Labatt Memorial Park
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Recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest continuously operating baseball grounds in the world, Labatt Memorial Park has hosted organized games since May 3, 1877. The 8.7-acre site sits near the forks of the Thames River in central London, Ontario, and is currently home to the London Majors of the Canadian Baseball League and the Western Mustangs university team. The park began life as Tecumseh Park, named for the Shawnee leader associated with the Battle of the Thames during the War of 1812. Local pioneer W.J. Reid purchased and drained the swampy river flat, laid out a diamond, and opened it for play. Early tenants included the London Tecumsehs of the International Association and a succession of minor professional and semi-pro clubs across more than a century. In December 1936, the Labatt brewing family purchased the property and donated it, along with a $10,000 endowment for capital improvements, to the City of London. The park was renamed John Labatt Memorial Park in their honor. Major floods in 1883 and 1937 damaged the facility but never interrupted its use long enough to break the claim of continuous operation. The 1937 flood swept away the existing grandstand, prompting the construction of the Roy McKay Clubhouse and new bleacher seating that same year. Subsequent renovations came in the 1950s, 1989, and most significantly in 2001 when a $1.97 million new grandstand replaced the aging structure. The field dimensions run 330 feet down both lines and 402 feet to center, with a natural grass surface. Capacity stands at 5,200. Over its nearly 150-year life, the park has welcomed legendary players including Ty Cobb, Satchel Paige, and Fergie Jenkins. It was designated an Ontario Heritage Site in 1994 and is part of the Southwestern Ontario Baseball Heritage Pass. Guided tours of the grounds, dugout, press box, and the original 1937 clubhouse are available through the Labatt Park Tours program. The venue is located at 25 Wilson Avenue, with free on-site parking, a short walk from the historic downtown courthouse above the confluence of the Thames River's north and south branches.
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Type: Stadium / Arena
Address: 25 Wilson Ave, London, ON, Canada, N6H 1X2
Website: https://www.londonmajors.com/labatt-park
Capacity: 5200
Opening Date: 03/05/1877
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