Photos by Eric Hasman and Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Wintrust Field 1999 Springinsguth Rd Schaumburg, IL 60193
Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 7,365
Boomers Baseball in Schaumburg
Wintrust Field opened in 1999 as Alexian Field as the home of the Schaumburg Flyers of the Northern League. In 2011, the Flyers folded due to financial difficulties (evicted for back taxes) and the Schaumburg Boomers began playing in the 2012 season.
The Schaumburg Boomers are a member of the independent Frontier League (a partner league of MLB). The team is named after the ‘booming’ sound of the local prairie chicken during the male mating season. The colors are black and orange, along with an ornithologically detailed logo of the prairie chicken. I would have named the team the Prairie Chickens.
According to the team’s official website, Wintrust Field has a capacity of 7,365 with 16 luxury suites, 200 outfield bleacher seats, and an additional 900 fans can be accommodated in the lawn area along both foul lines. The Schaumburg Club, located on the first base side of the suite level, features restaurant-style seating complete with a full bar and glass-enclosed view of the game. It is also available for private parties and banquets year-round.
Before the 2024 season, the Boomers renovated the Schaumburg Club and Suites with new enhanced food service areas, aesthetic updates, and a new video system perfect for meetings and non-baseball events.
Salvi Sports Enterprises owns the Schaumburg Boomers, as well as the Gary Southshore RailCats (American Association) and the North Shore Navigators (Futures Collegiate Baseball League). The Boomers have won four (4) Frontier League championships in 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2021.
Food & Beverage 3
Overall, the food is quite good. Two main concession areas on the concourse offer a variety of options. They include jumbo hot dogs ($5), grilled brats ($6), cheeseburgers ($8), veggie burgers ($8), pizza slices ($6), and chicken tender baskets.
The Boomers have “Specialty food” items such as the Big Chicago, a foot long Chicago Style hot dog, a Bases Loaded Burger, burger patties with pulled pork and crispy onion strings ($20), and my favorite, the Spud Bucket, a souvenir helmet filled with fries and topped with pulled pork nacho cheese and bacon ($23). Of course, there are the Chicago classics of the Italian beef sandwich ($10) and the Italian sandwich ($6). Popcorn comes in a bag ($4), bucket ($8), or souvenir helmet (12). Peanuts, Cracker Jack, Sour Patch Kids, or M&M’s are $5.
The best food choice might be Ben’s Soft Pretzel or jumbo cinnamon sugar pretzel ($7) and $2 more for a cheese dipping cup. This will be the best soft pretzel you have ever had – they are heaven in a wrapper.
For your sweet tooth, The Creamery, a local ice cream shop, provides ice cream. They have cones and ice cream sandwiches from $6 to $10. In addition, there is cheesecake on a stick ($9) and chocolate-covered bananas ($5). A regular-sized Pepsi-brand soda is $5 and a larger souvenir soda is $7. Gatorades are $6.
There is a decent selection of craft beer at the Goose Island kiosk, where four taps are available at $8 a pint. Picnic tables and chairs are available for fans to enjoy three varieties of the local brew for the same price. Premium beers are $9. More varieties at the concession stands include Church Street, Kona. However, you can enjoy a true Chicago classic, Old Style in a tallboy can at $8. In addition, they have spiked iced teas, Nutrl Vodka Seltzers, and canned mixed drinks ($10).
Atmosphere 2
The ballpark is like any other park built during its time; there is nothing too special about it, but it is a good place to see a game. The organization recently painted the park to reflect the Boomer's colors of orange and black. The best thing about the seating area is that each seat has a cup holder.
There are two grass berms along the foul line from just past the dugout to near the outfield wall. However, the bad thing about the park is you can’t walk around it; one can only walk from foul pole to foul pole. New to the ballpark this year (2024) is the outdoor suites and added drink rails. Four new concourse-level platforms are behind home plate at the back of sections J, I, G, & F. The spaces in G & I feature new outdoor suites right behind home plate for groups of up to 35.
