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The Design
So we’ve seen that artwork was incorporated into the northeast perimeter fence of Southwest University Park, and in the tower that welcomes fans on the west side of the facility. What about inside the ballpark? Is it a work of art?
Yes.
Another Populous project comes to mind: Target Field in Minnesota. By big-league standards, the 7.5-acre plot of ground was minuscule, forcing the designers to construct up and out. The result is one of the most amazing interiors in the sport. The same up-and-out concept was at work in El Paso, with only five acres of ground to work with — a little more than that when the travel lanes of adjacent streets were commandeered. But that still ain’t much.
The architects didn’t shy away from the constraints. “Populous looked at the tight space as an opportunity,” Shubert recalled. “They said that like Wrigley and Fenway, where the parks are institutions in their cities, we could do that in El Paso. No, they didn’t back down from the challenge (of a small site) at all.”
In Charlotte, we saw that the irregular rectangle of ground caused cramped quarters behind third base and in right field. In El Paso, it was the opposite. The railroad tracks behind first base make for smaller seating sections on that side (below left and right),
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On the left-field side, meanwhile, the proximity of what was once Missouri Avenue necessitated shorter dimensions from home plate and a taller LF wall. An area for watching the game from beyond that 25-foot-tall wall actually hangs out over the field of play (below left).
While there is no glass-enclosed lounge directly behind home plate like in Charlotte, there is a dugout club that is pretty similar to the one in North Carolina. Yes, you are really close to the action in this section (below right).
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Probably the most intriguing aspect of the ballpark is in right field. Here are two buildings (below left) that are meant to look like they predated the stadium, but were in fact constructed as part of the ballpark project. The one closer to the right-field foul pole is quite the hub of activity, as the second, third and fourth floors have bars, tables and chairs and, of course, seats facing the field.
The top level is similar to the rooftop in Columbus, Ohio, where there is no roof at all (below center and right). It truly gives you the sensation of watching a Cubs game from the rooftop areas across Waveland and Sheffield Avenue from Wrigley Field.
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The building closer to center field features the visitors’ bullpen on its ground level. The first visiting team to play in the new park was the Fresno Grizzlies. Their broadcaster told me that while the relievers like the shade, they complained that there was no toilet nearby. You’ll find wide-open group areas on the second and third levels — with seats “that actually hang off (of the building) that are over the field of play,” Sabatini pointed out. On top is the scoreboard. The two buildings are connected by bridges in between their second and third levels.
While these aren’t the only spots for groups to congregate at Southwest University Park, it does provide you with El Paso’s response to the tidal wave trend of new ballparks devoting significant amounts of space to “socializing.” Sure, most fans still want to buy a ticket and sit in a reserved seat and watch the game … but the percentage of attendees who don’t want to sit in the same seat for nine innings is skyrocketing. Frankly, if this is what attracts young-adult fans to come to games, then I don’t oppose it at all. And as Sabatini points out, it helps having all of these group areas “for sponsorships. You’re more likely to get a sponsor to pay to put its name on a party deck than a seating section.”
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Indeed, as the Pepsi Party Deck (above left) and the Weststar Bank Club are two highlights of the ballpark’s impressive second level. Behind home plate, the beautifully appointed Club (above right) features a wrap-around bar and lots of space for, of course, socializing. The suites seem a little larger than at other new Minor League parks, and the seating sections down both lines have excellent sight lines.
On the left field side (below left), the seats wrap around to the foul pole. No room for that on the right-field side.
And there’s even a third level here (remember, the ballpark had to go “up and out”). It has more suites — there are 24 in all — and the press and broadcast booths. The play-by-play guys who work here — including the excellent Tim Hagerty, who has followed the team from Portland to Tucson to El Paso — have one of the best vantage points in the Minors.
The shot at the top of the first page of this article was taken from the radio booth.
Don’t forget the railroad theme of the ballpark. High above the upper-deck concourse on the third base side are the roofs shown on the right below.
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Finally, the tight site provided a coincidental benefit. “It actually all worked out pretty well,” Sabatini observed. “Because of the orientation (of the field) and the restrictions on the site, it forced us to put more seats on one side of the ballpark (the third-base side), which is the shaded side.” That’s helpful, because it gets a little warm in West Texas in the summertime.
