Home of the College World Series

Walking up to Rosenblatt for a doubleheader, Aug-1998.

The seating bowl is partially covered by an oversized press box.

The expanse of the ballpark for the College World Series is clearly visible.

• Location: 13th Street at I-80, Omaha, Neb.
• Opened: 1948 as Omaha Municipal Stadium
• Additional names: Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium (1964)
• Home team: Omaha Cardinals, Western League (1948-54), American Association (1955-59); Omaha Dodgers, American Association (1961-62); Omaha Royals, American Association (1969-97), Pacific Coast League (1998, 2002-present); Omaha Golden Spikes, Pacific Coast League (1999-2001)
• Capacity: 24,000 (1999)

Chronological Tour: Stop 142

Rating: 3 baseballs

This is a shame, since the capacity certainly isn’t needed during the 72 dates Omaha’s entry in the minor leagues (known in most seasons as the Royals, after the parent club in Kansas City) is in town. Even a decent crowd, approaching ten thousand, leaves the park looking half empty – because it is.

I was there for a doubleheader in 1998, and there was plenty of room to move around what turns out to be a fairly functional 50-year-old facility. If you can’t get there for the College World Series (always a tough ticket), a Triple-A game is a good alternative.

Both the College World Series and the O-Royals plan to leave the ballpark after the 2010 season. A new park for the CWS is on target to open in 2011, with the NCAA agreeing to play their Division I baseball championship there through at least 2035, while the Pacific Coast League team plans to move to a new park in Papillion, south of Omaha in Sarpy County.

NOTE: I have no information on availability of College World Series tickets. Please contact the NCAA.