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Coveleski Stadium

Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium has seen its share of sports highlights since it was first opened in the summer of 1987. Some of those memorable events included: the and Canada National Baseball Team games, an appearance by soccer legend Pele, a memorable homerun by Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk, a pair of visits by the major league Arizona Diamondbacks as well as Midwest Baseball League championships by the hometown team! In 1984, Michiana Area Council of Government (MACOG) director Charles Minkler expressed to the South Bend Tribune his desire to create some community interest in bringing professional sports to the area. Business and individuals alike contacted Minkler to voice their support for such an endeavor. From that interest, the Michiana Professional Baseball Association (MPBA) was formed. The MPBA looked at a number of different scenarios for bringing professional baseball to South Bend , including teams of both Double A and Triple A caliber. However, it was decided that the option that would best fit the area would be a Class A team from the Midwest League. When the League was contacted, it was discovered that there were plans to expand the current league by two teams. Here was an opportunity to be seized. Of course, in order to field a professional team, there had to be the right facility to do so. While there were many excellent parks and baseball diamonds in South Bend , none offered the quality needed for a minor league team. The MPBA then approached the City of South Bend about acquiring a professional baseball franchise. The idea was well received. South Bend already had a strong athletic history (including one of a number of professional baseball teams over the years). Such a team would also enhance the quality of life in the area and if it was located in the downtown area, it would also impact other economic growth in city as well. A similar project with the East Race had been a very successful venture! An area on the southwestern part of downtown near the old Union Station, bounded by Taylor , South and Lafayette Blvd. was selected for the site to build a brand new, first class baseball stadium which would be named for Stanley Coveleski. The Hall of Famer Coveleski settled in South Bend after his baseball career ended in 1929. He was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1969. HOK Sport, a well-known firm with a history of designing baseball stadiums was selected to design Coveleski Stadium. The goal was to build a brand new, first class baseball stadium which would be named for Stanley Coveleski. The Hall of Famer Coveleski settled in South Bend after his baseball career ended in 1929. He was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1969. The plans for the new facility however were not accepted by everyone. A group called Fair Tax, Inc. protested at numerous meetings and ran an opposition petition drive. After two unsuccessful financing efforts, the City was able to come up with an option to build the Stadium. Fair Tax, Inc. however, tried to slow the process any way they could. All of which added costs and time to the project. One of the biggest boosts was the signing of a 10-year player development contract in January of 1986 with the Chicago White Sox to make South Bend a minor league affiliate. Continued opposition by Fair Tax, Inc. forced even more delays to the project. Those delays meant that the stadium would not be available for the start of the 1987 Midwest League season. For South Bend , the minor league team would have to wait until 1988. Despite not having the minor league team that season, as the City dedicated Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium on July 2, 1987 and the facility featured many community related baseball and sports events during that first summer. The 2007 season will mark the stadium's twentieth season of hosting a professional baseball franchise.