English Field
Baseball stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.
title: "English Field" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["college-baseball-venues-in-virginia", "virginia-tech-hokies-baseball", "buildings-and-structures-in-blacksburg,-virginia", "1989-establishments-in-virginia", "sports-venues-completed-in-1989"] description: "Baseball stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S." topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Field" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Baseball stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S. ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox venue"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park |
| nickname | English Field |
| image | English Field.JPG |
| image_size | 250px |
| mapframe | yes |
| mapframe-zoom | 12 |
| pushpin_map | USA Virginia#USA |
| pushpin_relief | yes |
| fullname | English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park |
| former_names | English Field (1989–2016) |
| English Field at Union Park (2016–2019) | |
| location | Blacksburg, Virginia |
| coordinates | |
| owner | Virginia Tech |
| capacity | 1,132 chair backed seats (estimated 4,000 with the terrace seats) |
| dimensions | Left field: 330 ft |
| Center field: 400 ft | |
| Right field: 330 ft | |
| surface | AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D |
| scoreboard | Daktronics |
| opened | |
| renovated | 2008, 2018 |
| cost | $20 million (2018 renovation) |
| main_contractors | Whiting-Turner (2018 renovation) |
| tenants | Virginia Tech Hokies (ACC) 1989–present |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park
| nickname = English Field
| image = English Field.JPG
| image_size = 250px
| caption =
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 12
| pushpin_map = USA Virginia#USA
| pushpin_relief = yes
| fullname = English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park
| former_names = English Field (1989–2016)
English Field at Union Park (2016–2019)
| address =
| city =
| country =
| location = Blacksburg, Virginia
| coordinates =
| owner = Virginia Tech
| capacity = 1,132 chair backed seats (estimated 4,000 with the terrace seats)
| record_attendance =
| dimensions = Left field: 330 ft
Center field: 400 ft
Right field: 330 ft
| surface = AstroTurf GameDay Grass 3D
| scoreboard = Daktronics
| opened =
| renovated = 2008, 2018
| cost = $20 million (2018 renovation)
| main_contractors = Whiting-Turner (2018 renovation)
| tenants = Virginia Tech Hokies (ACC) 1989–present
| website =
English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park is a baseball stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia. It is the home field of the Virginia Tech Hokies college baseball team. It was opened in 1989 and has a capacity of 1,033 in chair back seats plus additional grass-covered bank seating along the left field line known as "The Hill".{{cite web | title = 2007 Virginia Tech Baseball Media Guide | publisher = Virginia Tech Athletics | url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/base08mg.pdf | access-date = April 27, 2008
Naming
The stadium is named after Virginia Tech Outstanding Alumni Award winner E. R. "Red" English and his wife, Ruth, who were financial contributors to the university athletics program for over 50 years.{{cite web | title = English Field | url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/englishfield.html | access-date = December 23, 2007 | website=HokieSports.com | publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics | language=en
History
Opening day
On March 22, 1989, the Hokies defeated the baseball team from George Mason University 7–2 in the first game played in the stadium.
Home of Chuck Hartman's 1000th career victory
English Field was home to Chuck Hartman's 1,000th career victory with a Hokie defeat of Liberty University on April 27, 1992. With this win, Hartman became the 9th baseball coach in Division I history to win 1,000 games.{{cite web | title = Chuck Hartman biography | website=HokieSports.com | publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics | language=en | url = http://www.hokiesports.com/staff/hartman.html | access-date = January 3, 2008
Host of first on-campus athletic event after shootings
On April 20, 2007, English Field hosted the first on-campus athletic event after the campus shootings of April 16.{{cite web | title = Information on this weekend's events | website=HokieSports.com | publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics | language=en | date = April 19, 2007 | url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/recaps/20070419aab.html | access-date = January 3, 2008 | title = Hokies drop tight one to Miami, 11-9 | website=HokieSports.com | publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics | language=en | date = April 20, 2007 | url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/recaps/20070419aab.html | access-date = January 8, 2008 | title = Grieving Hokies return to diamond | work = MSNBC | agency = Associated Press | date = April 23, 2007 | url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18233896/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070422211413/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18233896/ | archive-date = April 22, 2007 | access-date = January 3, 2008}} the Virginia Tech baseball team debuted the first commemorative patch honoring student and professor victims{{cite web | title = Student-Athletes to wear commemorative patch | website=HokieSports.com | publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics | language=en | date = April 20, 2007 | url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/recaps/20070420aaa.html | access-date = January 8, 2008 | title = Morris to Make Presentation on Behalf of UM Community at Virginia Tech | website = HurricaneSports.com | publisher = CBS Interactive | date = April 20, 2007 | url = http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/041907aab.html | access-date = January 3, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110519082727/http://hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/041907aab.html | archive-date = May 19, 2011
2008 renovations
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/English_Field_Virginia_Tech.JPG" caption="English Field"] ::
In early 2008, "The Hill" along the left field line was reworked similar to an outdoor amphitheater. The layout provided seven foot sections between terraces and an expansion of handicap accessibility to the section. Additionally, this caused a reduction in foul territory in the outfield and moved the viewable area closer to the playing area.{{cite web | title = English Field facelift to benefit both players and fans | website=HokieSports.com | publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics | language=en | url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/renovation.html | access-date = April 27, 2008
The second portion of the renovation is the construction of an indoor batting facility beyond the left-field fence which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2008.
