June 2, 2008

CORPUS CHRISTI – Whataburger Field, now in its fourth season as home of the Corpus Christi Hooks, Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, is a runaway winner in Minor League News’ third annual assessment of the best minor league ballparks and arenas.

The $25 million facility at the Port of Corpus Christi captured 38.9 percent of the vote. The Dell Diamond in Round Rock, home field of the Hooks’ sister club – the Triple-A Express – is second at 13.7 percent. No other venue finished with more than 10 percent of the vote.

The Dell Diamond earned top honors in 2006 and 2007.

Whataburger Field and The Dell Diamond are operated by Ryan Sanders Baseball.

“It’s like when you have two kids. You don’t love one more than the other,” Ryan Sanders CEO Reid Ryan said. “I’m just excited that fans across the country think so much of our two ballparks.”

“It is an honor and a privilege for us to serve the patrons at Whataburger Field each and every night,” Hooks president J.J. Gottsch added. “For Ryan Sanders Baseball, the keys have always been affordable family entertainment and exemplary customer service.

“This recognition is for our fans and our staff. Corpus Christi is a great place to live, work and play.”

Arenas serving hockey, basketball and indoor football fans captured seven of the Top 10 rankings. Brighthouse Networks Field, home of the Clearwater, Fla., Threshers (Phillies), was the only other baseball venue.

Overall, 52.5 percent of voters selected ballparks as their favorite facilities, 47.5 picked arenas. Venues of over 800 teams were considered in the rankings. Fans were allowed one vote from an IP address. Approximately 11,000 votes were cast.

Favorite concessions items and ballpark/arena entertainment were also ranked. For details, go to www.minorleaguenews.com

Minor League News’ Top 10 Ballparks and Arenas
(determined by fan vote)

1. Whataburger Field Corpus Christi, Texas 38.9
2. The Dell Diamond Round Rock, Texas 13.7
3. The Arena at Gwinnett Center Duluth, Georgia 9.9
4. Nutter Center Dayton, Ohio 7.9
5. Stockton Arena Stockton, California 6.7
6. Germain Arena Estero, Florida 6.0
7. Rabobank Arena Bakersfield, California 4.8
8. Sovereign Center Reading, Pennsylvania 4.6
9. Brighthouse Networks Field Clearwater, Florida 3.8
10. Orleans Arena Las Vegas, Nevada 3.6

- Matt Rogers, Corpus Christi Hooks