Meritus Park
Meritus Park in May 2024 | |
Meritus Park Location in Maryland Meritus Park Location in the United States | |
| Address | 50 West Baltimore Street Hagerstown, Maryland US |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°38′26″N 77°43′26″W / 39.64056°N 77.72389°W |
| Owner | Hagerstown-Washington County Industrial Foundation (CHIEF)[1] |
| Operator | Hagerstown-Washington County Industrial Foundation (CHIEF)[1] |
| Capacity | Baseball: 5,500 Concerts: 8,500 |
| Record attendance | 4,257 (June 28, 2024)[2] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | October 18, 2022[3] |
| Built | 2022–2024 |
| Opened | May 4, 2024[6] |
| Construction cost | $69.5 million[4] |
| Architect | Pendulum[1] |
| Builder | Turner Construction[5] |
| Project manager | Maryland Stadium Authority[5] |
| Tenants | |
| Hagerstown Flying Boxcars (ALPB) 2024 | |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
Meritus Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Hagerstown, Maryland. It replaced Hagerstown's old Municipal Stadium which was demolished in 2022. The facility was built primarily for the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars, a team in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, but it can also host other sports, outdoor concerts, festivals and community events.[4][7][8]
The Maryland Stadium Authority oversaw development of the facility. Turner Construction designed and built it.[5] It is owned and operated by the Hagerstown-Washington County Industrial Foundation (CHIEF).[1]
The $69.5 million development budget mostly came from $59.5 million in bonds issued by the stadium authority, to be paid off with lottery proceeds. The then Maryland governor Larry Hogan budgeted another $8.5 million, and the Maryland General Assembly earmarked $1.5 million in its capital budget.[4]
History
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 18, 2022.[3] The facility opened on May 4, 2024, at less than full capacity for the first six home games of the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars.[6]
The initial plans had the stadium at a capacity of 6,500. This was lowered to better serve non-sporting events.[9] The stadium has 3,800 fixed seats and a capacity of 5,500 for baseball games and other sporting events and over 8,500 for other events.[10] The stadium has eight private suites, a beer garden, a bar, and a picnic area.[9]
In February 2024, Meritus Health and the Flying Boxcars announced a partnership that included Meritus Health acquiring the naming rights for the stadium to be called Meritus Park.[11][12]
References
- ^ a b c d "Hagerstown Multi–Use Sports and Events Facility". mdstad.com. Maryland Stadium Authority. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ Hagerstown Flying Boxcars (June 28, 2024). "Thank you to all 4257 of you! A new attendance record at Meritus Park!". Facebook.
- ^ a b Weingarten, Dwight A. (October 19, 2022). "Play ball? Not yet, but ceremony held for new baseball stadium". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ a b c McMillion, Dave (March 1, 2022). "New Hagerstown baseball stadium expected to be completed in 2024". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ a b c McMillion, Dave (February 16, 2023). "Hagerstown City Council looking for $1.6 million to make five-story parking deck possible". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ a b Greene, Julie E. (April 10, 2024). "Hagerstown Flying Boxcars push home opener back a day, limit initial fan capacity". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Schweigert, Keith (September 1, 2021). "New baseball team in Hagerstown, MD will join the Atlantic League in 2023". WPMT. York, Pennsylvania. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ "Atlantic League Officially Approves New Team Coming to Hagerstown, Maryland". mdstad.com (Press release). Maryland Stadium Authority. September 1, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
- ^ a b Belt, Jason; Levitsky, Michael (July 6, 2023). "Hagerstown's new ballpark: Picnic areas, walking paths and high expectations". Capital News Service. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
- ^ "Meritus Park – BaseballParks.com". Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ "Flying Boxcars and Meritus Health Announce Partnership". Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Meritus Health sponsorship name will adorn new Hagerstown Ballpark". Tri-State Alert. News Talk WEEO 103.7 FM. February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
External links
- Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
- "Meritus Park". Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. Retrieved February 14, 2024.