2008 exhibition game versus the New York Yankees
Announcement
Prior to their May 23, 2007, game against the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees announced their commitment to play an exhibition game in Blacksburg during 2008 spring training as a way to aid in the healing process of the campus shootings and made a $1 million contribution to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.{{cite web | title = Yankees make contribution to Va. Tech fund | work = ESPN | agency = Associated Press | date = May 24, 2007 | url = https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2880851 | access-date = April 27, 2008 | title = Hokies announce 2008 baseball slate | website=HokieSports.com | publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics | language=en | date = October 24, 2007 | url = http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/recaps/20071024aaa.html | access-date = January 3, 2008}}
Pre-game activities
Upon arriving on campus, the Yankees' players and staff members visited the semicircle stone markers at the campus Drill Field memorial site for the victims.{{cite web | last= Kepner | first = Tyler | title = For Yanks and Hokies, a Game to Remember | work = International Herald Tribune | date = March 19, 2008 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/19/sports/baseball/19yankees.html | access-date = January 30, 2013 | last = Hatcher | first = Angela | title = Hokies V. Yankees | publisher = WSLS-TV | date = March 18, 2008 | url = http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/new_river_valley/article/hokies_v_yankees/7453/ | access-date = April 27, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081203174446/http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/new_river_valley/article/hokies_v_yankees/7453/ | archive-date = December 3, 2008 | last = Hank | first= Kurz Jr. | title = New York Yankees honor victims and play Hokies at Virginia Tech | work = Yahoo! Sports | agency = Associated Press | date = March 18, 2008 | url = https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-yankees-virginiatech&prov=ap&type=lgns | access-date = April 27, 2008
The game
The starters for the game were left-handed sixth year senior captain Andrew Wells for the Hokies and right-handed Jeff Karstens for the Yankees.{{cite web | last = Graziano | first = Dan | title = More on Virginia Tech | newspaper = The Star-Ledger | date = March 19, 2008 | url = https://www.nj.com/ledgeryankees/2008/03/more_on_virginia_tech.html | access-date = April 27, 2008 | title = A-Rod calls visit to VT 'proudest day' as Yankee | work = NBC Sports | agency = Associated Press | date = March 18, 2008 | url = http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23681533/ | access-date = April 27, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080321152222/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23681533/ | archive-date = March 21, 2008
2018 renovations
The stadium was renovated in 2018 by Whiting-Turner. The $20 million renovation project added a new grandstand area with new press-level premium suites, 1,132 permanent chair-back seats in concrete stands, and a club level above the first-base dugout, along with a social picnic area down the right-field line.
The new entrance is reminiscent of the iconic Torgersen Bridge located on campus and named for Paul Ernest Torgersen, university president from 1994 to 2000.
The new grandstands are complete with a ticket booth, restrooms, enhanced concessions, a merchandise office, an umpire dressing room, a storage room for facilities and a visiting team room. The second level includes four luxury suites with an extra hospitality area, broadcast and radio booths, a game operations booth, a press area and video rooms.
Attendance
In 2013, the Hokies ranked 49th among Division I baseball programs in attendance, averaging 1,333 per home game.
All-time results by year for games played in English Field
::data[format=table] | Virginia Tech Hokies|color=white}};"|Year | Virginia Tech Hokies|color=white}};"|Wins | Virginia Tech Hokies|color=white}};"|Losses | Virginia Tech Hokies|color=white}};"|Ties | Virginia Tech Hokies|color=white}};"|Winning % | |---|---|---|---|---| | 1989 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0.708 | | 1990 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 0.815 | | 1991 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 0.654 | | 1992 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0.850 | | 1993 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0.826 | | 1994 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0.739 | | 1995 | 19 | 6 | 0 | 0.760 | | 1996 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0.750 | | 1997 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0.739 | | 1998 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 0.636 | | 1999 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0.727 | | 2000 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 0.625 | | 2001 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 0.682 | | 2002 | 18 | 12 | 0 | 0.600 | | 2003 | 18 | 10 | 0 | 0.643 | | 2004 | 18 | 10 | 0 | 0.643 | | 2005 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0.500 | | 2006 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 0.519 | | 2008 | 11 | 16 | 0 | 0.407 | | 2008 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0.500 | | 2009 | 18 | 11 | 0 | 0.621 | | 2010 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 0.774 | | 2011 | 14 | 17 | 0 | 0.452 | | 2012 | 23 | 7 | 0 | 0.767 | | 2013 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 0.633 | | 2014 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0.500 | | 2015 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 0.640 | | 2016 | 13 | 15 | 0 | 0.464 | | 2017 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 0.518 | | 2018 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 0.454 | | 2019 | 14 | 15 | 0 | 0.483 | | 2020 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | | 2021 | 17 | 13 | 0 | 0.566 | | 2022 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 0.825 | | 2023 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 0.677 | | 2024 | 22 | 9 | 0 | 0.710 | | Totals 606-339-3 (0.639) | | | | | ::
References
References
- (August 30, 2016). "Board of Visitors approves English Field at Union Park improvements". [[Virginia Tech Hokies.
- "Facilities". Virginia Tech Athletics.
- Cutler, Tami. (June 11, 2013). "2013 Division I Baseball Attendance - Final Report". NCBWA.
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