First National Bank Field – Greensboro Grasshoppers

Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14

First National Bank Field 408 Bellemeade St Greensboro, NC 27401

Greensboro Grasshoppers website First National Bank Field

Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 7,449

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Hop on Down to Greensboro Baseball

First National Bank Field in Greensboro, North Carolina is the home of the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the South Atlantic League affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Built in 2005, the stadium replaced the aging and outdated World War Memorial Stadium, which had been in use since 1979. At that point, the team rebranded from the Bats to the Grasshoppers.

Baseball has been played in Greensboro since 1902, although not always continuously. The Greensboro Farmers lasted just that inaugural 1902 season but would return in 1905. After several more on-and-off teams over the years, the Greensboro Hornets came to town in 1979, and baseball has been played here ever since.

Food & Beverage 4

There are three different main concession stands at First National Bank Stadium, with special names like Cornwallis's Last Stand and O'Henry's Corner, but all three serve similar menus. Hot dogs are available, including several specialty dogs, as are burgers, spicy chicken sandwiches, and all your standard ballpark fare. What brings this ranking up a notch is the several specialty stands located in carts and tables around the concourse. Here you will find nachos (topped with pulled pork and other toppings if you wish), ice cream sundaes (sadly not in a helmet) and more.

Keep in mind First National Bank Field is a cashless facility, so only credit cards are accepted.

Atmosphere 4

A Greensboro Grasshoppers game is a lively experience the entire evening. Before the game starts, the teams' two mascots, grasshoppers named Guilford and Guilly drive around the field in their golf cart and get the crowd energized. Guilford is furry and cute, while Guilly is not furry and is dressed like a pirate in homage to the Grasshoppers' affiliation with the major league Pittsburgh Pirates. Fireworks are shot off after every Grasshoppers' home run. The team plays sound effects over the PA system throughout the entire night, including classics such as the breaking glass for foul balls as well as references to pop culture. They're particularly fond of "What's the matter, are you scared of Grasshoppers?" from Bug's Life but also use classic lines from The Simpsons and other TV shows and movies.

As for the stadium itself, there is some berm seating down the right field line, but the remainder of the seats are box seat chairbacks. This is a small, intimate stadium, so no matter where you sit, you will have a great view of the action. There is a large scoreboard in right-centerfield that mostly shows player stats and the lineups in addition to the basic gameday information, but is capable of showing videos as well.

Neighborhood 5

First National Bank Field is located in the heart of Center City Greensboro, a mixed-use development that includes apartments as well as hotels and local businesses. Grey's Tavern and Fisher's Grill are popular eateries within a mile of the ballpark, and you will be able to find just about any other cuisine that you want nearby as well from Italian to Chinese to Mexican to Greek to Korean. History buffs will definitely want to check out the International Civil Rights Center & Museum on the site of the Woolworth's where the first sit-ins occurred in 1960. There are guided tours available every day of the week except Sunday, but you must book in advance.

Fans 4

The Grasshoppers draw good crowds to a typical home game, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. Although the ballpark may not completely sell out, expect around 4,000 to 5,000 fans for a typical home game, which is is near the top of the South Atlantic League. The fans are active and will get loud when the Grasshoppers score or make a big play in the field. They are also knowledgeable about the game and the team and will often comment to each other on what is going on and why something played out the way it did.

Access 4

First National Bank Park is located just a few miles off of I-85 and I-40 in the heart of Greensboro. The main entrance to the stadium is located halfway down Bellemeade Street, across from a large parking garage that costs $5, card only. There are some other private lots nearby that may cost less and/or accept cash, but which will be a longer walk. Once inside the stadium, there is a spacious concourse that runs along most of foul territory and a little bit of fair territory. You can see the field from the entire concourse, which is a plus when waiting at the concession stand. There are several sets of restrooms which are more than big enough for the crowds.

One downside of access at First National Bank Field is that gates open only half an hour before first pitch for weekday games. (They do open an hour before on weekends.) This is disappointing for fans who want to get in early and explore the ballpark. In fairness, they did open the gates a few minutes early when we visited.

Return on Investment 5

Tickets to Grasshopper games are very affordable. Berm seating is just $11, while if you want an actual seat, that will cost $15-$17 depending on how close to home plate you are. Keep in mind there is an extra surcharge for buying on gameday. Parking is just $5, and can be less if you are willing to walk. Concessions are affordable as well.

Keep in mind First National Bank Field is a completely cashless facility, including the parking garage, although some private lots nearby do take cash.

Extras 3

Richard Wilkinson, the stadium usher in the aisle between Sections 108 and 109, has been named the funniest usher in minor league baseball. Between innings, he will use a dry erase white board to show super corny jokes to the amusement of fans sitting in those sections. He will also occasionally use the whiteboard to make announcements to the fans or to welcome them to the ballpark at the start of the game.

The Grasshoppers have a bat dog named Willie Mae Mays who will run onto the field to retrieve the Grasshoppers' bats in her mouth, to the enjoyment of fans.

A third and final star for the kids' play area down the right field line.

Greensboro Grasshoppers' usher Richard Wilkinson holds up dry erase boards with a super corny, yet funny joke.

Final Thoughts

First National Bank Field is a gorgeous, modern stadium with all the amenities one might expect of a newer ballpark. The Greensboro Grasshoppers have a loyal fan base and put on an outstanding gameday experience. Baseball fans in North Carolina will definitely want to hop on down here to check out a game.