Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Capital Credit Union Park 2231 Holmgren Way Ashwaubenon, WI 54115
Year Opened: 2019
Capacity: 3,359
Green Bay’s Quirky Home for Baseball
The Northwoods League is full of older ballparks that have been heavily renovated and brand-new ballparks built to house multiple sports franchises and other events. The league’s newest ballpark Capital Credit Union Park is easily one of the quirkiest places for baseball during the league’s summer months of June and July.
The Green Bay Rockers, formerly the Green Bay Bullfrogs and Booyah, call the $14 million venue home. The ball club shares it with the Green Bay Voyageurs FC of the USL League Two and it would appear that the venue is more suitable for soccer than baseball. The most striking feature is the 282 distance from home plate to right field which would make Yankee Stadium green with envy.
However, many other anomalies include permanent soccer lines on the synthetic turf, a 45,000 square foot video board that takes up most of the outfield wall, two trucking containers that are listed as 19 feet, 19 inches (a nod to the founding year of the Green Bay Packers), but it’s 22 feet high, and there is only 19 feet from the backstop to the first row of seats in the grandstand.
There is still a smell of paint in the stadium that fills the air, numerous activities for the kids, and there are plenty of regional items at the concession stand. The most distinct is booyah, a chicken stew popular in town that shares its name with the ball club. There is also a 2,000-gallon booyah kettle located at the third base entrance of the stadium.
After three seasons, new ownership changed the name of the ball club to the Rockers. The decision to rebrand appeared to be a connection between Boomerang Management, who also owns the ballpark and nearby EPIC Events Center, to create a synergy between the two venues. The new events center houses a lot of concerts and there may be a few performances at the ballpark as well.
That could easily be sustainable because Capital Credit Union Park is not your average ballpark. It features a synthetic turf, a short distance to right field, and a small set of seating rows. It is easily adaptable to football games, soccer matches, and a few concerts. It is loved by the casual fan or loathed by the baseball purist. However, let’s find out more about the home of the Green Bay Rockers.
Food & Beverage 4
There are two main concession stands located in the stadium offering an array of traditional ballpark food but plenty of regional items and local beers. The cup of booyah is probably the item worth checking out first. It’s homemade by the club’s chef and features chicken, potatoes, and vegetables in a deeply rich broth. It’s also served on the booyah burger and poutine.
A more widely known area delicacy is fried cheese curds, brats, and chicken brats. There are also the classics: hot dogs, burgers, and loaded nachos. Fans have the option of paying a small fee to include a drink and fries or chips with any sandwich.
Behind home plate is Backstop Barbecue, a portable stand that features pulled chicken and pork sandwiches along with mac and cheese. Fans can enjoy mac and cheese and one of the pulled meats in a baseball helmet.
The beer selection includes 16 and 32-ounce domestic beers. Imports and craft beers will fetch $6 for a 16-ounce pint. The two craft beer brands are nearby Badger State Brewing Company and Stillmank Brewing Company. Fans can enjoy Green Chop IPA, Wisco Disco, WI Bien Mexican Lager from Stillmank or BRW-SKI, Buzzy Badger Coffee Ale, and Walloon Witbier from Badger State.
Atmosphere 4
The ballpark is full of interesting and distinct features that set it apart from any other facility in the league. The main entrance is located on the third base side where the official team store is located; fans walk up a small set of stairs to the main concourse where there are small portable stands and tabletop seating chairs.
The grandstand is only seven rows deep and extends from the right to the left field line. Home plate is 19 feet feet from the first rows of seats and it almost feels like you can get your glove out and call a few pitches. Down the right field line is the Bud Light Bleachers where a few taps or beers are available for the fans. Behind the left field wall are berm seats for 687 fans and a kids' zone with inflatable rides.
Two trucking shipment containers are stacked on each other in the right field corner that houses a hand-operated scoreboard and room for advertisements. The containers were selected for both their affordability and resistance to wind. Just to the left of them is the massive video board that broadcasts more advertisements in vivid color and player information. It dominates the stadium’s outfield wall and is the focal point in the yard.
The official team store offers a plethora of merchandise from team jerseys, to t-shirts, and caps. Compared to other Northwoods League ballparks, this is pristine with official jerseys only selling for $30–that also includes the club away lumberjack design tops.
The stadium also houses a club level above the backstop concourse that has 288 exterior seats and 16-person suites. Food and drink are available for patrons who opt for this ticket pricing point and include at times brisket, mac and cheese, fried fish, and a much smaller kettle of the team’s homemade booyah.
Neighborhood 4
Capital Credit Union Park is located in the town of Ashwaubenon on the outskirts of Green Bay on Holmgren Way, just a little over a mile from Lambeau Field. The club does not play at the same time as the Packers, but Lambeau is not a ghost town during the summer. The facility is home to the Packers Hall of Fame, stadium tours, 1919 Grill and Taproom, and one of the largest fan shops in the NFL.
Adjacent to the stadium is Titletown, a community development that features places to eat, drink, and play games. The area offers a large grass hill that kids enjoy rolling down on during the summer months and a massive playground and replica football field. The sprawling community is expanding and within a few years will offer residential homes, lodging, and more businesses.
Kroll’s West is known for the best burgers and their version of booyah, the Badger State Brewing Company offers a large open green space with games, and the Green Bay Distillery features Wisconsin dishes in a family-friendly environment.
If you have the chance, Booyah’s old ballpark is being utilized by the De Dere Dodgers of the Wisconsin State League. Joannes Stadium is located 5 miles away and features $3 ticket prices and $2.50 drafts of local beer. The club will rebrand to its original name the De Dere Blue Ribbons in 2020 and attract around 400-600 people per game.
Fans 3
The Booyah attract crowds of 1,467 so far this season which is just below the league average and seventh in the league. The majority of the fans are at the ballpark enjoying the social aspect of the ballpark, getting the kids out for the night, or just checking out the nightly promotion. There is a lot outside the play on the field to keep them entertained and there are a few of them keeping their eye on the ball from their seats.
Access 3
The stadium offers one main concourse that does not wrap around but offers enough room to move around to find your areas of need: bathrooms, exits, informational booths, and concession areas. Parking is located in the various business lots for free and usually houses a member of the Booyah staff directing motorists into a parking spot.
Return on Investment 4
The cheapest ticket is $8 for the grass berm seating behind the left field wall. The tickets for the grandstand are either $12 or $15 and bleacher seating is $20. The club-level seats sell for $45 and offer a buffet table of food. The parking is free of charge, but the earlier you arrive the closer you will secure a close spot to the stadium. The price of a jersey is only $30 and concession items are reasonable. The beer batter promo offers half off beer during one inning of play.
Extras 3
The Booyah receives a point for its interesting dimensions which feature a 22-foot-tall digital video wall, shipping containers, and a backstop that is only 19 feet from the first row of seats.
The price of a jersey sells for $30 and that is more than half the price of similar jerseys sold at other league venues in the state. The team shop also houses an array of merchandise and styles.
The homemade booyah is tasty and a must if you attend a game. A cup sells for $3 and is a perfect side dish to a sandwich or local craft beer.
Final Thoughts
Capital Credit Union Park is by far one of the most curious places to watch a baseball game during the summer months. Its design and features best suit a soccer match but it’s full of popular areas and affordable food and concessions items that make it a nice destination for fans in the area. Its colorful blue paint and catchy name should be a welcome destination for anybody looking for a night of baseball with friends or family. However, I am sure a few baseball purists would dissent to such a ballpark design.
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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com
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