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Meritus Park

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Coordinates: 39°38′26″N 77°43′26″W / 39.64056°N 77.72389°W / 39.64056; -77.72389
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Meritus Park
Meritus Park in May 2024
Map
Meritus Park is located in Maryland
Meritus Park
Meritus Park
Location in Maryland
Meritus Park is located in the United States
Meritus Park
Meritus Park
Location in the United States
AddressHagerstown, Maryland
US
Coordinates39°38′26″N 77°43′26″W / 39.64056°N 77.72389°W / 39.64056; -77.72389
OwnerHagerstown-Washington County Industrial Foundation (CHIEF)[1]
OperatorHagerstown-Washington County Industrial Foundation (CHIEF)[1]
Capacity4,000 (Sports)
Over 4,000 (Other events)
Record attendance4,257 (June 28, 2024)[2]
Construction
Broke groundOctober 18, 2022[3]
Built2022–2024
OpenedMay 4, 2024 (2024-05-04)[6]
Construction cost$69.5 million[4]
ArchitectPendulum[1]
BuilderTurner Construction[5]
Project managerMaryland Stadium Authority[5]
Tenants
Hagerstown Flying Boxcars (ALPB) 2024
Website
Official website

Meritus Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Hagerstown, Maryland. It replaced Hagerstown's old Municipal Stadium which was demolished in 2022.

The facility was built primarily for the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars, a team in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, but it can also host other sports, outdoor concerts, festivals and community events.[4][7][8]

The Maryland Stadium Authority oversaw development of the facility. Turner Construction designed and built it.[5] It is owned and operated by the Hagerstown-Washington County Industrial Foundation (CHIEF).[1]

The $69.5 million development budget mostly came from $59.5 million in bonds issued by the stadium authority, to be paid off with lottery proceeds. The then Maryland governor Larry Hogan budgeted another $8.5 million, and the Maryland General Assembly earmarked $1.5 million in its capital budget.[4]

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 18, 2022.[3] The facility opened on May 4, 2024, at less than full capacity for the first six home games of the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars.[6]

The initial plans had the stadium at a capacity of 5,000. This was lowered to better serve non-sporting events.[9] The stadium has 2,800 fixed seats and a capacity of 4,000 for baseball games and other sporting events and over 4,000 for other events.[10][11] Despite capacity being set at 4,000, the Flying Boxcars have had several games with attendance over 4,000, with the attendance record as of July 10, 2024 being 4,257, set on June 28, 2024 in a Flying Boxcars 9-4 win over the Staten Island Ferryhawks.[12][13] The stadium has eight private suites, a beer garden, a bar, and a picnic area.[9]

In February 2024, Meritus Health and the Flying Boxcars announced a partnership that included Meritus Health acquiring the naming rights for the stadium to be called Meritus Park.[14][15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Hagerstown Multi–Use Sports and Events Facility". mdstad.com. Maryland Stadium Authority. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  2. ^ Hagerstown Flying Boxcars (June 28, 2024). "Thank you to all 4257 of you! A new attendance record at Meritus Park!". Facebook.
  3. ^ a b Weingarten, Dwight A. (October 19, 2022). "Play ball? Not yet, but ceremony held for new baseball stadium". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c McMillion, Dave (March 1, 2022). "New Hagerstown baseball stadium expected to be completed in 2024". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c McMillion, Dave (February 16, 2023). "Hagerstown City Council looking for $1.6 million to make five-story parking deck possible". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Greene, Julie E. (April 10, 2024). "Hagerstown Flying Boxcars push home opener back a day, limit initial fan capacity". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  7. ^ Schweigert, Keith (September 1, 2021). "New baseball team in Hagerstown, MD will join the Atlantic League in 2023". WPMT. York, Pennsylvania. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  8. ^ "Atlantic League Officially Approves New Team Coming to Hagerstown, Maryland". mdstad.com (Press release). Maryland Stadium Authority. September 1, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Belt, Jason; Levitsky, Michael (July 6, 2023). "Hagerstown's new ballpark: Picnic areas, walking paths and high expectations". Capital News Service. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  10. ^ Baker, Tamela (March 21, 2024). "Peanuts, cracker jack and beer: Liquor board conditionally approves alcohol at the stadium". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "Meritus Park". Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  12. ^ Mason, Andy (July 1, 2024). "Hagerstown Flying Boxcars enjoy historic week at Meritus Park". The Herald-Mail. Retrieved July 10, 2024 – via Yahoo! Sports.
  13. ^ "Hagerstown Flying Boxcars vs. Staten Island FerryHawks - Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs - boxscore". Pointstreak Sports Technologies. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  14. ^ "Flying Boxcars and Meritus Health Announce Partnership". Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  15. ^ "Meritus Health sponsorship name will adorn new Hagerstown Ballpark". Tri-State Alert. News Talk WEEO 103.7 FM. February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
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