TACOMA, Wash. - Abe Coleman could probably call Cheney Stadium a second home.
He's spent many nights here over the last three decades. His kids grew up running around the ballpark. And tonight, he took them here one last time.
"This was our stomping grounds," says son Tom. "They used to have tightwad hill over there. I just liked watching mom and dad sit here and enjoy the game too."
But the house will be torn down next week so to speak.
The City of Tacoma is beginning a $30 million renovation of the park, built in 1960, after a push by local businessman Ben Cheney.
"He was a baseball fan, and wanted the best minor league baseball team he could," says son Brad, who called the change "bittersweet."
Clay Huntington, who was a driving force behind the construction of the ballpark 50 years ago, believes it was a good investment for the city. "They built it for less than a million dollars, that's two pitches to A-Rod!"
But he and many others acknowledge the half-century-old ballpark needed an upgrade.
The renovation, expected to be done in time for Opening Day 2011, will include new suites, seats, and locker rooms. The debt will be repaid by the Rainiers owners, the Cheney Foundation, and admission fees.
"We'll still come, but it won't be the old park," says Coleman.
The Tacoma Rainiers have already announced that any PCL playoff games will be played at Safeco Field, in order to keep the planned construction timeline.
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