September 8, 2011
Silver Cross Field (Capacity: 6,229)
Joliet, IL
Joliet Slammers vs Lake Erie Crushers
Final Score: 3 – 1
* The ballpark was renamed Duly Health and Care Field
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During our Midwest trip, we took a break from Chicago and headed an hour southwest of the city for a visit to Joliet and their downtown ballpark. Located along the Des Plaines River in Northern Illinois, Joliet is one of the fastest growing cities in the country with a population approaching 150,000. The former city of stone and steel has done a nice job revitalizing a now-pleasant downtown area that is at a rare crossroads of the old Lincoln Highway and Route 66. In 2002, Joliet got an independent Northern League team, the Jackhammers. After eight years in newly built Silver Cross Field, the team folded and a new Frontier League franchise called the Slammers took up residence. A few weeks after our visit, they won the championship in their inaugural season. Hopefully the Slammers are here to stay as they play in an excellent location and a great ballpark representative of the city they play for.
Prestige Ranking: 3 out of 5
Location
The ballpark is located downtown, near the small city center and we arrived early to spend some time in the area. It was worth it, as we visited the Joliet Area Historical Museum and the Route 66 Visitors Center. We also stopped at the stunning Rialto Square Theatre and Harrah’s Casino (one of two in the area). Even though there was a weird, quiet vibe downtown, all of these places were worthwhile and it gave us reason to arrive well before the game. It’s within walking distance to Silver Cross Field and so are a few restaurants, including our dinner choice at Thayer’s 158 North.
Location Ranking: 7.5 out of 10
Accessibility / Parking
Getting to Joliet is easy: just one road and a few minutes from I-80. It is also accessible from I-55 (which we used) as there are a couple roads that connect Joliet to 55 from both the west and north. Although there is no official lot that services the ballpark, parking is plentiful. Between Union Station and the Courthouse is a parking lot that many will use. There are also a couple garages that are a bit further down. We preferred the Union Station lot as again, downtown was eerily quiet and empty in the evening. Traffic once inside Joliet was fine, but we ran into some construction/traffic on the Interstates around Chicagoland.
Accessibility / Parking Ranking: 7 out of 8
Exterior
I love the exterior of Silver Cross Field as it symbolizes Joliet and fits in with the nearby area. The main home plate entrance is dominated by steel and black beams with different trusses. In the middle of two of these beams is a “Silver Cross Field” sign and below that is a large clock in roman numerals, something you expect to see at the Union Station across the street. A statue of baseball player is at ground level. The rest of the building is traditionally set-up and done in dark red brick.
Exterior Ranking: 9 out of 10
Concourse
Fans climb stairs to get up to the concourse and it is a fairly standard one, covered by the suites and exposed to the playing field. It is clean and wide enough with dark green beams and light brick walls. Near home plate is “The Clink”, an odd, but appropriate name for the team store. Though the concourse doesn’t really extend beyond the foul poles, it was nice that a walkway allowed you to go all the way around the outfield.
Concourse Ranking: 4 out of 5
Food
Food options were standard as a couple of the specialties offered at an outfield stand were closed (smoked brisquet and garlic fries). It was nice to see a few Chicago items available like Italian Beef and Old Style beer. Other items included chicken tacos and grilled pork chop sandwiches.
Food Ranking: 5.5 out of 8
Interior
Though there is nothing unique and different with the seating design, it is solid. Maybe the color scheme between black beams and dark green seats added umph. The one-level seating bowl extends around the infield and features about 20 rows per section. Above the bowl and hanging over a few of the last rows is the press box and suites, of which there are 14. Seats are wide and comfortable. Beyond the bowl, each side has a wide lawn for spreading out to watch the game with the one in left being larger and extending a bit into the outfield. There are a couple picnic areas and an interesting party deck in left-field. I do not like the stupid “Bud Beach”, literally in right field as it juts out in front of the playing wall. This “play area” has a beach and looks completely out of place in what is an otherwise fine park. The outfield view has a residential look to it, except for right field. Joliet Central High School is visible and an impressive site with its castle-like exterior. The building is on the National Register of Historical Places. Across the street is the Joliet Fire Department and they have a sign on the building saying “560”, which is the distance from home plate. Nice job by the organization to add a few touches, like the large Slammers logo on the side of the suites building and the Skydome-esque statue of steel workers watching the game from a building in the right field corner.