The Essentials
Even though the Chihuahuas had no trouble selling all of their luxury suites, that doesn’t mean that El Paso is the most prosperous market in pro baseball. No, far from it. That’s why it’s critical that the price to attend a game is reasonable, without sacrificing amenities and food options.
Oh, and there needs to be art to look at!
Southwest University Park passes with flying colors.
First, as we’ve described, there are no parking garages attached to the ballpark. It’s a good thing that public transportation is available to most fans, as there’s a transit center right down the Durango Street bridge from the park’s homeplate entry.
If you do drive, you’ll find quite a few parking garages within a four- or five-block radius, particularly on the east side of the ballpark. Most of them charge around $10, which is a little pricey for Minor League baseball, but at least you won’t have to park too terribly far away.
Unlike In Charlotte where almost every reserved seat from foul pole to foul pole cost $16, things are a little less expensive in El Paso — and there are far more ticket prices to choose from. Populous refers to the different seating areas as “neighborhoods.”
The seats closest to the backstop are $24 when purchased in advance, and those directly behind them are $20.
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On the third-base side where there are more (shady) rows, the back part of the infield sections cost $15. As you move down the foul lines, tickets go for $17, $12 and, right by the RF foul pole, $8. The reserved seats in the upper level cost $10 on the 3B side and $8 on the 1B side, presumably because your access to concession stands and other services are greater on the 3B side, plus you are typically in the shade.
Interestingly, the overhang in LF (above right) isn’t really for standing. They sell seats there, and it’s high-priced real estate at $20 a ticket. General admission/berm seats are $5, whether purchased at the gate or in advance. The berm isn’t immense (you can see it beyond the overhang in the right-hand photo above), but it’s closer to the action than at some parks — plus it’s really close to the kid features. More on those in a minute.
Most seats cost more when purchased on the day of the game. For Sunday through Wednesday contests, the price jumps up by $1, while it increases by $2 on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays.
Compared to Charlotte (which is a more affluent market, and I understand that), El Paso has more options for under $16, and the general admission price is only $5. At Charlotte Knights games, it’s $10 on the day of the game.
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While the design of the ballpark is excellent, the food offerings are superlative, and the concession prices aren’t too bad, either.
If you won’t take my word that the food at Southwest University Park is outstanding, then listen to Benjamin Hill, the popular MiLB.com writer who studies the business of Minor League Baseball more than just about anyone you can name. He attended games in El Paso during the opening series (as did I), and he said this in his blog: “The El Paso Chihuahuas have really, really good ballpark food. Like, really good, easily within the top five of the 110 or so ballparks that I’ve visited over the past five seasons.”
Ben raved about the pork carnitas nachos, saying “these just might be the best” nachos he’s ever eaten. And he thinks the icy concoctions called raspas are “MY FAVORITE DESSERT IN ALL OF MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.” Yes, he used all caps.
As for me, I really enjoyed the offerings at Triple Play Sliders, located at a kiosk on the upper level near the LF foul pole. They sell mini sandwiches of Angus beef soaked in buffalo sauce ($9), pulled pork topped with cole slaw ($9) and Cajun-spiced alligator meat topped with pickled okra ($12). I went for the sampler platter (above left) with all three for $12.
Another wildly popular item is the Huevos Rancheros Burger Basket at Monchi’s behind home plate (above right). The behemoth has half a pound of Angus beef and is topped with salsa, chorizo sausage, cheese and a fried egg. It comes with fries for $10. They also feature a half-pound dog with chili and cheese that’s named for the City’s old ballpark (The Dudley Dog, $10) and Border Nachos topped with cilantro and jalapeño cheese, and served in a “souvenir dog bowl” for $10. Remember, the team’s nickname is the Chihuahuas.
I like the concept of the Pepsi Grab-N-Go stands (below left), where you can quickly purchase a bottle of soda, beer, tea, Gatorade or water.
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The Juarez Dogs kiosk sells a Chihua Dog for $8 that is wrapped in bacon and topped with onions, tomatoes, jalapeños, pinto beans, guacamole and mayo. Scattered around the park, you’ll also find BBQ, pizza, sausages, cheesesteaks, burritos, tamales, kettle corn … and at a kiosk called Turkey Legs & Elote near the LF corner, for $12 you can get a turkey leg and a cup of elote (a corn mixture). One of their employees shows just how fresh the food is (above right)!
