Baseball Becomes a Shore Thing

Entrance to GPU Energy Park, Apr-2001.

The view from center field during the game.

Outfield signs are somewhat unobtrusive here.

• Location: Cedar Bridge Avenue (SR 528) at New Hampshire Avenue, Lakewood, N.J.
• Opened: 2001 as GPU Energy Park
• Additional names: FirstEnergy Park (2002)
• Home team: Lakewood Blue Claws, South Atlantic League (2001-present)
• Capacity: 6,588

Rating: 3 baseballs

So why a larger capacity park for a lower level of ball? Despite the fact that this is low Class A ball vs. the Double-A Southern League, the designers expected large crowds due to the location of the park, on the northern edge of Ocean County. Thanks to the Garden State Parkway, the bedroom for New York now stretches this far down the Shore. There is also some baseball tradition in the area, and fans have been flocking to the park since the opener. An August 2002 game I attended drew a South Atlantic League record 13,003 fans.

Sight lines are fine, and prices for tickets, concessions and souvenirs are all average for the New York area. However, the park suffers from poor access and egress. After a stop at the souvenir stand, it took me 15 minutes to get out of the parking lot. There are only two exits, and the access roads do not have enough lanes to accommodate the cars streaming out of a packed house.