Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Skylands Stadium 94 Championship Pl Augusta, NJ 07822
Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 4,200
Mining Success at Skylands Stadium
In Augusta, New Jersey, in the extreme northwestern corner of the state, you will find Skylands Stadium, home of the Sussex County Miners baseball team. Until 2006, Skylands Stadium was home to the New Jersey Cardinals of the New York-Penn League.
The Cardinals relocated to Pennsylvania and became the State College Spikes, but baseball would return the next year with the Sussex County Skyhawks of the independent Can-Am League. The Skyhawks folded after the 2010 season, but baseball would once again return in 2015 with the Sussex County Miners, again joining the Can-Am League.
After the 2019 season, the Can-Am League merged with the Frontier League under the latter's name. This would have been effective for the 2020 season, but it was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Miners instead began play in the Frontier League in 2021.
Food & Beverage 5
There are several concession stands scattered throughout Skylands Stadium, offering many options, some classic, some unique. You will of course, find all the usual options at these stands such as chicken tenders, burgers, and hot dogs (the latter also coming in a deep-fried variety), but there are some other options as well such as a pickle on a stick and honey waffle fries. Be warned that the overhead signs above the window only show some of the options, there are additional boards at the back of the stand with more to choose from.
Double S Smokehouse maintains a restaurant in the stadium that is open year-round, as well as a stand down the right field line. Here, you will find freshly made barbecue options such as a brisket sandwich, St. Louis ribs, pulled pork, and mac and cheese, with an assortment of homemade sauces to choose from.
Alcohol is sold at several stands for those of age, but Double S has unique cocktails and mixed drinks as well. Most notable is their In a Pickle, which contains vodka, pickle juice, lime, and simple syrup.
For those with a sweet tooth, Yuengling Ice Cream has a stand that offers the usual flavors, in your choice of cone, cup, or helmet, as well as one or two unique flavors per game. When Stadium Journey visited late in the season, they had a pumpkin pie flavor which was pumpkin ice cream with pieces of pie crust, but the exact selections may vary by game.
In addition to the usual bottled water and other soft drinks, some of the stands sell hot drinks such as various coffee varieties and hot apple cider.
Atmosphere 4
The architectural style at Skylands Stadium is mostly rural and rustic with a splash of Jersey Shore thrown in. The red-painted wood panels on the facade call to mind the many barns in the area, and the team store known as "The Company Store" has a rustic wooden exterior. Bright lights flashing "Open" welcome you to the Double S Smokehouse stand, and the Yuengling stand looks like an ice cream shop you could walk in on the Jersey Shore boardwalk, but other than that, the architecture is quite fitting for this rural part of New Jersey.
An on-field emcee and superfans scattered throughout the crowd get the fans hyped up, and there are various promotions throughout the evening, such as a t-shirt toss set to the music of Zombie Nation Music, and sound effects are played during breaks in the action, even between pitches, which can get annoying at times. A buff miner mascot named Herbie roams the stands interacting with fans.
The seating bowl itself consists of a middle ring that you will enter from the concourse, with seats above and below. If your section includes a double letter (for instance FF), you will be seated above the concourse. If it includes a single letter (such as D), you will be seated below the concourse. The park is small enough that all seats have a great view of the action.
Neighborhood 3
Sussex County is far removed from the rest of New Jersey, both culturally and geographically, and the area surrounding the stadium is mostly farmland. You will pass by many farms and maybe even some cows as you come into town, with some of those farms selling ice cream made right there. Other options include Yetter's Diner just down the street from the stadium, and, if you are unable to grab any inside, you can always go to the Double S Smokehouse restaurant at the stadium.
Fans 3
Sussex County ranks towards the bottom of the Frontier League in attendance with about 1,600 fans a game, but those who do show up, are passionate, vocal, and into what is happening on the field. Some of them to go every single home game, with a few even going to the away games. They will participate in the chants, get on the umpire's case after a bad call, and generally be unafraid to make their feelings known. They are there to support their hometown team, and despite the relatively small crowds, it can get loud here.
Access 3
Skylands Stadium is located in rural Sussex County in northwest New Jersey. The ballpark is located near the Sussex County Fairgrounds, near the intersection of routes 206 and 15. The nearest interstate, I-80, is about half an hour’s drive from here. It is the only interstate highway to enter Sussex County, and only at the extreme southern end. I-84 passes just north of the county near the tri-point between New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, but never enters New Jersey at all. You can take Exit 1 in New York just before the state line and follow the signs for New Jersey. This is still about a half-hour's drive. No matter how you get here, at least the last few miles will be on rural country roads.
Only part of the parking lot is paved, with the remainder being gravel. Be careful if parking there. The restrooms in the stadium are small and can occasionally have lines, with the facilities being old and not in the best condition.
Return on Investment 3
Lower-level tickets at Skylands Stadium are priced at $20, and upper-level tickets are $17. This is on the high level for tickets, although the free parking is nice. Concessions are on the high end, although the food is high-quality adding to the value. Overall, the value of a Sussex County Miners game is about average.
Extras 3
Look for the many statues and art installations in and around the stadium. A globe statue is located outside the entrance and is lit up at night as fans leave the ballpark. A jack-o-lantern wearing sunglasses is located in the stadium to promote the Jack-o-Lantern Halloween Experience in the ballpark every October, and there is a statue of a baseball glove as well.
A second star for the stadium architecture - a rustic, rural style with a flash of Jersey Shore.
The team store is also worthy of an extra, both for its merchandise and its design like a rustic wooden building.
Final Thoughts
Skylands Stadium may be far away from everywhere everyone thinks of when they think of New Jersey, but it is still a great place to watch a baseball game. Between the unique and fitting architectural style and all the on-field and off-field ways the team promotes the fan experience, a Sussex County Miners game is a great way to spend a summer evening.
Comments