Classic Auto Group Park

{{Short description|Stadium in Eastlake, Ohio}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = Classic Auto Group Park | image = 300px|right | pushpin_map = Ohio#USA | pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ohio##Location within the United States | pushpin_relief = yes | pushpin_label = Classic Auto Group Park | pushpin_mapsize = 250 | location = 35300 Vine Street Eastlake, OH 44095 | coordinates = {{coord|41|38|28|N|81|26|8|W|type:landmark_region:US-OH|display=inline,title}} | broke_ground = May 9, 2002<ref>{{cite news |title=Eastlake, Ohio, Baseball Stadium Seen as a Tool for Economic Growth|first=Dave|last=Truman|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120428923.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106121757/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120428923.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 6, 2012|newspaper=The News-Herald|date=May 11, 2002|accessdate=September 16, 2011}}</ref> | built = | opened = April 10, 2003 | closed = | demolished = | owner = City of Eastlake | operator = Lake County Captains Baseball Club | construction_cost = $22 million (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|22000000|2003}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) | architect = DLR Group | structural_engineer = MC Engineers, Inc.<ref>{{cite web|title=Robert Bell, PE|url=http://www.mcengineers.com/pdf/rob.pdf|publisher=MC Engineers, Inc.|accessdate=September 29, 2011}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | services_engineer = CT Consultants, Inc. | project_manager = Ozanne Construction Company<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ozanne Construction Co.|journal=Builders Exchange|volume=4|issue=10|publisher=Sabre Publishing|date=October 1, 2005|url=http://www.bxmagazine.com/article.asp?ID=452|accessdate=March 5, 2012}}</ref> | general_contractor = Turner Construction<ref name="aboutcp"/> | tenants = Lake County Captains (MWL/High-A Central) 2003–present Lake Erie Storm (NCAA) 2017–present | seating_capacity = 6,500<ref>{{cite web | title=FAQs | url=https://www.classicautogrouppark.com/faqs }}</ref> | dimensions = Left Field: {{convert|320|ft|abbr=on}} Center Field: {{convert|400|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=3}} Right Field: {{convert|320|ft|abbr=on}} }}

'''Classic Auto Group Park''' is a stadium in Eastlake, Ohio, in the suburbs of Cleveland. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Lake County Captains minor league baseball team. It was built in 2003 at a cost of $22 million under the name '''Eastlake Park''' and seats 6,500 people.

Although not immediately apparent to non-locals, the stadium bears a corporate name. The naming rights were purchased by Classic Automotive Group, a large Cleveland-area chain of auto dealerships.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jean |last=Bonchak |title=Most Influential: Influence of Classic Auto Group Owner Drives through Lake County |url=http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20120630/most-influential-influence-of-classic-auto-group-owner-drives-through-lake-county-with-video |work=The News-Herald |date=June 30, 2012 |accessdate=July 7, 2014 }}</ref>

==Financing== In order to construct Classic Park, Eastlake, Ohio assumed $1 million in debt. This debt necessitated cuts in public services, including the laying off of five police officers and a reduction in the scope of police services.<ref>{{cite news |title=Eastlake Makes Changes To Pay Off Debt|url=http://www.newsnet5.com/news/9448491/detail.html|work=WEWS|location=Cleveland|date=June 29, 2006|accessdate=June 29, 2006|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060708023158/http://www.newsnet5.com/news/9448491/detail.html|archivedate=July 8, 2006}}</ref>

==Features== The field was voted as the Best Playing Surface in the South Atlantic League in 2003, 2004 and 2007. Other features include a 4,000-square foot indoor batting facility with two full-sized batting cages. The main clubhouse building is located beyond the right-field corner and houses both the Captains and visiting teams. Each clubhouse features offices for the manager and coaching staff, a training room, and laundry facilities.<ref name="aboutcp">{{cite web |title=About Classic Park|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-140244|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=October 26, 2006|access-date=March 9, 2014}}</ref> The Captains' dugout is on the 1st base side, while the visitor dugout is on the 3rd base side.

The ballpark and playing field are available for rent to area businesses and baseball leagues. Many organizations play games at the stadium during the year and the team operates a fundraising program enabling teams to play games there and make money for their organization at the same time.

The stadium features two large party tents which can accommodate up to 500 guests in each one. In addition, there are two private Party Decks located on the suite level which can hold up to 60 people in each one. The park also features 20 party suites which can be rented for the season, half-season, quarter-season or on a game-by-game basis. The suite level also features a full-service bar and an oversized private party suite called The Officer's Club.

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== * [https://www.classicautogrouppark.com/ Official website] * [http://www.littleballparks.com/Stadium/2004/Eastlake/Eastlake.htm Classic Park Views - ''Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues'']

Category:Buildings and structures in Lake County, Ohio Category:Minor league baseball venues in Ohio Category:Sports venues completed in 2003    Category:2003 establishments in Ohio Category:Midwest League ballparks