While there is an impressively diverse array of choices here (“There really is something for everyone,” says Jeff Hanauer, the general manager of food-service manager Ovations), you’d have to admit that the Mexican influence is at the heart of it all. That’s why it was so important for Ovations to team up with popular local restaurant Leo’s, which has six locations around town. This ensured authentic and locally accepted Mexican flavors.
Truly, Ovations deserve a lot of credit for bringing in all of the local eateries that are providing, of course, local cuisine. And all of it is freshly made.
Yes, Benjamin Hill is right: the food is unbelievably good here.
The 2,000-square-foot souvenir store (below) is beautiful, and like all well-designed shops at new stadiums, you can get to it from within the stadium and, when there’s no game going on, from the outside. Adult t-shirts run $20-25. Adjustable caps are $18-22, while fitted caps are $34. Men’s polos are $45, $50 and $70. Kids’ tees are $18-24 and their caps are $12-20.
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The sound system is top-notch and the scoreboard is a high-def giant at 90 feet wide and 30 feet tall. I found it to be easier to read and a little less cluttered than the one in Charlotte.
Kids are taken care of well. In addition to a number of kid-specific dishes at concession stands (often with carrots or apple slices), the play area in center field is excellent. It features playground equipment (below left), a mini whiffle-ball diamond and a splash-pad feature.
Kids always love the mascots, and Chico the chihuahua is a big hit. As the photo below shows, he’s a hit with the non-youngsters, too.
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Big kids and littler kids also like the peek-through slots cut into the batter’s eye (above right). This is one of the stops you’ll want to make when you take a 360-degree lap around this fantastic ballpark. These notches are a very nice touch, as is the clock in the tower by the homeplate entry (below left. The shot was taken looking upward inside the tower). Painstakingly reconfigured from the original mechanism that was part of the children’s museum that used to exist on the ballpark’s site, it is a wonder to behold — even more so on the inside than the outside. Make sure you check it out. It’s one of many, many special features at Southwest University Park.
Which brings us back to the art at this ballpark. It was important to the City, the team and the designers of the park that both the culture and history of El Paso be depicted here. As a consequence, $700,000 was earmarked for “public art,” which fell into three general categories. We’ve already looked at the knot-hole-themed wall in the ballpark’s outer perimeter and the history of the area incorporated in the breathtaking stained glass. The third area is the history of baseball in the City, and this is being conveyed through nine large murals by nationally known artist Gaspar Enriquez. The El Paso resident, who had an exhibit at the nearby El Paso Museum of Art as the ballpark opened, combines painting with airbrushing, creating each mural at half of its intended size. Each is then shipped to a special production company in California where the images are fused onto porcelain enamel panels to create the intended size — anywhere from 10 feet by eight feet to 16 feet by 14 feet. One hanging on the first-base concourse is shown in the center below.
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This doesn’t even come close to describing all of the art in this ballpark, as the halls on the second and third levels are lined with piece after piece. Included is the huge original of an image I’d seen many times over the years, “Dudley Field” by Frederick Carter (above right).
From the art on the walls to the design of the ballpark, this place is a masterpiece, fully deserving to be named the 15th annual Baseballparks.com Ballpark of the Year.
Summary
I was very fortunate to receive a guided tour of Southwest University Park by three talented folks from Populous. After they had shown me all of the behind-the-scenes features and described the design decisions that they’d made, I said this to them: “Populous has designed a lot of ballparks, but I don’t think there was one aspect of this park where you copied the blueprint from anywhere else. It seems to me that everything here was designed only for here.” They concurred.
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Alan Shubert, the engineer who represented the City as the stadium was being designed, describes Southwest University Park this way: “It looks like it belongs here. It feels like it belongs here. That’s what we set out to do.”
And its location? “It makes a world of difference to a downtown that was dead. You know, on Opening Night, I thought to myself, when was the last time in El Paso history when there were 9,000 people walking the streets of downtown on a Monday night?”
Populous’ Sabatini puts it this way: “Our original vision was to make a really unique ballpark (so) people will know that this is El Paso, that this was meant for El Paso.”
Sounds like the kind of passion an artist exhibits when creating a piece of art. A piece of art that becomes an award-winning masterpiece.
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Many thanks to (from left) Mark Palmer and Mike Sabatini, both from Populous, Josh Hunt, Chihuahuas co-owner (who was quite involved with the ballpark) and David Bower of Populous. Also, thanks to Alan Shubert for all of his time on the phone.
Feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts on El Paso’s award-winning ballpark.