The state-of-the-art facility was designed by Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, Inc. out of Kansas City, Missouri. H.O.K. is the same company that designed other baseball gems, including Jacobs Field in Cleveland and Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. The steel-framed beauty was built in 14 months, between January, 1996 and March, 1997.

Location:
At South Main Street between State and West Exchange Streets in downtown Akron, Ohio

Dimensions:
Left Field: 331 ft., Left Center Field: 376 ft., Center Field: 400 ft., Right Center Field: 375 ft., Right Field: 337 ft.

Seating:
9,097 (includes 7,536 reserved seats, 857 bleachers, 164 wheelchair & companion), expandable to 12,500

Scoreboard:
Largest free-standing scoreboard in the minor leagues at 56'3" x 68' with full color animation capacity and featuring a four color matrix display.

Clubhouses:
The home clubhouse spans more than 9,000 square feet on the third base side of the ballpark. Inside of the Aeros clubhouse are two batting/pitching cages, weight/workout facility, training room, manager's office, coaches office, player's lounge and 30 lockers for player use. The visitor's clubhouse is 6,000 square feet and features a trainer's room, manager's office, coaches office and 30 lockers for player use.

Clock Tower:
Modeled after Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s Headquarters on East Market Street

Other Features:

• 25 luxury suites
• Pedestrian bridge connecting to Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron
• Outdoor picnic areas
• Right-field restaurant overlooking field
• Merchandise team shop open year round located along Main Street (1,200 square feet)

Cost:
$31 million

Groundbreaking:
January 5, 1996

Date of Completion:
January 31, 1997 (377 days)

Total Number of Bricks:
400,000

Total Man Hours:
25,000 to design; 250,000 to build

Project Manager:
Summit Construction Co., Inc.

Sites Demolished for stadium:

• Anthony Wayne Hotel
• Woolworth's 5 & 10 Lunch Counter
• First National Bank of Akron
• Prinz Office Supply

First Game:
April 10, 1997 vs. Harrisburg Senators

First Pitch:
Aeros Starter Jaret Wright to Senators SS Hiram Bocachica (swinging strike)

First Hit:
Harrisburg DH Rob Lukachyk, 2nd inning single

First Aeros Home Run:
3B Todd Betts