West End Field

[RestedTraveler]

Wait 'till the lights go ON.

They're not already on? I haven't been downtown after dark for a few weeks, so I hadn't noticed. Darn...and here I had figured they were in a hurry to get them up so they could work around the clock!

[gs3]

Those lights are going to light up the entire West End.....and Main Street.....and Augusta Road......and......

[RestedTraveler]

They're directional lights, so they'll (hopefully) just light up the ballpark. Notice the black shields on each lamp:

[gs3]

Thanks RT. I was just so shocked to see them this morning from Academy. I knew they were tall, but man, they really show up. Even though they are directional, we'll get that nice city "glow" in the air when games are being played.

[NYTransplant]

I took this from Heritage Green.

[GvilleSC]

WOW! From Heritage Green!? That's amazing!!! Thanks for posting

[RestedTraveler]

Somebody's got a telephoto lens.

Great shot, NYT! That ballpark definitely is going to have an impact from all about town.

[goodbye]

Great shot, NYT! How could anyone not love this city?!

[NYTransplant]

Thanks guys.

Somebody's got a telephoto lens.

Great shot, NYT! That ballpark definitely is going to have an impact from all about town.

Yup, I've got a Sigma 35-135 plus a 1.7x extender. With the digital multiplier I guess that's about a 370mm 35mm equivalent.

[gs3]

Excellent NYT!! Thanks!

[RestedTraveler]

Saturday, March 18, 2006:

A little sneak peek at the scoreboard and of today's open house (see the stacks and stacks of coke and hot dog buns on the right):

[charlie swords]

The main pylon sign was approved by the city and is currently in manufacturing, it should be up by the end of the month.

[g-man430]

Sweet pic, RT.

-Don't forget free hot dogs and 1.00 drinks today from 2-5 at the new West End Ballpark.

[charlie swords]

actually i didn't take any pictures, that was RT

[g-man430]

Oh sorry, I meant RT.

-I noticed on the webcam the grass has now been cut for the first time since they installed the sod on the new field.

[g-man430]

Here are some pics I took today at the event from the new Greenville Drive ballpark: http://www.flickr.com/photos/42084480@N00/

[RestedTraveler]

Great photos, g-man430! I didn't see you there...of course, it was kinda hard to pick people out of a crowd while trying to keep an eye on my kids, too. I took some photos as well and will post them shortly. The field looked great!

[RestedTraveler]

Saturday, March 18, 2006:

Banners are up all over downtown welcoming the Greenville Drive to Greenville (not trying to inflate the discussion cloud here, really):

The Ballpark Entry Plaza off of South Main Street:

The Team Store and Ticket Office (Old West End Fire House/West End Coffee Company HQ):

Downtown Skyline seen from the intersection of South Main Street and South Markley Street:

Entering the ballpark from South Markley Street:

Wow! Multiply this by 25 and that's what it will be like during games:

Waiting for Hot Dogs:

People mingling along the Left Field Plaza:

Kids' Entertainment:

Merchandise:

The Scoreboard will soon be complete:

Walking through the concourse under the Upper Deck:

The view from the best seat in the house:

Unfortunately, it appears that the downtown skyline will be obscured by the Field House, the batter's eye and the scoreboard...

[g-man430]

Great photos, RT. Does anybody know if this is going to be an entrance or just offices: http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=114346699&size=l, because I thought they were going to have only two entrances, one on Field Street and one on South Markley Street, not three with one in the middle?

[RestedTraveler]

I think that's going to be the entrance to their business offices, Jacob. I'm pretty sure that fan entrances will only be on South Main/South Markley and Field Street/Shoeless Joe Way. This could be the double-super-top-secret "season ticket holder entrance" that Nate and Suzanne were discussing as well, though, I suppose.

[NYTransplant]

Great photos RT! Thanks for posting them. Unfortunately I missed the open house yesterday. Now I feel like I've been there.

[RestedTraveler]

Friday, March 24, 2006:

The lights underwent a 48-hour burn-in test:

If you look closely, you can see the new Pic Nic Tables that will cover the Pic Nic Terrace:

Gates are now up at the South Main Street Entry Plaza:

[RestedTraveler]

I'm not sure if anybody else has noticed it, but you can see the ballpark lights from all over town. I noticed them from the Roper Mountain Road/I-385 Entrance Ramp, from the hill between the Haywood and Pleasantburg Exits on I-385, from Academy Street, from Church Street, from virtually everywhere....

[Greenville]

Awesome pictures! Thanks so much for posting them, RT.

[NYTransplant]

Great shots RT! Thanks