Campanelli Stadium - Brockton Rox
- Paul Baker
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
Campanelli Stadium
1 Feinberg Way
Brockton, MA 02301
Year Opened: 2002
Capacity: 4,750
Rox Revival
When the Brockton Rox left the Can-Am League in 2012 and moved to the summer collegiate wood-bat Futures League, team ownership assured fans that the move was temporary, and the Rox would return to professional baseball quickly once they straightened out their finances. It took 13 long years, but the Brockton Rox are finally back in professional baseball. What a long, strange trip it’s been.
The original iteration of the Rox debuted in the Northern League in 2002. Their home, Campanelli Stadium, opened along with the start of the team. The ballpark was named for Alfred Campanelli, a suburban housing mogul and Brockton native. He donated two million dollars to the City of Brockton for a project that would “substantially benefit the people of Brockton.”
The team was a success, bringing affordable baseball to the hardscrabble city of Brockton, located about 25 miles south of Boston. The club was christened the Rox, a derivative of the nearby Red Sox and to honor Brockton native Rocky Marciano, the legendary heavyweight champion who went 49-0 during his career.
However, the team’s success on the field and at the gate did not translate to the front office, where the team slipped into unmanageable debt. As a last-ditch effort to keep baseball alive in Brockton, the franchise was moved to the collegiate Futures League until they got the team’s finances under control.
Unfortunately for local fans, this never happened. The Rox passed through a series of ownership groups who seemed to progressively pay less and less attention to the team and the stadium. Factor in similar neglect from the city, and Campanelli began to deteriorate, culminating in an infamous raccoon infestation at the ballpark.
Things began to turn around in the early 20s when new team ownership and Brockton city administration partnered to invest some long-overdue attention and money into Campanelli Stadium. Renovations were made to virtually every corner of the facility, including new offices, clubhouses, plumbing, HVAC and kitchen equipment and a new video scoreboard in left-center field. The stated goal of the upgrades were to bring professional baseball back to the city.
In 2024 these efforts were rewarded when the independent Frontier League granted an expansion franchise to Brockton. The team was christened the “Chowdahheads” after a standard name the team contest. After lukewarm reaction and copyright issues, the team pivoted and rebranded as the Knockouts. For the 2024 season, two teams (the professional Knockouts and the summer collegiate Rox), played at Campanelli.
As you might expect, this wasn’t an ideal situation for either team. Neither team attracted a decent following, and the splitting of resources affected all aspects of operation. The Rox announced they would be folding at the conclusion of the 2024 Futures League season.
On January 29, 2025, a new ownership group, headed by New York Boulders owners Bill Janetschek, Rob Janetschek, Shawn Reilly and Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Rice, was introduced to the public. They immediately announced that the team would return to the classic “Brockton Rox” name and logo with the goal of returning professional baseball in the city to its glory days.
Food & Beverage 2
There are a pair of concession stands located on either side of the main entrance of the ballpark. Depending on the size of the crowd, one or both of the stands may be open. Basic stadium fare is offered here, with hot dogs, burgers and chicken tenders anchoring the menu. Assorted sides, including french fries, pretzels, popcorn and chips round out the menu. Portable stands sell walking tacos and Mini Melts.
Coca-Cola products are featured at Campanelli Stadium. Fans looking for an adult beverage can choose from a selection of beer including Budweiser, Corona and Dogfish Ale. Fans who remember the old days of the Rox are most excited about management’s vow to re-open the right field beer garden, which was always one of the more popular features of the ballpark. Be patient fans, there are no plans to have it opened in 2025.
Atmosphere 3
Here is where fans who have been visiting Campanelli Stadium in recent years will see the biggest difference. The buzz is back in Brockton, at least so far early on in the 2025 season. New ownership is working hard to not only get fans back in the seats, but to make sure they spend as little time as possible in those seats.
The nightly promotional schedule features some sort of deal or attraction every night of the week. Part owner Jim Rice has already shown up to throw out a first pitch and sign autographs for fans. More guest stars are planned throughout the season.
If you’re a traditional baseball fan who likes to watch a ball game in silence so you can hear the sounds of the game, you are not the target audience at a Rox game. Music and sound effects fill the air between virtually every pitch, the PA announcer really leans into his work filling the ballpark with sponsor reads, game information and banter with the on-field emcee, who makes sure there are games and promotions going on between every half inning. Some early favorites have been the “Rox, paper, scissors” contest against a player, the donut eating contest, and the Brockton Bread Race. Fan cams, dance contests and junior announcers ensure that the fans are part of the show, too.
