Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
Dunn Field 546 Luce St. Elmira, NY 14904
Year Opened: 1939
Capacity: 4,020
An Old Dependable in Elmira
Dunn Field has been hosting baseball for 80 years dating back to the 1939 season and is the home to the Elmira Pioneers of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, a college wood bat league that operates during the summer months to provide college ball players a minor league-style experience.
Before the arrival of the latest incarnation of the franchise, the name first dates back to the turn of the last century in 1900. The ballpark was home to minor league baseball in various leagues from the Eastern League to the New York-Penn League producing 13 league championships.
After a decade of independent baseball, the college wood bat variety took up shop at Dunn Field and does not appear to be looking back, producing the fourth-highest average attendance totals in all of summer collegiate baseball last season (2017).
Dunn Field comfortably seats 4,020 people and is still a grand reminder of what ballparks used to look like at one time. It still holds up handsomely well for a midsummer night of baseball. Its setting and location along the Chemung River and its history make up a strong baseball cocktail that should be sipped slowly on a warm summer night in the southern tier of New York.
Food & Beverage 3
The main concession stand operates two windows directly underneath the grandstand and in front of the main entrance. There is not a huge selection of food, but the prices range from $3-$5. Highlights include the grilled chicken sandwich, pulled pork, and the nachos grande.
There is an additional concession booth on top of the grandstand that serves a spicy jalapeno pretzel and cotton candy. A nice little touch near the park’s entrance is a local coffee shop that does business only during home games. They serve the high-end iced coffee varieties you would find at Starbucks or Tim Horton’s.
If you have a few people with you on game night, opt for the nachos served in a batting helmet for $10. This can easily feed two to three people. In the adult beverage department, the prices are even better. While many parks up the prices beyond belief, even at this level, the Pioneers offer domestic cans of 12-ounce beers for $3 and 24-ounce cans for $5. Hey, who needs Thirsty Thursdays?
Atmosphere 4
Dunn Field provides a nostalgic atmosphere for baseball and begins with a magnificent art deco entrance. The entrance still houses its original ticket booths that are narrow and small. There is no need to look for food since the concession stands are smacked down in front of your eyes. The souvenir shop is to the left and has a few nice bits of team paraphernalia. A few t-shirts sell for $5 and that is a bargain.
There are also a lot of activities for the kids that include plate painting, bouncing bubbles, and the classic carnival game of strength-ring the bell. The splat of the mallet and the ringing of the bell can be deafening at times, but try telling that to the crowd of kiddies waiting in line to give it a try. If you love cuddly mascots, the Pioneers employ Stitches who makes his way around the stadium and field throughout the game.
Dunn Field is quite large and filled with nostalgia throughout every corner of the building. The covered grandstand features full-service box seating, plastic bucket seats, and theater-style teal seats that are peeling and cracking. The teal color was from when the Florida Marlins had their Single-A franchise in Elmira from 1993-1995 and it needs a fresh coat of new paint. Other evidence of the Marlins and their teal revolution exists on the roofs of the dugouts that were installed at the time of their arrival.
Many stories can be told about the baseball that has been played here. Photos of Babe Ruth, Don Zimmer’s wedding, and a contract signed by Earl Weaver don the interior royal blue walls. Also in this area are the twelve different championship banners won by the Pioneers in numerous leagues that date back to 1914. If you need more proof of the stadium’s glorious past, talk to a few fans and they will tell you one of their favorite stories from their youth.
Neighborhood 3
Dunn Field is located along the river and situated in a residential neighborhood. Many of these homes look as if they are post-Victorian models and are kept up quite nicely. You may be lucky to see groups of folks outside on their wraparound patios entertaining guests en route to the ballpark. Unfortunately, there are not any restaurants or entertainment options within walking distance. Downtown is three miles away and there are a few local establishments I would recommend.
Legends Bar & Grill has the local delicacy of chicken spiedies on their menu, and the Elbow Room features a great selection of wings and burgers. If you are a fan of microbreweries, Upstate Brewing Company is a popular destination in town. Chubby’s is popular among the local populace for its pizza and atmosphere.
Fans 4
They have been playing baseball in Elmira for more than 126 years and games at Dunn Field has become a rite of passage. They have seen the Pioneers play in Single-A, independent, and now in the collegiate wood bat league. The crowd is laid back and relaxed underneath the historically covered ballpark.
They are willing to share a few baseball stories from when they were younger and all indicate that the place has not changed much in quite some time. One gentleman’s wife was looking through an old program from the early 1980s and discovered that it was signed by Wade Boggs when he was playing in the Red Sox system. The husband remembered asking for the autograph but blanked out that it was the major league Hall of Famer. There are many more great stories to share and they could fill up a book.
Access 5
I enjoy having signs and directions to the ballpark directly from the interstate. They are listed on I-86 with other Elmira attractions in town. There are a couple more signs that will guide you to the stadium’s entrance and once you are there, there is ample free covered parking near the stadium. This is the one time when you can put the GPS away and enjoy the ride to the ballpark.
Return on Investment 4
Tickets for adults are $8 and for students/seniors, the cost is $5. The Pioneers offer VIP seating in their box seats that include wait service for $10. These are the old fashion seats that are two rows in the back of the home plate.
Extras 4
The charm of Dunn Field would be enough to attract any ballpark traveler to Elmira. The amply-sized stadium has the look and feel of many great minor league ballparks that are no longer around. It is clean, spacious, and ideal for a relaxing day of baseball viewing. What is better than watching a simple game at a perfectly simple and beautiful historic stadium?
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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com