PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- The West Michigan Whitecaps will begin the first phase of a multi-year renovation project at LMCU Ballpark this spring.
A news conference was held this morning to outline the plans the club since will set the course for the stadium over the next 30 years. You can follow the progress of the project by visiting their dedicated stadium modernization webpage, https://www.milb.com/west-michigan/ballpark/modernizationproject.
The Detroit Tigers' High-A minor-league affiliate has been playing in the park since 1994. A fire in January 2014 gutted much of the first base-side stands. But it was refurbished in time for the start of the baseball season that year. A lighting upgrade was completed on the park last fall.
The West Michigan Whitecaps’ 30th season opens on Thursday, April 6, with a 6:35 p.m. home game against the Fort Wayne TinCaps.
The Whitecaps' management has been working with Detroit-based architecture firm Rossetti to devise a master plan to upgrade the popular stadium to state-of-the-art amenities. West Michigan-based Erhardt Construction is the general contractor, and Progressive AE is assisting with the project.
“Bringing all phases of this project to completion is going to be a heavy lift for our organization and ownership group,” Whitecaps CEO Joe Chamberlin said. He is also the team's managing partner.
“This ballpark is full of history, championships, and memories for so many West Michigan families, including my own,” Chamberlin said. “Our primary objective in leading this franchise has always been to ensure that we are growing our fan base We are incredibly confident that our track record of success will help us secure the community stakeholder support we will need from the township and other partners to make all future phases of this reimagine a reality for the West Michigan community.”
Phase 1 work begins this spring and will be completed prior to the Whitecaps’ 2024 season. The Whitecaps say the work will meet standards set by Major League Baseball regarding player amenities and group hospitality experiences for fans. The park will feature new suite-level club space, plus expanded and upgraded group terraces on what is now the first and third base lawn areas.
Some of the modifications planned for LMCU Ballpark include:
- The third base side visitors’ clubhouse will be completely rebuilt and will become the home clubhouse, as the Whitecaps and visiting teams switch sides. The new home clubhouse will offer enhanced player spaces, larger weight room and training facilities, dedicated space for female coaching staff, and a state-of-the-art batting tunnel attached to the home clubhouse.
- The grass and infield playing surface will be fully replaced, including the drainage system. Bullpens will be moved behind the right field wall, and the outfield dimensions will be reconfigured to closely match the angles players will see when they reach the Major Leagues.
- Stadium lights were upgraded last fall to brighter, precisely focused LED lights with less glare and less light pollution. The new lights are capable of colored light shows synced to music for dramatic entertainment during and after games as well as special events.
Phase 1 work will offer:
- A brand-new suite-level club space will be built above the new batting tunnel at the end of the third base structure, accommodating 200 guests for use on gamedays as well as year-round for special events. The space includes floor-to-ceiling windows, a large balcony for outdoor viewing, various height table and chair clusters, and a bar space for food and beverage service. Its capacity is similar to that of the current Pepsi Stadium Club.
- Enlarged group space takes over the existing lawn slopes on both the first and third base sides, replacing the current hospitality areas down the lines. Several tiers of seating and gathering areas, from the concourse all the way down to field level, offer a variety of engagement opportunities and food service options for groups of 20 or more. These tiers offer a more cohesive look and feel while allowing flexibility for groups of all sizes to enjoy private areas. The third base side will feature four tiers, while the first base side includes three tiers and will adjoin the new bullpens.
- For increased fan safety, the netting will be extended beyond the ends of the dugouts, where it currently ends, and go from foul pole to foul pole.
Phase 2 work begins in in 2025 with future projects planned including:
- A reimagined stadium entrance experience that offers a view of the baseball field straight ahead as fans reach the top of the steps.
- Exterior site activation for more entertainment options in the spaces outside the facility.
- Beautification of the facility’s 45 acres, all conforming to the beach theme.
- A fully reimagined and updated suite level with a home plate club area.
- An expanded concourse with new and improved food, entertainment and gathering options, including the construction of private outdoor suites for groups that prefer the great outdoors.
- A new CapSized Shop retail space and new ticket office.
- A new 360-degree concourse, modeled after a lakeshore style boardwalk, that allows fans to walk all the way around the field, enjoy gathering spaces in the outfield area and view the game from a number of different perspectives.
- A state-of-the-art 400-seat center field hospitality club and special events center, the ballpark’s largest space yet, that will provide a new level of gameday experience while also creating one of West Michigan’s most unique views for weddings, conferences, and other large scale special events.
###