Hodgetown - Amarillo Sod Poodles
- Terry McCutchen
- Jun 10
- 7 min read
Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.29
Hodgetown 701 South Buchanan Street Amarillo, TX 79101
Year Opened: 2019
Capacity: 6,631
More Than a Dusty Cow Town
To many outsiders, Amarillo, Texas is a small dusty cowtown where everyone rides horses; raises cattle; and wears cowboy boots, jeans, and hats everywhere they go. But while Western culture is alive and well here, with many of the world’s largest cattle ranches within a few hours’ drive, the Potter County capital itself is a bustling modern city replete with all the shopping, dining, and entertainment options of any major city. There are also a few museums that are well worth your time, including The Museum of Art, The American Quarter Horse Museum, and the world-famous Cadillac Ranch, a short 14-mile drive west on Interstate 40.
Part of the colorful history of Amarillo is a deep-rooted relationship with professional baseball; beginning in 1922 with the Amarillo Gassers, there have been professional baseball teams here for most of the past 104 years. After the Gassers the city laid claim to the Amarillo Gold Sox, a club which called Amarillo home and played at various levels from 1939-1982, serving multiple parent clubs during its tenure. The Gold Sox left the Texas Panhandle to become the Beaumont Golden Gators, then later the Wichita Wranglers, and eventually the modern-day Northwest Arkansas Naturals. More recently, after a brief dalliance with different independent teams such as the Dillas, Sox, and Thunderheads, affiliated professional baseball returned to Amarillo in 2019 with the introduction of the Sod Poodles, and the opening of the new downtown gem, Hodgetown.
Hodgetown creatively provides a local twist by combining ‘Hodge’, from Amarillo businessman, philanthropist, community leader, and 26th mayor Jerry Hodge, with ‘Town’ from Prairie Dog-naming culture, when several smaller colonies come together to form a larger community. Free of corporate branding or standard labels like ‘park’ or ‘stadium’, the venue’s unusual name perfectly mirrors its one-of-a-kind game-day experience.
Food & Beverage 4
Concessions at Hodgetown offer numerous unique and thematic options in addition to the normal ballpark fare. With four full-service concession stands (Barnyard, Feed and Seed, Panhandle Pizza, and Route 66 Grill) all serving the traditional options plus premium choices, finding food and beverages is no problem. In addition to the full service stands along the concourse, there are also several standalone beverage and specialty food carts spread throughout the facility such as the Pepsi Party Deck in left field, as well as Dickey’s BBQ Pit and HTeaO.
Food options vary from traditional items such as hot dogs, nachos, and burgers to game and series-specific items, such as loaded BBQ baked potatoes, calf fries, pork rind nachos, and regional favorite Frito pie (a combination of Fritos, chili, and cheese topped with onions and relish). One specialty food promotion here is to offer a ‘Food from Around the League’ premium item that honors the visiting team for each home series, such as the BBQ pulled pork onion ring burger which honored the Northwest Arkansas Naturals’ parent club, the Kansas City Royals, was available at Route 66 Grill on the concourse.
Traditional baseline food options are generally between $5 and $8, while premium options cost between $15 and $20. Drinks run between $6 and $9, but in an effort to be more budget friendly, the Soddies recently introduced four value meals that include a main item, popcorn, and a drink (either a 16 oz. soft drink or a 12 oz. beer) for less than $15.
Pepsi is the soft drink company of choice in regular or refillable (free refills) souvenir cups. Many domestic beers, plus multiple local and regional craft beers, are available at the different party decks, including Bar 352 just beyond the left field wall. Other alcohol options include wine and mixed drinks, especially multiple flavors of margaritas from Marg House.
In addition to the multiple drink and quality food options offered here on a daily basis, the Sod Poodles offer numerous food and drink promotions that tie in with other stadium events. All these options have helped move Hodgetown’s concessions to the short list of best vendors in minor league baseball.
Atmosphere 4
As an anchor to Amarillo’s downtown scene, Hodgetown is a beautiful setting for its passionate fans. Baseball fans in the Panhandle of Texas have been passionate about the game dating back to the days of independent baseball, as the Amarillo teams typically led their leagues in attendance. Averaging between 5,000 and 6,000 fans per game, the Soddies consistently play in front of a passionate fan base. At the most recent game I attended, for example, there were fans lined up more than an hour before the gates opened, in anticipation of the jersey giveaway promotion that night.