Interior Ranking: 9 out of 14
Scoreboard
The black scoreboard is decent as it isn’t overloaded with ads. The bottom features the box score with red numbers while above that in the center is a video screen. It may be a small screen, but they used it in good ways on this night. At the top is a curved design with “Silver Cross Field” written. Overall, pretty good.
Scoreboard Ranking: 3 out of 4
Displays
Outside, but connected to the stadium in the front is the Joliet Sports Hall of Fame. Frustratingly, it was closed when we arrived at the ballpark. That’s the second time that’s happened to me… what’s the point of these hall of fame’s when visitors can’t see them at the peak times people are visiting? Otherwise, no team banners here yet as this is the Slammers’ first season. Given the financial disaster that was the Jackhammers (the former tenant at Silver Cross Field) all memories of that team in the stadium seem to have been erased. One other note is a concourse wall contains the names of the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Displays Ranking: 1.5 out of 6
Cost
A reserved seat is $10 and the lawn is $5, which are pretty good. Free parking is available in all the aforementioned lots during game days. Just like our last minor league game in Akron, the prices were weird as bottled water was a ridiculous $3.75, but a regular hot dog was $1.75. A large draft beer was $4.75, while a regular soda was $3.00. Regardless, attending a Slammers game is a bargain.
Cost Ranking: 8 out of 8
Fan Support
I would say there were around 500 – 1,000 on hand for this playoff game (paid announced attendance: 1,344). For the clinching championship game a week later the attendance was given as 1,318. That means it’s a fair assumption the crowd was sparse for that one as well. Yes, the weather was poor, but that’s really disappointing for a game that end with the home team celebrating a title. Joliet barely makes in roads with their own city, let alone all of Chicagoland. During the regular season, the Slammers ranked in the middle of the league with paid attendance.
Fan Support Ranking: 2.5 out of 8
Atmosphere
The cool, drizzly weather seemed to put a damper on everyone’s spirits for this weeknight playoff game. It was quiet in the ballpark and even though that is not unusual in minor-league baseball playoffs, it’s still disappointing nonetheless. Fans that were there paid attention and cheered nicely after good plays with scattered fans standing after a home run. Spontaneous cheers and noise during key moments were absent. The PA guy way overdid the sound effects. On the plus side, we did see a superfan there dress in Slammers gear and blowing a horn.
Atmosphere Ranking: 4.5 out of 14
Other Stuff
A great touch at Silver Cross Field is the Miracle League of Joliet, located behind the walkway in the outfield. The field is for physically and mentally challenged children to play baseball on a flat, rubberized diamond. There are a few stands for parents and others to watch as these kids enjoy the sport. Wonderful spot and nice to see the support.
Game
This was Game 2 of the Frontier League Playoffs – First Round as Joliet was looking to take a 2-0 lead on Lake Erie. The Slammers started the game with a solo home run by Hector Pellot to go up 1-0. After Lake Erie tied it, Joliet put up another homer in the 3rd to take a 2-1 lead. Tommy Mendoza pitched great all night as he went seven, giving up six hits and protecting that one run lead much of the night with some great defense. In the 5th, Mendoza picked off a runner at first, then an infielder made a terrific diving stab to get out of the inning. The Slammers got an insurance run in the 8th. Around this point, a mist was falling as weather would have a factor in this game, as it did on much of our trip. The mist picked up to a rain and as they were about to start the 9th, the game was delayed. 61 minutes later, Ryan Quigley came on to get the save and win for Joliet.
Stadium and Arena Visits 
