DWYER STADIUM

TEAM ::: BATAVIA MUCKDOGS
LOCATION ::: BATAVIA, NEW YORK
MY FIRST GAME ::: JUNE 23,2004
OPPONENT ::: NEW JERSEY CARDINALS
LEVEL ::: NEW YORK - PENN LEAGUE 'A'

RATINGS

BALLFIELD ::: A
SCOREBOARD ::: B
FOOD ::: A
FACILITIES ::: B
MASCOT ::: B

MY TAKE ON THE PARK

SEATED ALMOST WRIGLEY FIELD LIKE AT THE END OF A RESIDENTIAL STREET IS DWYER STADIUM. A RECENTLY RENOVATED VERY CHARMING 3000 SEAT NORTHWESTERN NY PARK. THE RENOVATION IS VERY SIMILAR TO FALCON PARK IN AUBURN, IT JUST SEEMS HERE THEY DID A LITTLE BETTER JOB.

UPON EXITING THE NY THRUWAY, HEAD INTO THE TOWN OF BATAVIA. ALONG THE MAIN ROAD THERE ARE SIGNS FOR DWYER STADIUM. AT THE TWO SCARECROWS SITTING ON A PARK BENCH MAKE THE LEFT. ONCE AT THE PARK TAKE THE SPOT IN THE BACK OF THE LOT, FOUL BALLS TEND TO LEAVE THE YARD INTO THE LOT AS WELL AS OUT ONTO THE STREET.

ONCE IN THE PARK THE CONCESSION STAND SITS ON THE LEFT, AND SERVES SOME VERY GOOD FOOD. THE CHICKEN IN MUCK SAUCE MAY BE THE BEST BASEBALL PARK SANDWICH I'VE EVER HAD. THE REST IS STANDARD AND VERY REASONABLE.

THE MASCOT, MAXWELL, MAKES HIS ROUNDS AROUND THE PARK AND A FIRST FOR ME, HE HOWLS! I'VE NEVER HEARD A MASCOT SPEAK BEFORE AND HERE I FIND ONE THAT HOWLS. AS AN ASIDE HE IS QUITE GOOD.

AN EVENING OF SHORT SEASON BASEBALL IN BATAVIA IS AN ENJOYABLE EVENING. THE PARK IS COMFORTABLE, THE STAFF IS FRIENDLY, AND THE PRICES ARE VERY REASONABLE. ALSO, THE PARK IS ONLY ABOUT AN HOURS DRIVE FROM BUFFALO (THE TRIPLE A BISONS), NIAGARA FALLS, AND SIX FLAGS OVER DARIEN LAKE.