Delta Dental Stadium

Delta Dental Stadium is a special place in Manchester, New Hampshire where people come to watch baseball games. It can hold up to 6,500 fans, making it a lively spot for sports lovers. The stadium is mainly used for baseball and is the home of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, a team that plays in the Eastern League.

The very first game at this ballpark happened on April 7, 2005, when the New Britain Rock Cats played against the Fisher Cats. A few years later, on August 27, 2006, famous musician Bob Dylan gave the first concert there, showing that the stadium is also a great place for music events.

In 2011, a company called Northeast Delta Dental signed an agreement to be the naming rights holder for the stadium for ten years, with an option to extend it for five more years. Because of this, the stadium changed its name a few times: it was first called Fisher Cats Ballpark, then Merchantsauto.com Stadium, and later Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Now, it is simply known as Delta Dental Stadium, even though Northeast Delta Dental still holds the naming rights.

Features

Delta Dental Stadium is located in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire, along the Merrimack River. It is close to many local places such as the mill district, SNHU Arena, the University of New Hampshire at Manchester, and many restaurants, bars, and hotels. The stadium has an open area where fans can always see the game, and it includes special seating areas called luxury suites.

One special feature is the Hilton Garden Inn hotel, which stands right next to the stadium. Rooms on the hotel's south side have windows that look out over the field, and the hotel's restaurant has outdoor seating where guests can watch the game. The stadium also has a bar and grill area that overlooks the field. In 2017, the stadium added new seating, a music stage, a tiki bar, and a small waterfall at the main entrance. In 2019, the field began using organic methods to manage the grass, making it the first professional baseball field to do so.

Notable events

The stadium has hosted many special events over the years. On July 16, 2008, it welcomed 8,762 fans for the 2008 Northeast Delta Dental Eastern League All-Star Game, a record that was later broken. Famous Red Sox pitcher John Smoltz even played a game there while he was recovering from an injury. The stadium has also been the venue for the Eastern League All-Star Game three times in ten years, more than any other stadium in the league.