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Toledo Mud Hens: Fifth Third Field
Home of the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League
Toledo's new park is the third Fifth Third Field to open in Ohio or Michigan
in the last decade, and it probably falls in about second out of the three. (First of all, let me clarify that while Fifth
Third sounds like a silly name, the title is from the name of a bank, Fifth Third Bans, headquartered in Cincinnati, which was founded as the merger of the Third National Bank of Cincinnati
and the Fifth National Bank of Cincinnati).
Toledo's park certainly didn't make the same groundbreaking changes in
minor league park construction as did Dayton's park, but that certainly doesn't mean it isn't a nice new park.
Fifth Third Field in Toledo opened after several of the other new parks
in the International League, so simply building a two level venue wasn't so unique anymore. While this park does have two
levels, it is unusual in that the upper deck stretches from foul pole to foul pole, and down the right field line a small
portion of upper deck just behind the foul pole is wedged between two buildings and nicknamed "the roost."
In addition, this park breaks a few other norms. Unlike many of the new
parks which simulate quirky ballparks through contrived angles, this park actually was squeezed into a city block. This one
actually looks like the architects tried to build a normal park, but were forced to make some unusual corners and indentations
in the plan. At many other parks, the opposite seems to be the case - the architects try to build a quirky park on an un-quirky
piece of land.
Fifth Third Field in Toledo lacks lawn seating - one of its few negatives,
and has only a mediocre scoreboard. But its main concourse is at street level, unlike, say, in Louisville, where much of the concourse is well above that.
Many were sad to see Toledo's old park, Ned Skelton Stadium, torn down in favor of a modern park. That is
not the sentiment I hold. Downtown Toledo has needed a boost for years, and this is a bit of a step in the right direction. Strangely,
Toledo has had very good teams ever since this park opened and draws quite well. It's not the most beautiful minor league
park out there, but it's good enough for Toledo fans to be happy.
*Ticket donated by Sadonna Speiss
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