Walt Kammann Baseball Field - Arizona Western Matadors
- Meg Minard
- 13 hours ago
- 4 min read
Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57
Walt Kammann Baseball Field 2020 S Ave 8 E
Yuma, AZ 85365
Year Opened: 1964 Capacity: 150 (Approx)
AW Matadors
The Arizona Western Matadors play their baseball games as an ACCAC (Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) member and an NJCAA participant. They play their home games at Walt Kammann Baseball Field on the campus of Arizona Western College in Yuma, AZ.
Walt Kammann was a notable figure in Yuma, AZ, who was known for his famous sausage recipe. In 1958, he participated in the Yuma Rotary Club's "International Buffet" competition and won multiple times with his sausage recipe. This success led to the creation of the annual Walt Kammann Sausage Fry, an event that has grown significantly over the years and continues to be a cherished tradition in Yuma. The event supports community initiatives, including school scholarships and youth programs.
The Matadors competed in the 1996 NJCAA Div 1 Championship in Grand Junction, CO. They were Conference Champions in 1995 and 1996, Region 2 Champions in those years, and in 2017 and 2018.
Food & Beverage 2
The stadium has a small concession truck that sells basic baseball snacks: hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, candy, chips, and non-alcoholic drinks ranging from $2 - $4. It’s inexpensive, and the selection is enough to hold you over till dinner. Fans can bring their own snacks and drinks into the park area.
Atmosphere 2
Walt Kammann Baseball Field provides a typical ACCAC game day experience with the focus on the game. The field has one set of shaded bleachers behind home plate, 10 rows high, with four steps to get up the set. The infield perimeter has plenty of places to park a wheelchair and a few yellow park benches for fans to sit. Smart fans even bring their lawn chairs and umbrellas and sit in the shade on the first base side.
A scoreboard in left-center field shows balls, strikes, outs, and the line score. Some advertisements are on left and right outfield walls, indicating strong support from the city and its businesses. Fans get a distant glimpse of the Gila Mountains or Laguna Mountains beyond the outfield, making a pleasant, natural backdrop. The venue does not have lights; the team only plays day games here.
A medium-thick net (no chain link fence) runs dugout to dugout to protect fans from foul balls.
The Matadors have an announcer though he is hard to hear when not sitting near the speakers.
Check the weather before attending a game, as it can get brutally hot later in the season. We recommend visiting in the early part of the season when it’s a little cooler; bring an umbrella to block the sun.
Neighborhood 2
Yuma is in the southwest corner of Arizona, bordering Mexico and California on the banks of the Colorado River. Walt Kammann Baseball Field sits next to the school’s soccer and softball fields and across the street from Mary A. Otondo Elementary School. There are no hotels and restaurants within five miles of the park; however, downtown Yuma is just ten miles west, and plenty of choices are found on the way there.
Mexican fare is the way to go when in Yuma. Eduardo's Mexican Food downtown and Chretin's Mexican Restaurant are good choices, though there are plenty more. Prison Hill Brewery (Yuma’s only brewery), Pint House Bar & Grill (American), The Garden Café (excellent for breakfast or lunch), Burgers & Beers, or Lutes Casino are other recommended places for food.
Popular attractions in the area include Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park and Colorado River State Historic Park. Yuma has plenty of hiking trails with the West Wetlands Loop the easiest and is also dog-friendly.
For places to stay, the Homewood Suites by Hilton (a team sponsor) is seven miles west of the college campus. A Comfort Inn & Suites and a Best Western (about five miles from the ball field) are a little closer. Yuma has almost every brand of hotel and a multitude of RV parks if bringing your camper.
Fans 3
The fans at Matadors games tend to be those in the friends and family category. Plenty of fans show up and usually fill the bleacher set behind home. They support good plays by either team and subtly comment on the umpires’ questionable calls.
Access 3
The college is a few miles off I-8. Parking at the ballfield is in a small dirt lot on the first base side, just across from the elementary school. The school is seven and a half miles from the Yuma Airport (YUM) , a small regional airport with commercial flights to and from Phoenix and Dallas. Fans can take the YCAT Bus 2 to the school; remember to check return and weekend times.
It's a short walk from the parking lot to the bleachers, with a small, slight decline on an uneven surface.
Restrooms are available in a separate structure a short distance away.
Return on Investment 5
Attending an AW Matadors baseball game is free and worth a visit if you simply enjoy the game of baseball. There’s no charge for parking, and concession prices are minimal. You spend what you bring for snacks and the cost of transportation to the field. That’s it.
Extras 3
The ACCAC uses wooden bats for its baseball games, creating the satisfying crack of the bat rather than the metallic ping. Among the notable MLB players who have worn a Matadors jersey are Benjie Molina and Sergio Romo. Interestingly, the flagpole stands near the visitor’s dugout instead of the traditional location in the outfield.
Final Thoughts
Attending an Arizona Western Matadors baseball game is a no-frills event. If you enjoy the game for the game, we recommend visiting if you live in or near Yuma or are traveling through during the springtime.
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