Dozer Park

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Dozer Park
Dozer Park.png
OBrienFieldPeoria.jpg
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Dozer Park
Location within Illinois
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Dozer Park
Location within the United States
Former namesO'Brien Field (2002–2008)
Chiefs Stadium (2009–2013) [1]
Location730 Southwest Jefferson Street
Peoria, IL 61605
Coordinates 40°41′15″N89°35′51″W / 40.68750°N 89.59750°W / 40.68750; -89.59750
Public transit Aiga bus trans.svg CityLink
Owner Peoria Chiefs Community Baseball LLC
OperatorPeoria Chiefs Community Baseball LLC
Capacity 8,500
Record attendance8,825 (May 24, 2002 vs. Kane County Cougars)
Field sizeLeft 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)
OpenedMay 24, 2002 (2002-05-24) [1]
Construction cost $23 million
($40.2 million in 2024 dollars [2] )
Architect HNTB
Services engineerClark Engineers MW Inc. [3]
General contractorRiver City Construction LLC [3]
Main contractorsPrairie Construction Systems Inc. [3]
Tenants
Peoria Chiefs (MWL/High-A Central) (2002–present)
Bradley Braves (NCAA) (2002–present)

Dozer Park, originally O'Brien Field and then Chiefs Stadium, is a baseball stadium located in downtown Peoria, Illinois. [4] It is the home of the Peoria Chiefs, the High-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in the Midwest League. The college baseball team of Bradley University, the Bradley Braves, also play their home games at Dozer Park. It opened on May 24, 2002. [1]

Contents

History

Official groundbreaking ceremonies for the $23 million multi-purpose stadium took place on August 16, 2001. [5]

The Chiefs previously played at Meinen Field.

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; $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 field received a major renovation in October-November 2025, with an entirely new playing surface and a new irrigation system. In previous seasons, the park received new LED stadium lights, overhauled home and road clubhouses, an expanded weight room, a batting cage beyond center field, and extended safety netting. [9]

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. [10]

Luxury suites

Dozer Park accommodates 20 luxury suites. Examples include:

Food

Other than the five fixed concession stands, there are mobile carts around the park. The Chiefs' concessionaire is Professional Sports Catering. [12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chiefs Stadium Renamed Dozer Park". Peoria Chiefs. May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. 1 2 3 "O'Brien Field". SportsBusiness Journal. May 27, 2002. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Cape, Kevin (May 10, 2013). "Caterpillar Names Baseball Stadium 'Dozer Park'". Journal Star (Peoria) . Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  5. ↑ "South Bend Takes Pair of Games from Chiefs". The Pantagraph . Bloomington–Normal. August 11, 2001. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Stadium History". Peoria Chiefs. December 2, 2008. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Baseball State Finals: 1A/2A Tournament Moves To Peoria, 3A/4A Extended In Joliet". Illinois High School Association. October 12, 2010. Archived from the original on December 31, 2010. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  8. ↑ Vlahos, Nick (April 30, 2013). "Peoria City Council Approves Financial Restructuring for Chiefs". Journal Star (Peoria) . Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  9. ↑ https://www.milb.com/news/chiefs-dozer-park-to-begin-major-install-of-new-playing-surface
  10. ↑ Reynolds, Dave. "Guide to O'Brien Field". Journal Star (Peoria) . Archived from the original on June 3, 2002. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Big-League Style Ballpark a Hit in Peoria". Journal Star (Peoria) . October 19, 2002. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Who We're Working With". Professional Sports Catering. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
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