Wesley Barrow Stadium is a 650-seat baseball and softball stadium located in the Pontchartrain Park section of New Orleans, Louisiana. Named in memory of Negro league baseball manager Wesley Barrow, a longtime prominent figure in the New Orleans baseball community,[1][2] the stadium includes a 200-square-foot climate-controlled press box, a public address system and LED scoreboard. The baseball field features professional-sized artificial turf with a clay pitcher's mound and two fenced bullpens.[3][4]
.jpg) | |
 | |
| Location | 6500 Press Drive New Orleans, LA 70126 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 30°01′42″N 90°02′34″W / 30.02836°N 90.04268°W |
| Capacity | 650 |
| Surface | Artificial Turf |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1957 |
| Architect | SCNZ Architects |
| General contractor | Ryan Gootee General Contractors, LLC |
| Tenants | |
| LHSAA (baseball) (1957-Present) Loyola Wolfpack (baseball) (1991-2002) MLB Urban Youth Academy (2012-Present) UNO Privateers (baseball) (2013) Xavier Gold Nuggets (softball) (2021-Present) | |
.jpg)
The facility also includes grass tee-ball fields, a three-lane outdoor batting practice cage and a two-lane indoor batting practice building. It also includes administration facilities and two 300-square-foot conference rooms.[5][6]
It is the current site of the Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy in New Orleans. The academy will provide free, year-round baseball and softball instruction and other educational services for youth from underserved and urban communities throughout southern Louisiana.[7][8][9]
History
editWesley Barrow Stadium was built in 1957 and has served as the home for Louisiana High School Athletic Association baseball games, Loyola Wolfpack baseball and UNO Privateers baseball in 2013.
The facility was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, but after a 6.5 million renovation was reopened in 2012. The funding was provided by Major League Baseball, the city of New Orleans and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).[10]
In 2021, the stadium became the home field for the Xavier University Gold Nuggets women's softball team.[11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Ryan Whirty (February 22, 2013). "Wesley "Skipper" Barrow legacy lives on". nola.com. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ Ryan Whirty (May 4, 2015). "Negro League's baseball legend gets proper tombstone". louisianaweekly.com. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ "New Orleans UYA opens renovated stadium - MLB.com". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ "Wesley Barrow Stadium - Ryan Gootee General Contractors - New Orleans Commercial Construction". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ "New Orleans UYA opens renovated stadium - MLB.com". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ "Wesley Barrow Stadium - Ryan Gootee General Contractors - New Orleans Commercial Construction". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ "New Orleans UYA opens renovated stadium - MLB.com". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ "Urban Youth Academy : New Orleans - MLB.com: Community". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ "MLB Urban Youth Academy breathes life into Wesley Barrow Stadium - Sports - The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ "MLB Urban Youth Academy breathes life into Wesley Barrow Stadium - Sports - The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
- ^ "XULA makes program debut in Texas at Eagle Classic".