Campanelli Stadium - Brockton Rox
- Paul Baker
- 7 days ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey. Mascot photo courtesy of Brockton Rox.
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 3
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. There are food and beverage specials throughout the week.
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. The Old Smoky Moonshine stand offers an adult beverage alternative. While the old fan favorite right field beer garden has not materialized (yet!), it has surfaced in the left field pavilion, where fans can watch the game at field level and play some tailgating-type games.
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 for 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 game. Celebrity guests including part owner Jim Rice and actor Steve Shirripa from the Sopranos have appeared to throw out first pitches and sign autographs for fans. Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie will actually pitch an inning for the team in an August game.
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. The Rox game day staff have cultivated an entertaining show for Rox fans. Aside from your typical music and sound effects, which walk the line between being entertaining and overbearing, there is a diverse lineup of between inning games and promotions, which vary from night to night. Some favorites have been the Brockton Bread Race, which features three costumed bakery items, and "Find the Frank," where a young fan frantically searches the stadium for a staffer wearing a hot dog costume. Frank has become a Brockton fan favorite, working his way into various other promotions throughout the year, causing chaos wherever he goes.
The Rox employ an emcee who ensures the fans are involved in the game and the energy levels are up, and he is supported by the PA announcer, who leans into his work, leading some giveaways and promotions himself. The two have a nice chemistry and some good back and forth. 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. If there were more fans in attendance, this score would surely rise.
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 1
Rox ownership had hoped that attendance would pick up over the course of the season after a slow start. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. The Rox sit a distant last in the league attendance rankings, drawing an average of 1,100 fans per game. This figure is comparable to what the Knockouts drewin 2024 at Campanelli Stadium. Local fans have been slow to respond to the team after years of neglect, despite the best efforts of team management. Confusion over the multiple rebrands and the level of baseball being played in Brockton may be contributing factors to the lack of support.
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. There are other, smaller lots on the back side of the ballpark that belong to local businesses. They seem to be available for use by fans.
All fans will use the main entrance to access the ballpark, 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 some 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 Harbor One 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, not far from Campanelli Stadium, 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? The Rox appear to be on the ropes, but they haven't been counted out just yet. Time will tell if they can go the distance.
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