In recent years Campanelli has felt more like a library than a ballpark. New Rox management has taken the old “Fun is Good” attitude pioneered by the original Rox and turned it up to eleven. So far, results are positive.
Neighborhood 3
Campanelli Stadium is situated on the campus of Brockton High School, the largest High School in Massachusetts. Brockton is a city of about 105,000 residents located 25 miles south of Boston. Originally named North Bridgewater, the city was later named in honor of Isaac Brock, the British commanding general at the Battle of Queenston Heights, the first major battle of the War of 1812. A couple of trivial facts about Brockton: during the Civil War it was the nation’s largest supplier of shoes, and it is the second windiest city in the United States.
There are many dining options in the immediate vicinity of Campanelli Stadium for visiting fans, but many of these establishments are of the fast-food variety. Among the more notable spots nearby are Pho 89, Charley’s Cheesesteaks, and McMenamy’s Seafood. Stadium Journey recommends a pair of restaurants on the other side of Route 24 near Stonehill College, Stoneforge Grill and Brack’s Grill & Tap. The Residence Inn here is a quality lodging option. There are no shortage of dining, lodging or entertainment options in the area should you widen your search.
Should you be visiting the area, there are many attractions located just a short drive from Brockton. Boston is just 25 miles to the north, and the popular summer attractions of Cape Cod are just 35 miles to the southeast. The historic destinations of Plymouth, MA and Newport, RI are both within an hour’s drive of Campanelli Stadium.
Fans 2
It’s very early in the 2025 season, but early returns have been promising. Opening day saw a crowd of over 2,000 pass through the turnstiles, with attendance surpassing the 1,000 fan mark every game of opening weekend. It’s a far cry from the beginning of the 2024 season for the Knockouts, when the team struggled to draw more than a couple hundred fans.
In addition to an increase in the number of fans at Campanelli Stadium, there’s a palpable increase in energy in the stands. Fans appear to be more engaged, and Rox staff ensure that fans are into the action with a full plate of activities going on throughout the stadium throughout the game. The game day experience is a work in progress, but it’s truly an impressive start.
Access 4
Campanelli Stadium is located about a mile from Route 24, which connects Fall River and much of the Massachusetts South Coast with the Greater Boston area. Interstates 495, 93 and 95 all pass within a short distance of Brockton.
While driving is the primary method to get to the ballpark, the Brockton Area Transit Authority’s number 3 bus does have a stop at the High School next door. The final bus departs at 9:30 pm, so plan accordingly. The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Fall River/New Bedford Line brings passengers from downtown Brockton north to Boston and south to Fall River and New Bedford.
The Rox website advises visiting fans to park in the large lots at Brockton High School. The school lots are a short walk from the ballpark. Be warned that the path from the high school’s main lot to the ballpark is unpaved and unlit. Early on in 2025, the team is having all fans use the main entrance, where the ticket offices and team store are located. A set of stairs leads to the entrance of the ballpark and the concourse level. There is an elevator located in the main plaza for those who need it.
The seating bowl stretches from short left field around to the right field foul pole. An open concourse runs atop the seating bowl. Seating consists of red plastic stadium seats with decent leg room. Sections far down the right field line contain metal bleachers with backs. All seats feature good views of the field. Rest rooms, while in need of some freshening up, are plenty large enough for the typical Rox crowd.
Return on Investment 5
Tickets for Rox games range in price from $10-$16. There are deals and promotions scattered throughout the season which will lower prices. Check the team website for further details. Parking is free in the lots at Brockton High School. While concessions are a bit on the high side, the Rox have stayed true to their mission statement to provide an affordable alternative to the more expensive ballparks in Boston and Worcester.
Here's a tip for local fans: If you have a debit or credit card from Eastern Bank (one of the team’s sponsors), you can save 5% on all concession prices and 15% on all purchases in the team store.
Extras 2
Two retired numbers hang on Campanelli Stadium’s outfield wall. Brockton native sons Rocky Marciano (#49) and Marvelous Marvin Hagler (#62) are immortalized with their final victory totals. Behind the ballpark in the entry plaza to Marciano Stadium is a statue of Rocky Marciano. Measuring 20 feet, it is noted to be the tallest statue of a sporting figure in the world. There is a statue of Marvin Hagler downtown near where the famous Petronelli gym once stood.
Final Thoughts
New Rox ownership has a lofty goal: to return enthusiasm for professional baseball to the city of Champions. Will the Rox Revival be successful? Time will tell, but so far, the Rox are ready to roll.
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