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| Midway Stadium (Saint Paul) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Midway Stadium |
| Location | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Opened | 1982 |
| Closed | 2014 |
| Demolished | 2015 |
| Owner | Ramsey County |
| Capacity | 6,069 (baseball) |
| Surface | Natural grass |
| Tenants | St. Paul Saints (1982–2014), University of Minnesota baseball (periodic), Minnesota Golden Gophers (occasional) |
Midway Stadium (Saint Paul) was an outdoor baseball park in the Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota, adjacent to the I‑280 corridor and near the junction of I‑94 and US‑52. Built as a replacement for an earlier municipal field, the venue opened in 1982 and served as the primary home for the independent St. Paul Saints until 2014. The ballpark hosted minor league, collegiate, and exhibition contests, and it occupied a prominent place in the Twin Cities sports landscape until its demolition and subsequent redevelopment.
Midway Stadium was commissioned by Ramsey County, Minnesota and conceived during the late 1970s development period that included projects connected to RiverCentre, Xcel Energy Center, and local revitalization efforts. The site selection in the Midway neighborhood placed the stadium near transit and industrial corridors associated with railroads, Amtrak, and the Saint Paul Union Depot district. Construction began amid discussions involving Mark Twain Stadium-era minor league advocates, teams like the Minnesota Twins and the defunct earlier Saints, and civic stakeholders. Opening in 1982, Midway Stadium quickly became the home for the newly formed independent Saints, coached and promoted by figures associated with independent baseball movements and entrepreneurs in sports entertainment. Over ensuing decades, the ballpark hosted exhibition series against Minnesota Twins affiliates, college programs such as the Golden Gophers, and touring squads connected to the College Baseball All-America circuits and independent leagues like the Northern League.
The stadium featured a modest seating bowl with a capacity around 6,000, echoing design elements found in municipal venues like Metropolitan Stadium and smaller parks such as Northeast Park. Architecturally, the venue prioritized sightlines for fans seated behind home plate and along both baselines, with clubhouses and back‑of‑house spaces adapted for independent club operations similar to those used by teams in the North American League and American Association. Facilities included concessions drawing on Twin Cities culinary vendors, locker rooms used by touring college baseball programs, press facilities used by local media outlets such as the Pioneer Press and Star Tribune, and lighting conforming to standards seen at minor league venues like Midland Park. The natural grass playing surface and dimensions accommodated both professional and NCAA regulations, making the stadium suitable for events promoted by entities like USA Baseball and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum-sanctioned exhibitions.
Primary tenancy was held by the independent Saints, who used Midway Stadium for regular season play in leagues such as the Northern League and later the American Association. The ballpark also hosted occasional home games for the University of Minnesota baseball program and exhibition contests involving the Minnesota Twins and their minor league affiliates like the Twins farm clubs on promotional tours. Annual and special events included summer collegiate tournaments associated with organizations like NAIA and NCAA Division I baseball, charity fundraisers tied to local institutions including the Minnesota Historical Society and Saint Paul Public Library, and community festivals coordinated with the Midway Chamber of Commerce. The stadium was also a venue for promotional night games, special theme nights referencing popular culture properties like Star Wars, and appearances by entertainers who partnered with the Saints’ co-founders and marketing teams.
Midway Stadium hosted numerous memorable occurrences: sellout crowds for rivalry matchups against the Winnipeg Goldeyes, historic pitching performances recorded on scorecards tracked by Baseball-Reference statisticians, and milestone home runs by Saints sluggers that were covered by regional sports programs such as KSTP-TV and Fox Sports North. The park attracted independent-league stars who later signed contracts with Major League Baseball organizations, echoing stories of other minor league-to-major league ascents like those traced through the Rule 5 draft and MLB Draft. Special exhibitions included appearances by former major leaguers and barnstorming tours similar to those run by Negro league alumni and barnstorming clubs in the modern era. Memorable promotions and on-field antics contributed to a reputation comparable to other fan-centric venues, with coverage in outlets such as the New York Times and features in books chronicling independent baseball history.
Following the Saint Paul Saints' move to the new CHS Field near Downtown St. Paul for the 2015 season, Midway Stadium was closed and subsequently demolished in 2015. The site became the focus of redevelopment plans coordinated by Ramsey County and local developers, part of broader urban renewal efforts seen in projects like the Lowertown revitalization and mixed-use development trends paralleling Twin Cities riverfront redevelopment. Proposals for the parcel included industrial reuse, office space, and affordable housing initiatives associated with regional planning agencies and institutions such as the Metropolitan Council. Redevelopment discussions involved stakeholders including Saint Paul City Council, Ramsey County officials, and private developers; the transformation reflected shifting land‑use priorities in the metropolitan area similar to redevelopment near U.S. Bank Stadium and the Guthrie Theater corridor.
Category:Sports venues in Saint Paul, Minnesota Category:Baseball venues in Minnesota