Daniel S. Frawley Stadium

{{Short description|Stadium in Wilmington, Delaware, US}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = Daniel S. Frawley Stadium | nickname = Judy Johnson Field | logo_image = Frawley Stadium.PNG | image = Frawley.Stadium.JPG | image_size = 240 | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 13 | pushpin_map = Delaware#USA | pushpin_relief = yes | fullname = Judy Johnson Field at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium | former_names = Legends Stadium (1993) | address = 801 Shipyard Drive | city = Wilmington, Delaware 19801 | coordinates = {{Coord|39|43|56|N|75|33|52|W|display=inline,title}} | public_transit = {{bus icon|12px}} DART First State bus: 25 | owner = Delaware Stadium Corporation | operator = Delaware Stadium Corporation | capacity = 5,911 (1993–2000) 6,532 (2001–2015) 6,404 (2016–present) | dimensions = Right Field – 325 feet Center Field – 400 feet Left Field – 325 feet | surface = Grass | broke_ground = November 1, 1992 | opened = {{Start date|1993|04|16}}  | expanded = 2001<ref>{{cite web |title=Expansion Plans |url=http://delawarestadiumcorp.com/stadiumtour/expansion_plan.asp |publisher=Delaware Stadium Corporation |year=2000 |access-date=March 4, 2014}}</ref> | cost = $6,100,000 (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|6100000|1993}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) | architect = The Design Exchange, Wilmington, DE | project_manager = Opening Day Partners | general_contractor = Minker Construction Company | tenants = Wilmington Blue Rocks (CL/High-A East/SAL) 1993–present AEC Tournament 1995, 1997–2001 Delaware Stars (MFB) 1998 | website =  }}

'''Daniel S. Frawley Stadium''' is a stadium in Wilmington, Delaware. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Wilmington Blue Rocks minor league baseball team. The park was originally known as Legends Stadium when it was built in 1993. It was renamed in 1994 for Wilmington mayor Daniel S. Frawley, who had pushed for a return of the Blue Rocks. The field is named separately for Judy Johnson, a local Negro league baseball star.

==History== The stadium was designed by architect Trish England, head of Design Exchange, who had previously designed dozens of commercial buildings in Delaware. Construction began on November 1, 1992, and was headed by contractor Matthew Minker, a part owner of the team. The {{convert|20|acre|m2|adj=on}} stadium site was once part of a Christina River shipbuilding operation. In 1986, the {{convert|86|acre|m2|adj=on}} Dravo Shipyard, with several buildings, was bought by Verino Pettinaro, a local contractor, for a little more than $1 million. Pettinaro sold {{convert|6|acre|m2}} for the stadium to the Delaware Stadium Corporation for $300,000. The Delaware Stadium Corporation, a city and state entity, has owned the stadium since its construction.<ref>{{cite news |title=Northeast Notebook: Wilmington, Del.; A 'Colosseum' For Baseball |first=Maureen |last=Milford |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/14/realestate/northeast-notebook-wilmington-del-a-colosseum-for-baseball.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 14, 1993 |access-date=August 11, 2013}}</ref>

==Amenities== thumb|left|A view of left field at Frawley Stadium and the scoreboard The stadium seats 6,404 people. The Blue Rocks have a picnic area in the stadium named the Blue Moose Grill and a gift shop, The Quarry.<ref>{{cite web |title=A-Z Guide |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-506530 |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=February 7, 2009 |access-date=February 24, 2014}}</ref> A formerly abandoned building across the street has been renovated to be similar to Camden Yards. The facility is administered by the Delaware Stadium Corporation.

==Other uses== In 1995 and from 1997 to 2001, stadium hosted the America East Conference baseball tournament. The hosting Delaware Blue Hens won the tournament in each year except for 1997.<ref>{{cite web |title=Baseball Record Book |url=http://www.americaeast.com/fls/14000/records/base.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=14000 |publisher=America East Conference |access-date=February 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527033410/http://www.americaeast.com/fls/14000/records/base.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=14000 |archive-date=May 27, 2012 |page=12 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1998, the stadium hosted the Delaware Stars, a team in the single-season Maryland Fall Baseball league.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Salisbury |first1=Jim |title=Green To Replace Grace In The Rotation |url=http://articles.philly.com/1998-08-25/sports/25724797_1_tyler-green-phillies-bullpen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816225306/http://articles.philly.com/1998-08-25/sports/25724797_1_tyler-green-phillies-bullpen |archive-date=August 16, 2016 |access-date=July 1, 2016 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=August 25, 1998 |quote=The Phillies will send five minor-league players to the Delaware Stars of the Maryland Fall League... The Delaware team will play its home games at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington.}}</ref>

The Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame has exhibit space through an entrance on the outside of the stadium. The stadium has also held many concerts, including Wilco, the Beach Boys, the Steve Miller Band, and recently the Round the Bases Tour, which featured Counting Crows, Live, and Collective Soul. Starting in 2008, the Delaware Indo-American festival was held at the site.

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

==Further reading== * {{cite news |title=Field of Dreams a Nostalgic Ballpark and New Team for Wilmington|first=Joe|last=Berkery|url=http://articles.philly.com/1993-04-05/sports/25983360_1_matt-minker-wilmington-blue-rocks-phillies-minor-league-affiliate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221759/http://articles.philly.com/1993-04-05/sports/25983360_1_matt-minker-wilmington-blue-rocks-phillies-minor-league-affiliate|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2016|newspaper=Philadelphia Daily News|date=April 5, 1993|access-date=August 11, 2013|page=B14}} * {{cite news|last1=Reichard|first1=Kevin|title=Upgrade plan for Frawley Stadium announced|url=http://ballparkdigest.com/2015/07/07/upgrade-plan-for-frawley-stadium-announced/|access-date=November 28, 2015|work=Ballpark Digest|date=July 7, 2015}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * [https://www.milb.com/wilmington Official Team website] * [https://www.delawarestadiumcorp.com/ Delaware Stadium Corporation website] * [http://www.desports.org/ Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame website] * [http://www.ballparkreviews.com/wilming/wilming.htm Ballparkreviews.com entry] {{Wilmington, Delaware}} {{South Atlantic League ballparks}}

Category:Baseball venues in Delaware Category:Buildings and structures in Wilmington, Delaware Category:Wilmington Riverfront Category:Minor league baseball venues Category:Tourist attractions in Wilmington, Delaware Category:Sports venues completed in 1993 Category:1993 establishments in Delaware Category:Sports venues in the Delaware Valley Category:South Atlantic League ballparks