Peoples Natural Gas Field

• Name: Peoples Natural Gas Field
• GPS-able Address: 1000 Park Ave., Altoona, PA 16602
• Ballpark Owner: Blair County
• Architects: Louis D. Astorino
• Groundbreaking: 3/7/1998
• Minor League Baseball/Professional Development League Teams: Altoona Curve (AA) 1999-present
• Pro Baseball Class/League History: AA/Eastern League 2022-present; AA/Double-A Northeast 2021; AA/Eastern League 1999-2020
• First Pro Baseball Game: 4/15/1999; stadium debut of Class AA Curve
• Others Playing or Operating Here: None
• Previous Ballpark Names: Blair County Ballpark 1999-2012
• LF: 325 CF: 405 RF: 325
• Seats: 7210
• Stated Capacity: 10,116 (based on the figure at which officials cut off entry for an exhibition with the Pirates)
• House Baseball/Softball Record Attendance: 10,116, 3/30/2013

History

Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona, PA, is the home of the Altoona Curve, the Pittsburgh Pirates' Double-A Eastern League farm team. It was also the Bucs' 2020 Coronavirus pandemic alternate training site.

The railroad roundhouse style salutes the industry that helped create Altoona. The brick ballpark's double-deck design allows bigger concourses that dilute crowd density. The Skyliner roller coaster in neighboring Lakemont Park is visible beyond right field, backdropped by the scenic ridges of the Alleghenies.

MLB's 2021 Minor League Reorganization greatly expanded existing standards for stadiums hosting affiliated teams. The Curve's home took a large step toward meeting those with the October 28, 2022, announcement of a $2.4 million grant from the state's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. All the work necessitated by the new standards was finished before the 2023 season, but one more revamp will be done during the 2023-2024 off-season: replacement of all the stadium's seats, every one of which dates to the 1999 opening.

Opened as Blair County Ballpark, it hosted 6,171 for its debut, 9,308 at the 2006 Eastern League All-Star Game, and a house baseball record 10,116 for a 2013 exhibition with the Bucs.

A 2012 deal with Pittsburgh-based Peoples Natural Gas renamed it.

Inaugural Game

• April 15, 1999 Altoona Curve vs. Bowie Baysox

Despite the cold and rainy weather, 6,171 fans showed up to Blair County Ballpark to watch the home team win 6-1.

Record Attendance

• March 30, 2013: 10,116 - more than 2,900 fans over official capacity.

Significant Events

• 2004 Eastern League Championship Series vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats
• 2006 Eastern League All-Star Game

Seating

• Overall Capacity: 7,210
• Diamond Club (field level): 1,634
• Terrace Level: 1,204
• Grandstand Level: 2,646
• Home Run Junction (outfield bleachers): 744
• First Base Bleachers: 400
• Skybox Seating: 292 person capacity in 21 luxury boxes

Unique Features

The park is unique in many ways and deviates from the model for minor league ballparks used throughout the 1990s and early twenty-first century. Rather than sitting in an urban center, the park sits outside of the city itself. The ballpark is next to Lakemont Park, an amusement park opened in 1894. It features a sunken field and thanks to the open fence design, fans don't even have to enter the park to see the game. The park features exceptionally wide foul territory and fans enter beside the left field line, both of which create distance between fans and the field. While some feel that fans are more removed from the action here than at many new minor league parks, Peoples Natural Gas Field remains one of the most popular ballparks in the country.

An old wooden roller coaster, "The Skyliner", sits just beyond right field. The coaster once belonged to Lakemont Park, but now serves as a link between the modern team and the history of Altoona. It also ties to the team that plays here - having a few "curves" itself.

Keeping in theme with the railroad history of Altoona, Peoples Natural Gas Field features a row of seats along the railing atop the left field wall. These exclusive seats, known as "Rail Kings" seats were ranked #3 in espn.com's top ten seats in minor league baseball.

Related Links

• Curve Ballpark History Page
• small parks page
• Ballpark Review