In-game hosts and game staff create a fan-friendly environment starting before the game begins. Drew Goodman, the play-by-play broadcaster here, hosts his pregame show on field, and multiple giveaways and promotional contests take place between the time gates open and when play begins.
Once play begins, interactive between-inning games and activities using the scoreboard keep fans engaged, limiting downtime. Children also have access to a small play area in the right field concourse, as well as a more exclusive area if desired.
Neighborhood 4
Hodgetown is the hub of downtown Amarillo; there are numerous office buildings and parking garages near the stadium, which means evening and weekend games take place when traffic is mostly gone. There are also a handful of nearby eateries, including Jimmy John’s across the street from the main entrance to the venue. Other restaurants within walking distance include Crush Wine Bar & Grill, Six Car Pub and Brewery, and Napoli’s.
If food challenges are more your thing, try The Big Texan a few miles away; a world-famous steakhouse where you can take on a 72 oz. steak dinner. Complete the steak within 60minutes, along with a loaded baked potato and side salad, and you join the short list of gastronomy heroes. However, if the steak is the victor, you might need a small loan to pay for your experience and the story that comes along with it.
Amarillo is large enough to offer hotels and short-term rentals in all price and amenity ranges. For hotels within walking distance of the baseball diamond, the best options include Embassy Suites (immediately across from the third base gate), Courtyard by Marriott, and The Barfield. Less costly choices can be found by choosing accommodations further away from the stadium.
Fans 5
Sod Poodle fans deserve full credit for their passion and energy. In terms of attendance they have consistently been one of the highest ranked teams in the Texas League, if not all of minor league baseball, since their inception. Last season they ranked 2nd in the Texas League, averaging nearly 5000 fans per game, which put them in the upper tier of minor league baseball. During the most recent game I attended, there was a near sellout on a Sunday afternoon with the chance of rain in early spring.
Not only are fans at Hodgetown present in large numbers, but they are passionate as well – they even lined up hours before the gates opened to get free replica jerseys for one of the alternate identities, the Yellow City Pigweeds. The fans’ excitement and energy help the team create an environment where visitors enjoy watching games.
Access 4
Located just north of the intersection of Interstates 27 and 40 in downtown Amarillo, Hodgetown is easily accessible from any direction. Streets are clearly marked, and parking is plentiful – the City of Amarillo states there are over 7000 public parking spaces within walking distance of the facility, including nearly 70 handicapped spaces in the city hall lot across the street from the third base gate.
Fans can enter the venue using either the third base entrance or the main gate, the latter of which leads to home plate, and is located at the corner of Buchanan Street and S. 8th Street. Once inside, 360-degree access is available via a ground level concourse. Seating is in a sunken-bowl setting, which makes movement around the ballpark easy.
Return On Investment 4
Outfield berm tickets can be purchased for less than $10, while the most expensive seats in the house go for approximately $35 (behind home plate on weekends). Parking around the facility costs around $8, although handicapped parking is free by Texas state law, if you have the proper signage.
The cost of concessions items at Hodgetown is consistent with other Texas League venues, with some days of the week offering special promotions and prices for specific items. The pricing of souvenirs is also in line with most other minor league teams, as well.
All these considerations lead to helping the Sod Poodles create a positive return on investment. Once you factor ease of access and fan passion into the equation, the chance of a high-quality game experience is sure to increase. I enjoyed my time at Hodgetown, and would relish another trip.
Extras 5
Alternate identities with catchy logos such as the Calf Fries, Yellow City Pigweeds, and Pointy Boots have helped generate a large variety of merchandise to choose from at the team store.
The crowd’s engagement and involvement during the game creates a fun environment, which is key since not every fan base is active during games.
Concessionaires and team employees are friendly and engaging; I had multiple questions during my visit, and every interaction was met with a smile and positive reception.
The efficiency and speed at which fans move through the gates is also amazing – at the last game I attended the lines were a block long to get into the game, but were cleared within minutes of the gates opening.
The ease in which you can get in and out of downtown Amarillo is also worth extra points; I was there for two days in a row, and never had trouble getting to or from the facility.
Final Thoughts
While Amarillo may not lead most people’s vacation lists, Hodgetown should definitely be on the short list of minor league parks baseball fans want to attend; it offers amenities and perks that many other baseball stadiums are unable to duplicate.
