Bank of the James Stadium

• Name: Bank of the James Stadium
• GPS-able Address: 3180 Fort Avenue, Lynchburg, VA 24501
• Ballpark Owner: City of Lynchburg
• Architects: Gavin Hadden
• Groundbreaking: 1938
• Minor League Baseball Team: Lynchburg Hillcats (A) 2021-present; Lynchburg Hillcats (A+) 1994-2020; Lynchburg Red Sox (A+) 1990-1994; Lynchburg Red Sox (A) 1988-1990; Lynchburg Mets (A) 1976-1987; Lynchburg Rangers (A) 1975; Lynchburg Twins (A) 1970-1974; Lynchburg White Sox (A) 1966-1969; Lynchburg White Sox (AA) 1964-1965; Lynchburg White Sox (AA) 1963; Lynchburg White Sox (A) 1962 (moved from Savannah 8/26); Lynchburg Senators (D) 1959; Lynchburg Cardinals (B) 1943-1955; Lynchburg Senators (C) 1941-1942; Lynchburg Senators (D) 1940
• Class/League of MiLB Tenant(s): A/Carolina League 2022-present; A/Low-A East 2021; A+/Carolina League 1966-2020; AA/Southern League 1964-1965; AA/South Atlantic League 1963; A/South Atlantic League 1962; R+/Appalachian League 1959; B/Piedmont League 1943-1955; C/Virginia League 1941-1942; D/Virginia League 1939-1940
• First Pro Baseball Game: 4/11/1940; Yankees-Dodgers exhibition
• Others Playing or Operating Here: None
• Previous Ballpark Names: Calvin Falwell Field at Lynchburg City Stadium 2004-2021; Lynchburg City Stadium 2003; Merritt Hutchinson Stadium 2000-2002; Lynchburg City Stadium 1940-1999
• LF: 325 CF: 390 RF: 325
• Seats: 4,281
• Stated Capacity: 4,281
• House Baseball/Softball Record Attendance (as currently configured): 8,208, 7/4/2000

Bank of the James Stadium in Lynchburg, VA, is the home of the Lynchburg Hillcats, the Cleveland Guardians' Single-A Carolina League farm team. It is actually part of a two-stadium complex that hosts baseball in one and grid-based sports like football in the other.

The baseball side also hosted Negro Leagues games in at least the 1940s.

Opened in 1939, the WPA-built complex was designed by New York City-born architect Gavin Hadden. Hadden, whose work was featured in the 1932 Olympics, specialized in collegiate sports facilities. The New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers christened the baseball side, Lynchburg City Stadium, in an April 11, 1940, exhibition game that drew an estimated 7,000. It has at least once since drawn more than 8K - its house record 8,208 on July 4, 2000.

It has hosted various minor league teams in its long history. From 2000 through 2002, it was called Merritt Hutchinson Stadium to honor developer Ann Merritt Hutchison's $1 million donation toward a renovation. After resuming Lynchburg City Stadium, the ballpark prepended "Calvin Falwell Field" in August of 2004 to honor Calvin F. Falwell for seamlessly returning baseball after Lynchburg lost a club amid 1966 racial strife. Falwell served as head of the Lynchburg Baseball Corporation from its founding that year until his 2019 death.

The stadium has had many renovations since its inception. The 1978 facelift included reconstructing the outfield fence, grandstand roof, grandstand screen and adding new lights. In 1981, a clubhouse was added to accommodate both the football and baseball stadiums.

In 2002 plans began for a $6.5-million renovation to Lynchburg City Stadium's concourse with the addition of seat back chairs, and two picnic areas. That renovation also included the addition of two new concession stands, eight luxury boxes, a new press box, arcade room, spacious bathrooms and a state-of-the-art scoreboard. Prior to the 2005 season, six new luxury boxes were added in addition to a state-of-the-art video board in right field.

Appomattox Court House is just 30 minutes from the ballpark.

External links

• City Stadium