Dozer Park, originally O'Brien Field and formerly Chiefs Stadium, is a baseball field located in downtown Peoria, Illinois.[4] It is the home of the Peoria Chiefs, the Midwest League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals; the Chiefs previously played at Meinen Field. The college baseball team of Bradley University also uses the field. It opened on May 24, 2002.[1]

Dozer Park

Former names	O'Brien Field (2002–2008) Chiefs Stadium (2009–2013)[1]
Location	730 Southwest Jefferson Street Peoria, IL 61605
Coordinates	40°41′15″N 89°35′51″W
Owner	Peoria Chiefs Community Baseball LLC
Operator	Peoria Chiefs Community Baseball LLC
Capacity	8,500
Record attendance	8,825 (May 24, 2002 vs. Kane County Cougars)
Field size	Left Field: 310 ft (94.49 m) Left Center: 375 ft (114.3 m) Center Field: 400 ft (121.92 m) Right Center: 375 ft (114.3 m) Right Field: 310 ft (94.49 m)
Surface	Sod (1–1¼ inches)
Construction
Broke ground	August 16, 2001 (2001-08-16)
Opened	May 24, 2002 (2002-05-24)[1]
Construction cost	$23 million ($34.7 million in 2021 dollars[2])
Architect	HNTB
Services engineer	Clark Engineers MW Inc.[3]
General contractor	River City Construction LLC[3]
Main contractors	Prairie Construction Systems Inc.[3]
Tenants
Peoria Chiefs (MWL/High-A Central) (2002–present) Bradley Braves (NCAA) (2002–present)

History

Official groundbreaking ceremonies for the $23 million multi-purpose stadium took place on August 16, 2001.[5] The stadium opened on May 24, 2002 as O'Brien Field,[1] with a game between the Chiefs and the Kane County Cougars.[6]

O'Brien Auto Team held the original naming rights to the facility.[6]

In 2011, the stadium hosted to the IHSA Class 1A and 2A baseball state finals. This was the first year the games were played at the facility.[7]

In April 2013, the Chiefs, including the stadium, received $7.35 million in financing and debt forgiveness. The plan included forgiveness of $1.2 million in debt to the City of Peoria; including $2 million in funding from Caterpillar Inc. for naming rights over 10 years; and $2.7 million in new investment of cash and equity by the Chiefs' ownership group of about 50.[8]

On May 10, 2013, Caterpillar and the Chiefs announced that the stadium would be renamed "Dozer Park", a reference to Caterpillar bulldozers.[4][1]

The field

Dozer Park's sod has an 8-inch (200 mm) deep root zone of 90% sand and 10% Dakota peat for nutrition. The high concentration of sand naturally relieves soil compaction.

Beneath the sand and peat mix are 6 inches (150 mm) of gravel. Running through the gravel are drainage tiles that run from home plate to center field. A huge sump pump beyond center field then drains into the city sewer system.

The makeup of the pitcher's mound and batter's boxes are almost 100% clay because it packs better and is wear resistant. The rest of the infield skin area is around 40% clay, 30% silt and 20% sand.

The field will hold up to 5 inches (130 mm) of rain an hour.

The field is mowed every day during homestands, trimmed to 1–1+1⁄4 inches (25–32 mm) high. It takes 1.25 hours to cut the outfield grass 2 directions with a 100-inch (2.5 m) cut mower. A walk-behind mower is used for the infield.

The price tag for the field itself was around $450,000.[9]

Luxury suites

Dozer Park accommodates 20 luxury suites. Examples include:

• Peoria attorney Jay Janssen's suite — "A large, ornate Oriental rug covers most of the green-carpeted suite, which includes six candelabra wall sconces, a chandelier in the center, cherry wood cabinetry and chair rail, decorative border print, a green marble-topped table, a rose-colored granite pedestal bar overlooking the field and burgundy leather stools and chairs. In the kitchenette, a full-sized refrigerator is accompanied by a full-size oven and a sink with a chrome-plated faucet."[10]
• Caterpillar, Inc. owns a double suite that is primarily used to entertain the customers and VIP guests the company hosts in the community.[10]

Food

Other than the five fixed concession stands, there are mobile carts around the park. The Chiefs' concessionaire is Professional Sports Catering.[11]

See also

• List of NCAA Division I baseball venues

References

External links

• Ballpark - Peoria Chiefs Dozer Park
• Dozer Park - Bradley University Athletics