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Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium

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Coordinates: 39°24′05″N 77°24′48″W / 39.40139°N 77.41333°W / 39.40139; -77.41333
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Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium

The Harry Grove Stadium scoreboard in August 2009
Map
Location21 Stadium Drive
Frederick, Maryland 21703
Coordinates39°24′05″N 77°24′48″W / 39.40139°N 77.41333°W / 39.40139; -77.41333
OwnerCity of Frederick
OperatorMaryland Baseball Holding LLC
Capacity5,400[6]
Record attendance11,006 on August 30, 1997[7]
Field sizeLeft Field: 325 feet
Center Field: 400 feet
Right Field: 325 feet
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundJuly 23, 1989[1]
OpenedApril 19, 1990
Renovated2005, 2006, 2008
Construction cost$7 million
($16.3 million in 2023 dollars[2])
ArchitectEllerbe Becket[3]
Project managerOpening Day Partners
Structural engineerHarper & Kerr, P. A.[4]
General contractorMorgan-Keller Inc.[5]
Tenants
Frederick Keys (CL/MLB Draft League) 1990–present
Spire City Ghost Hounds (ALPB) 2023–present
Frederick Regiment (MFB) 1998

Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium, located in Frederick, Maryland, is the home of the Frederick Keys, a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. Opened in 1990, it seats 5,400 fans.

History

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Harry Grove Stadium in August 2009.

The stadium is named for Harry Grove, who was one of the founders of the Frederick Hustlers, a professional team that existed between 1915 and the World War II era. The Grove family also donated $250,000 to the city to help build the park and were thus honored in the naming of it. Another $1 million was provided by the city of Frederick along with $1.5 million provided by the state of Maryland and $250,000 from Frederick County.[8]

The 2005 Class A all-star game, pitting the Carolina League against the California League, was played in Harry Grove Stadium.[9]

Harry Grove Stadium has also hosted various concerts. On August 19, 2006, Bob Dylan played to a sell-out crowd during his third annual 'Summer Minor League Baseball Park Tour'.[10] The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has made it an annual summer stop on its live event tours, a rarity in that the stadium is an outdoor venue.

Harry Grove Stadium also serves host to several autocross clubs, who use the lower lot for their autocross course.

In 1998, the stadium hosted the Frederick Regiment, a team in the single-season Maryland Fall Baseball league.[11] The Spire City Ghost Hounds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball began to play here in April 2023.[12]

Renovations

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In 2006, Keys ownership began a project to revitalize Harry Grove Stadium. Renovations included a new field, seating section, suite level restoration and a new lighting system.[13]

A new scoreboard and videoboard and audio visual equipment wer in place for the 2009 season.[14]

Further 2009 upgrades included public restrooms that have been completely renovated along with those in the clubhouse, and multiple improvements to bring Harry Grove Stadium into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.[15]

In August 2024, the Frederick Keys and the city of Frederick announced that the Maryland Stadium Authority had agreed to fund $39 million in upgrades to Harry Grove Stadium to help bring affiliated minor league baseball back to Frederick. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and continue into 2026, but it is not expected to disrupt the playing season.[16][17][18]

Naming rights

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On December 5, 2013, the Frederick Mayor and Board of Aldermen approved an amended contract that will allow the Frederick Keys to seek a sponsor for stadium naming rights while retaining "Harry Grove" as part of the name.[19][20] Mayor Randy McClement said, "The stadium is always going to be Harry Grove Stadium. But the idea behind naming rights is to look at portions of the stadium that could used for naming rights."[21] The city will get 35% of the net profit from the naming fees with the remainder going to the team.[19][20][21] On February 5, 2015, the Frederick Keys announced a deal had been reached with Nymeo Federal Credit Union to use the name "Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium."[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Keys Slideshow". Frederick News-Post. February 6, 2009. Archived from the original on February 7, 2009. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  2. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  3. ^ Ostrowski, Jeff (July 26, 1999). "Major Firms Playing in the Minors Too". SportsBusiness Journal. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  4. ^ "Request for Proposals Homestead Baseball Stadium Complex". City of Homestead. May 5, 1989. p. 15. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
  5. ^ "News in Brief". The Baltimore Sun. August 19, 1991. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  6. ^ "Fan Guide A to Z". Frederick Keys. MLB Draft League. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  7. ^ Goldberg, Stan (August 25, 2001). "Morris Is A Crowd Pleaser". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  8. ^ Duggan, Paul (January 12, 1989). "The Boys of Summers Past; Cherished Memories Resurface as Baseball Returns to Frederick". The Washington Post. ProQuest 140085073.
  9. ^ Goldberg, Stan (June 28, 2005). "Frederick to Be Star-Struck". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  10. ^ Leslie, Katie E. (August 20, 2006). "Knockin' on Frederick's Door". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  11. ^ Scherr, Rich (July 15, 1998). "BASEBALL IN AUTUMN MIGHT RISE OR FALL". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  12. ^ Reichard, Kevin (November 16, 2022). "Frederick Atlantic League team added for 2023". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  13. ^ deLeon, Joseph M. (September 20, 2006). "Keys' Stadium Getting New Playing Field". Frederick News-Post. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  14. ^ Behsudi, Adam (February 6, 2009). "New Scoreboard, Video Screen Approved for Grove Stadium". Frederick News-Post. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  15. ^ Negas, Kristina (April 10, 2009). "A Few Key Improvements to Harry Grove Stadium". Frederick News-Post. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  16. ^ McManus, Kevin (August 30, 2024). "Renovation Work To Take Place At Harry Grove Stadium In Frederick". WFMD. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  17. ^ Swatek, Greg (August 31, 2024). "Keys announce $39M in stadium renovation funding". The Frederick News-Post. Retrieved September 21, 2024 – via Yahoo Sports.
  18. ^ Dickstein, Ryan (September 3, 2024). "Frederick Keys ownership awarded $39 million to upgrade Harry Grove Stadium". WMAR 2 News Baltimore. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  19. ^ a b Bondeson, Jen (December 6, 2013). "Frederick City Approves Naming Rights for Harry Grove Stadium Complex". Frederick News-Post. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  20. ^ a b "Frederick Approves Sale of Naming Rights for Keys Stadium". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Associated Press. December 6, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  21. ^ a b "Frederick City Aldermen Address Fund Balance Shortfall". WFMD. December 6, 2013. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
  22. ^ "Keys Announce Naming Rights Partnership with Nymeo Federal Credit Union". MiLB.com (Press release). Frederick Keys. February 5, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
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