Left Field Grass Berm, Photo by Eric Hasman, Stadium Journey
The Left Field Party Deck received a major overhaul with new seating areas, food service areas, and a canopy structure to help provide shade on day games. Fans can rent this area out for private parties of up to 80 ($25 each includes hot dogs, BBQ pulled pork, brats, pasta salad, ice cream sandwiches, and soda or water, domestic draft beer is available for $2). When there are no parties, anyone can sit there since there are some tables with umbrellas. It is a nice place to view the game, but concessions are not in the area.
The stadium has plenty of handicapped seating areas, and the Boomers provide steel folding chairs. Overhead suites cover a lot of the seating, which is nice if it rains, or you want some shade.
The Boomers installed a new video scoreboard in 2023 which has the usual features like a video screen that shows up-to-the-minute current players’ stats. The ballpark has the same dimensions (353 feet down the right field line and 355 feet down the left field line) and “wells” in left and right fields like those at Wrigley Field. It was originally billed as a “mini-Wrigley Field.”
The newly renovated Kids Zone, behind the party deck, features seven (7) new and fun inflatables for kids of all ages. The Kids Zone is free for fans in attendance. If you are with the kids, you might miss the game since the area will entertain them. There is a speed pitch there by the third base entrance.
Between-innings promotions are the usual minor league stuff like t-shirt tosses and fan contests. My favorite is a race that pits three contestants, picked from the crowd, dressed as Repellent, Sunscreen, or Shaving Cream canisters. They race from the right field foul pole to near home plate. The Boomers have been utilizing their new video board between innings with a Kiss Cam, Smile Cam, etc.
The gift shop is located on the bottom floor of the stadium at the main entrance. It is kind of small but there is a decent variety of shirts and hats. Coop the Boomer, the mascot makes several appearances on the field, and he usually walks the concourse too.
Neighborhood 3
Residential housing, parking lots, and a Metra train station surround the park. The Schaumburg Regional Airport is nearby, so during a game, you will regularly see small planes and helicopters going over the stadium. The Woodfield Mall, with adjoining big box stores and a bunch of chain restaurants such as Texas de Brazil, PF Changs, Cheesecake Factory, Giordano’s Pizza, and Bulldog Ale House, is about 15 minutes from the ballpark.
Three recommended restaurants close to the park are Pilot Pete’s, which is an aeronautical-themed bar and restaurant, Sammy’s Mexican Restaurant, and Rookies Sports Bar & Grill. All are approximately five minutes from the park. The food quality at all the establishments is good and reasonably priced.
Fans 3
Since the Salvi group has taken over, the Boomers average a little over 4,000 a game and have been at or near the top for attendance in the Frontier League. On Saturdays, they draw about 4,000 to 7,000 due to fireworks after the game. As with every Frontier League crowd, a few fans are really into the team and game. These fans are usually wearing Boomers jerseys/shirts. Other fans are there just to socialize with family and friends.
Access 5
Overall, the access to the stadium is excellent since the park is located off the Elgin-O’Hare Expressway (I-390). It should be noted that the parking is free, but on crowded days (usually Saturdays), it will take a while to get out of the lot. Also, there is a Metra train station one block from the stadium.
There are no restrictions on bags, but every bag carried into Wintrust Field is subject to inspection.
Return on Investment 3
Reserve seats will cost $16, lawn seats are $12, and expect to pay $1 more on game day at the gate. A screen is in front of the seats in sections E-K (dugout to dugout) to protect fans from foul balls. These are some of the highest prices I have seen in the league. However, the product the Boomers put on the field is worth it.
Extras 4
The Boomers are named for an endangered bird that is native to Illinois known as the Great Prairie Chicken. They can be found in greater abundance in the Dakotas, but at one time were prevalent in this area and nicknamed “boomers” because of the loud noise and dance they make during mating season.
Coop the Boomer, the team’s mascot, is out amongst the fans and on the field quite a bit and is popular with the kids.
Finally, an extra point for the field since Roger Bossard, the “Sodfather”, the long-time groundskeeper of the Chicago White Sox, installed a new playing surface in October 2011.
The ballpark earns a point for free parking.
Final Thoughts
The Schaumburg Boomers experience is noticeably better than the Schaumburg Flyers experience from many years ago. It seems the Boomers are keeping up their winning ways and are always upgrading the fan experience. Wintrust Field is worth checking out during any ballpark tours of the Chicagoland area.
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