Warner Park Renovations Cited By Ballpark Digest | News

The baseball publication, Ballpark Digest, has awarded Warner Park its 2011 Ballpark Renovation of the Year award.

"Renovation, as opposed to new construction, is the hot trend in ballpark architecture," said Kevin Reichard, publisher of Ballpark Digest, in a news release. "It’s cheaper than new construction, and with a little planning it’s greener than new construction. The makeover of Warner Park by the Mallards and the city of Madison is a textbook example of how a ballpark renovation should be done. It was done at an affordable price level, most of the old ballpark was recycled for other use in the ballpark and it truly added to the comfort level for fans."

Opening in 1982 as the home of the Midwest League’s Madison Muskies, Warner Park also served as a venue for the Northwoods League’s Mallards when the team opened for business on June 2, 2001.

The metal bleachers making up the grandstand were at the end of their functional life. The Mallards and the city used this as a reason to replace the metal bleachers with a new metal grandstand construction, installing recycled seats from Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards and building a new club behind home plate. The repositioned new seats are closer to the field, while a new upper-level concourse allows fans to move through the ballpark without missing any of the action.

The total cost of the renovations, which also included a new team shop, was under $2 million.

"Warner Park is certainly one of the leading venues in the summer game, and the Mallards run an operation that’s second to none," Reichard said. "It’s great to see the team’s loyal fans rewarded with an upgraded, noteworthy ballpark."