May 21, 2022 |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=March 1, 2022}}{{cite news |title=Thomas More University, Florence Y'alls teaming up, partnering to rename ballpark Thomas More Stadium |url=https://www.nkytribune.com/2022/03/thomas-more-university-florence-yalls-teaming-up-partnering-to-rename-ballpark-thomas-more-stadium/ |access-date=May 21, 2022 |work=Northern Kentucky Tribune |date=March 2, 2022}}

History

=2004 ownership scandal=

In July 2004, shortly after the opening of Champion Window Field, contractors began filing liens against the Florence Freedom, accusing the team of not paying for work done on the stadium. Eventually, 33 liens totaling $4.7 million were filed. In August, Fifth Third Bank sued team part-owner Chuck Hildebrant for failing to repay multiple loans taken out to finance the stadium construction. As part of the lawsuit, it was revealed that Hildebrant had used {{convert|204|acre|km2}} of land that he did not own as collateral for the loans, and that he had given the bank a forged document as proof of ownership.{{cite news |first1=Jennifer |last1=Edwards |first2=Brenna R. |last2=Kelly |url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/09/14/loc_loc2aflo.html |title=Family suing Freedom owner |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=September 14, 2004 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122042027/http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/09/14/loc_loc2aflo.html |archive-date=January 22, 2013 |access-date=January 1, 2010 |url-status=live }} Hildebrant was later the subject of a federal white collar crime investigation and sentenced to prison in October 2005.{{cite news |title=Former team owner sentenced to five years over loans |url=http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/sports/12958595.htm |access-date=May 29, 2021 |work=FortWayne.com |agency=Associated Press |date=October 21, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051027015959/http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/sports/12958595.htm |archive-date=October 27, 2005}} The team was sold in November 2004 to a new ownership group led by Clint Brown, who was not associated with Hildebrant's ownership group.{{cite news |first=Cliff |last=Peale |url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/11/03/loc_kyflorence.03.html |title=Florence Freedom has a deal |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=November 3, 2004 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729232518/http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/11/03/loc_kyflorence.03.html |archive-date=July 29, 2012 |access-date=January 1, 2010 |url-status=live }}

=Other uses=

From 2006 to 2008, the Northern Kentucky Norse baseball team, then of NCAA Division II, moved from on-campus Bill Aker Baseball Complex to play its home schedule at Champion Window Field.{{cite press release |title=Amateur Baseball Schedule at Champion Window Field Announced |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3610355 |work=OurSportsCentral.com |access-date=March 1, 2013 |date=March 25, 2008}}{{cite web |title=Bellarmine vs. Northern Kentucky Box Score |url=http://athletics.bellarmine.edu/custompages/Sports/BB/2008-09/34-bell.htm |work=Athletics.Bellarmine.edu |publisher=Bellarmine Sports Information |access-date=March 1, 2013 |date=April 5, 2009}}{{cite web |last=Mulcahey |first=Matt |title=NKU Baseball Slides into New Home |url=http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20060204/SPT01/602040397/NKU-baseball-slides-into-new-home?nclick_check=1 |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |access-date=March 1, 2013 |date=February 4, 2006 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130407224510/http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20060204/SPT01/602040397/NKU-baseball-slides-into-new-home?gcheck=1&nclick_check=1 |archive-date=April 7, 2013 |url-status=live}} Thomas More Stadium is currently home to the Mount St. Joseph University Lions.{{Cite web |title=Current Home of the Mount Saint Joseph University Lions |url=https://florenceyalls.com/amateur-baseball/collage-baseball/ |access-date=December 5, 2021}}{{cite web |title=Baseball Facilities |url=https://www.msjsports.com/athletic_facilities/Baseball_Facilities/index |website=Mount St. Joseph University - Official Athletics Website |publisher=Mount St. Joseph University |access-date=January 4, 2022 |language=en}}

References