Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
The Ballpark 14 Emerson Cummings Blvd Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064
Year Opened: 1984
Capacity: 3,000
Bugs Run This Beach
Time has a way of making something that once seemed so grandiose become much more ordinary. When first opened in 1984, The Ballpark was called “the prettiest ballpark in creation” by Sports Illustrated, which likened the stadium to a hunting lodge due to the pine used throughout the facility. Fast forward to the present day, and it might be hard to link any of those adjectives to The Ballpark.
Originally built to host AAA baseball, first for the Maine Guides and then the Maine Phillies, minor league baseball here was short-lived, lasting only five years in Old Orchard Beach, the coastal Maine vacation destination. The following years would be unkind to The Ballpark, with the facility nearly falling victim to decay and demolition, then arson, before the stadium was saved by Old Orchard Beach residents following a grassroots effort to bring baseball back to the venue.
By 2010 The Ballpark began hosting American Legion teams and youth tournaments, and in 2011 it welcomed its first summer collegiate baseball team, the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, followed by the independent Old Orchard Beach Surge of the Empire Professional Baseball League.
The Ballpark was also used by the Greater Northeast Collegiate Baseball League (GNCBL) as one of its rotating fields, but the town did not have a permanent team until the 2024 season, following the sale and restructuring of the league, giving each site used its own designated home team.
Food and Beverage 2
The Ballpark is one of a handful of fields in the GNCBL that operates a concession stand and is the only one that serves alcohol. Concessions are not much more than would be expected at any typical concession stand, including items such as pretzels, hot dogs, pizza slices, and popcorn chicken. A wide selection of snacks are also available.
The beverage selection includes Gatorade and soft drinks from the Pepsi family, with alcohol choices including beer, hard iced tea, and seltzers – specifically Bud Light, Modelo, Michelob Ultra, Goose Island IPA, Twisted Tea, and High Noon.
Atmosphere 2
Baseball at The Ballpark does have the feel of what would be expected at lower-level college baseball games. Music is played between innings and players do have individual walk-up music, but that is the extent of any type of entertainment beyond the game itself. In the GNCBL you will not find the mid-inning on-field contests that have become commonplace throughout much of minor league baseball and in some of the other summer collegiate leagues.
For better or worse, much of the original stadium remains as it was in the 1980s. The concrete structure is topped with modest boxes that more resemble warming huts than what we may today consider as suites, and where the original press box once stood is an open concrete slab, with former suites converted to a new press box right next to it.
If debating between a weekday night game or a weekend day game, a swampy area beyond the left field side of the stadium is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which are typically at their worst near sunset. Dealing with the possibility of heat and a lack of shade is more manageable than the constant barrage of nature’s bloodsuckers – even those who played at The Ballpark forty years prior are quick to bring up mosquitoes at the first mention of Old Orchard.
The seating at The Ballpark is made up of rather uncomfortable half-backed seats that rest squarely in the small of your back for a typical-sized human. Many seats are also hiding cracks with a strip of duct tape, whereas some sections are in such disrepair that the whole section is closed off.
Neighborhood 4
Old Orchard Beach is every bit the vacation beach town. Though the immediate area is mostly municipal buildings and high school facilities, the excitement of the beach and pier, which dates back to 1898, is just over a mile away. Often referred to as “OOB”, this is a popular summer destination for both American and Quebecois vacationers, as evidenced by the numerous Canadian and Quebec provincial flags that fly around town.
East Grand Avenue, which runs parallel to the beachfront, has the feel of a mini-Coney Island with numerous gift shops, walk-up eateries, and the beachside amusement park, Palace Playland. Old Orchard Beach, along with many of the southern Maine waterfront communities, is a popular summer tourist destination, so be prepared for premium prices on relatively modest accommodations.
For those looking to enjoy outdoor activities away from the tourist crowds, you might want to consider Biddeford/Saco Country Club and Dunegrass Golf Club, or take a stroll through the trails of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge; Old Orchard Beach has much more to offer beyond its beachfront attractions.
Fans 2
Of all the teams in GNCBL, Old Orchard Beach sees more fan support than any of the other teams, except maybe the Bangor Babes. Weekend games can often draw in the neighborhood of 75 to 100 fans. The Beach Bugs staff is also active throughout the community, promoting the team with nearby businesses to draw from the vacationers and locals.
Access 4
Located by the beach, Old Orchard Beach is not directly on a major interstate or US highway, but is just under 4 miles from US 1, which runs parallel to I-95 along the southern Maine coast. The town is also served by Amtrak’s Downeaster rail service, which operates between Boston and Brunswick, Maine. Amtrak’s stop is beachfront, however, which still leaves a bit of a walk to The Ballpark via pedestrian-friendly streets.
A single gravel parking lot sits outside the main gates and ticket tent, a short walk from the grandstand. Several stairways lead up to the field concourse, which separates the upper and lower levels of seating – for those who may have difficulty with stairs, a ramp sits along the first base side of the stadium.
Return on Investment 5
Admission runs $5, with tickets available for purchase online including a nominal service fee (in all, tickets will be less than $6 each). Concessions are reasonably priced, comparable to what might be expected from Little League concession stands.
Extras 2
Old Orchard Beach is one of the better teams in the GNCBL at marketing its product, with merchandise on sale at their games, as well as an online presence to promote the Beach Bugs.
For those old enough to remember the AAA baseball days at The Ballpark, several of the original structures are still standing, including the locker rooms, front office, maintenance facilities, and the stadium speaker tower in centerfield.
Final Thoughts
Baseball at The Ballpark is an experience that is probably not an impressive one for first-time visitors, but those who understand the history of baseball in the area will appreciate that the game is still being played in Old Orchard Beach.
The fact that baseball is even still played at The Ballpark is nothing short of amazing. The facility has sustained foreclosure, abandonment, and arson, but through it all has come out on the other side – a bit worse for the wear, but still standing.
The Ballpark holds a significant place in Maine's baseball history. For those who grew up attending games here, it was a cherished alternative to Fenway Park for those unable to make the trip to Boston. Much of the credit for keeping The Ballpark alive and in use today needs to go to the town of Old Orchard Beach and its residents, whose decades of dedication have preserved this stadium, keeping it still in use today.
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