Lawrence-Dumont Stadium
Wichita, Kansas
Year Opened
1934

Current Team
None

Affiliate
N/A

League
N/A

Capacity
6,111

Location Map

My Grades
Stadium B
Atmosphere B-
Concessions A-

Photos taken in 2003
Lawrence-Dumont Stadium was similar in its physical structure to Omaha's Rosenblatt Stadium, only on a smaller scale. It was an older park that had undergone several renovations over the decades. While it likely lost some of its original charm (mostly due to the artificial turf infield), the park remained a fine place to see a game. The grandstand featured some box seats, but the majority of the seating consisted of benches. Luxury boxes were built on stilts, providing covering for seats behind home plate, though this also resulted in some obstructed views. The renovations led to a concourse that allowed fans to circle the entire park. Along the outfield concourse stood the National Baseball Congress Hall of Fame. The NBC tournament was held there each August and featured some of the best college league teams. The concourse behind home plate included a tribute to many of the famous players who had played in Wichita. Concessions were varied and reasonably priced, offering items such as brats, tacos, hot links, and burgers. A small gift store, "The General Store," was located off the concourse behind home plate. The atmosphere at Lawrence-Dumont was an interesting blend of old and new. The "old" was represented by a manually operated scoreboard that was a recreation of the one used in 1947. Just like at Quebec’s Stade Municipal, a goose laid an egg whenever the opposing team failed to score. The "modern" elements were less endearing. Sound effects were frequent, including an annoying laugh played after each out made by the opposing team. One quirky tradition involved kids obsessively collecting trash in exchange for a free ball once their bags were filled. The ballpark was located just west of the Arkansas River, with some of the city skyline visible in the backdrop. Parking was both plentiful and free. Lawrence-Dumont Stadium was certainly one of a dying breed. Few old parks remained in Double-A baseball, and for a while, there was hope it could hang on to its professional team. With a few more upgrades—like more comfortable seating and a real grass infield—it might have received more recognition as a classic. But as it stood, it lacked none of the amenities an average fan needed. Unfortunately, due to subpar attendance, 2007 turned out to be the final season for the Wranglers in Wichita, as they relocated to a new ballpark in Springdale, Arkansas. An independent league team took over Lawrence-Dumont starting in 2008. However, in May 2018, it was announced that the stadium would no longer host baseball after the 2018 season, as the city chose not to invest further in the aging facility. Later that summer, plans were unveiled for a new ballpark to host a Triple-A team by 2020. Lawrence-Dumont Stadium was ultimately demolished in the fall of 2018 to make way for the new venue.
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