Dehler Park

Dehler Park

Fireworks on Opening Night, July 1, 2008
Location 2611 9th Ave N
Billings, Montana
59101
Coordinates 45°47′25″N 108°30′40″W / 45.79028°N 108.51111°W / 45.79028; -108.51111 (Dehler Park)Coordinates: 45°47′25″N 108°30′40″W / 45.79028°N 108.51111°W / 45.79028; -108.51111 (Dehler Park)
Owner City of Billings
Operator Billings Parks & Recreation
Capacity 3,071
Field size Left Field - 329
Center Field - 410
Right Field - 350
Surface Natural grass
Construction
Broke ground March 22, 2007
Opened June 29, 2008
Construction cost $13.7 Million
($15.1 million in 2016 dollars[1])
Architect HNTB
CTA Architects
General contractor Langlas & Associates[2]
Tenants
Billings Mustangs
Montana State University-Billings (NCAA Baseball)
Billings American Legion Baseball

Dehler Park is a multi-use stadium in Billings, Montana. It is primarily used for baseball and is the home of the Billings Mustangs in the Pioneer League. It is also the home field of the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets.[3] The ballpark opened on June 29, 2008 and has a capacity of 3,071 people (6,000 including standing room only). It replaced Cobb Field which was a fixture in Billings since the 1930s. The groundbreaking ceremony took place March 22, 2007.[4]

First pitch, June 29, 2008

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 people with a large standing room-only crowd.

The first event at the stadium was on June 29, 2008, an American Legion baseball 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 at Pirtz Field, the local Legion Ballpark, the following night 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

Other uses for the stadium include concerts and plays. Some of the most notable performers at Dehler Park include:

References

  1. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  2. ↑ Reynaud, Cynthia (September 21, 2007). "City Seeks Stadium Gifts on Web Site". Billings Gazette. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ "Officials Break Ground on New Billings Ballpark". Billings Mustangs. March 22, 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2007.
  5. ↑ "Patron of the Game". Helena Independent Record. March 1, 2008. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Scarlets Earn Split with Bozeman". Billings Gazette. July 1, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  7. ↑ Kemmick, Ed (July 2, 2008). "Dehler Park's First Home Run Ball". Billings Gazette. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Play Ball! Don't Miss the Grand Opening of Dehler Park". Billings Parks & Recreation. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
  9. ↑ Benoit, Zach (July 1, 2008). "Fans soak up Mustangs game". Billings Gazette. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
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