MacArthur Stadium

MacArthur Stadium was a stadium in Syracuse, New York. Opened in 1934 as Municipal Stadium, it was used primarily for baseball and was the home of Syracuse Chiefs before they moved to P&C Stadium, (now NBT Bank Stadium) in 1997. The ballpark had an initial capacity of 8,416 people; its capacity was increased to 10,006 before it was renamed in honor of General Douglas MacArthur in 1942. The stadium was razed in 1997 to provide a parking lot for the newly built P&C Stadium (now named NBT Bank Stadium).

MacArthur Stadium
Big Mac
Former namesMunicipal Stadium (1934–1942)
Location820 Second North Street, Syracuse, NY
Coordinates43.076657°N 76.162959°W / 43.076657; -76.162959
OwnerCity of Syracuse; transferred to County of Onondaga in mid 1970s
OperatorCity of Syracuse; County of Onondaga operated effective mid 1970s
Capacity8,416 (1934–1941)
10,006 (1942–1984)
10,500 (1985–1996)
Field sizeLeft field: 320 feet (98 m)
Center field: 434 feet (132 m)
Right field: 320 feet (98 m)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundMarch 1, 1934
OpenedApril 18, 1934
Renovated1976 and 1988
ClosedSeptember 3, 1996
Demolished1997
Construction cost$284,000
($5.43 million in 2019 dollars[1])
Tenants
Syracuse Chiefs (MiLB) (1934–1996)
Syracuse Braves (AFL II) (1936)

Center field

MacArthur Stadium was noted for having one of the deepest center field fences in minor league baseball, at 434 feet (132 m), and no ball had ever cleared that high wall until 1971, with Richie Zisk becoming the first batter to accomplish that feat while playing with the Charleston Charlies.

Football

In 1936, Municipal Stadium was the home field of the Syracuse Braves of the American Football League.

Fire

MacArthur Stadium was severely damaged by a spectacular fire (arson) on May 14, 1969, where the center portion of the grandstand, the main entrance, press box, offices and concession area all burned, while portions of the seating overlooking left and right field were saved. The Chiefs were forced to play some home games in Oneonta and Auburn, NY, while repairs were being made, returning to the stadium on June 14 to a now wide-open gap behind home plate where the grandstand had been. (Management of the Rochester Red Wings rejected an urgent plea from Syracuse team management to move some home games to Silver Stadium). Months later it was discovered the fire had been started by some teenagers who were using a flare in an attempt to burn their way into a safe.

See also

References
  1. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved January 1, 2020.


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