Dehler Park is a multi-use stadium in the Western United States, located in Billings, Montana. Primarily used for baseball, it is the home of the Billings Mustangs of the independent Pioneer League and the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets.[3] The ballpark opened in 2008 and has a seating capacity of 3,071 (6,000 standing-room only). It replaced Cobb Field, a fixture in Billings since the 1930s, and the groundbreaking ceremony took place on March 22, 2007.[4]
  Fireworks on Opening Night, July 1, 2008 | |
 | |
  Billings Location in the United States  Billings Location in Montana | |
| Address | 2611 9th Ave N |
|---|---|
| Location | Billings, Montana United States |
| Coordinates | 45°47′25″N 108°30′40″W / 45.79028°N 108.51111°W |
| Owner | City of Billings |
| Operator | Billings Parks & Recreation |
| Capacity | 3,071 |
| Field size | Left field: 329 feet (100 m) Center field: 410 feet (120 m) Right field: 350 feet (110 m) |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | March 22, 2007 |
| Opened | June 29, 2008 |
| Construction cost | $13.7 Million ($19.4 million in 2023 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | HNTB CTA Architects |
| General contractor | Langlas & Associates[2] |
| Tenants | |
| Billings Mustangs Montana State University-Billings (NCAA Baseball) Billings American Legion Baseball | |
The stadium was named by Billings businessman Jon Dehler, who purchased the naming rights in 2007 to honor his father, Billy Joe Dehler.[5] The park still has part of Cobb Field included, as a section down the right field line includes some of the same bench seating used at the old stadium. Outside of that and the over 2,500+ individual seats are two grass berm areas for picnic seating. Patrons can walk around the entire field thanks to an outfield terrace, which is also home to those who buy a standing room-only ticket. Theoretically, the stadium could feasibly hold well over 6,000 with a large standing room-only crowd. The natural grass field is aligned north by east (home plate to second base) at an approximate elevation of 3,150 feet (960 m) above sea level.
The first event at the stadium was on June 29, 2008, an American Legion game between the Billings Scarlets and Bozeman Bucks. The Bucks led 10–3 when the game was suspended after seven innings due to malfunctions with the lights. It was completed the following night at Pirtz Field, the local Legion ballpark, with the Bucks winning 16–3.[6] The first home run, hit by Matt Comer of the Bucks, was retrieved by a man riding a bicycle outside the stadium. After some speculation as to what would become of the ball, the owner of the ball came forth and agreed to donate the ball to the Billings Parks and Recreation Department for a Dehler Park Hall of Fame display.[7]
On June 30, the park hosted local Little League championship games before the Billings Mustangs and Great Falls Voyagers met in the first professional baseball game at the park on July 1.[8] The Mustangs won a rain-soaked 9–7 game highlighted by a Michael Konstanty grand slam which stands as the first professional homer at the field. Attendance for the game was 3,749.[9]
Notable performers
editOther uses for the stadium include concerts and plays. Some of the most notable performers at Dehler Park include:
- Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp – August 11, 2010
References
edit- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Reynaud, Cynthia (September 21, 2007). "City Seeks Stadium Gifts on Web Site". Billings Gazette. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
- ^ Uken, Cindy. "8 years later, baseball fans still herald presence of $13.7 million Dehler Park". BillingsGazette.com. The Billings Gazette. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
- ^ "Officials Break Ground on New Billings Ballpark". Billings Mustangs. March 22, 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2007.
- ^ "Patron of the Game". Helena Independent Record. March 1, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
- ^ "Scarlets Earn Split with Bozeman". Billings Gazette. July 1, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Kemmick, Ed (July 2, 2008). "Dehler Park's First Home Run Ball". Billings Gazette. Retrieved July 2, 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Play Ball! Don't Miss the Grand Opening of Dehler Park". Billings Parks & Recreation. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
- ^ Benoit, Zach (July 1, 2008). "Fans soak up Mustangs game". Billings Gazette. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
External links
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