Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57
Campanelli Stadium 700 Belmont St Brockton, MA 02301
Year Opened: 2002 Capacity: 4,750
Rox on the Rocks
Campanelli Stadium is named for Alfred Campanelli, who donated two million dollars to the City of Brockton for a project that would “substantially benefit the people of Brockton.” The city used this money to build the ballpark that would bear his name in 2002.
Campanelli Stadium serves as home to the Brockton Rox and the Frontier League’s New England Knockouts. The Rox began play in 2002, competing for ten years in the independent Can-Am League and its predecessors. Since 2012 the Rox have played in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, a wooden bat summer league featuring players with New England ties. The Rox were originally planning to play only a single season as an amateur team while they straightened out their finances, but 2024 marks the team’s thirteenth season in the Futures League.
The name “Rox” is a derivative of the nearby Boston Red Sox, as well as Brockton native Rocky Marciano’s name.
The Futures League has given new life to many abandoned ballparks throughout New England. In addition to Brockton, former professional ballparks in Burlington, Nashua, New Britain, Norwich, Pittsfield and Worcester are part of the circuit.
Food and Beverage 3
There are concession stands on either side of Campanelli Stadium, with only one stand open during Rox games. The menu offered does not stray far from ballpark standards, with hot dogs, burgers, sausage and pepper sandwiches, and chicken fingers anchoring the menu. A decent menu of snack items is also available here. An ice cream stand located on the third base side of the ballpark serves up Dippin’ Dots and other snack items.
Pepsi products are featured at Campanelli Stadium, available in both bottles and fountain cups. A decent variety of beer is sold at the concession stands, highlighted by offerings from local brewery Brockton Beer Company and The Girls Brewery.
Atmosphere 2
Baseball fans who have visited Campanelli Stadium during the inaugural season of the Knockouts will have undoubtedly seen how the team is working hard to incorporate video, audio and on-field entertainment into the game day experience. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the game day presentation during a Rox game. The show at a Rox game is very basic when compared to the Knockouts. While fans who enjoy a more traditional baseball experience will enjoy a game here, casual baseball fans may be left wanting more.
The new state-of-the-art video board is utilized solely for basic graphics and player headshots. The are no on-field shenanigans during a Rox game, although the Rox’ mascot, KO the kangaroo, can be found wandering the field interacting with fans. The PA announcer keeps the proceedings moving with sponsor reads and lineup announcements. Music and sound effects keep the ballpark from becoming totally silent during a Rox game. Despite the best efforts of the staff and enthusiastic fans, there’s only so much energy a crowd of 100 can bring to a 4,000-seat stadium.
Neighborhood 3
Campanelli Stadium is located in the hardscrabble city of Brockton, a city of approximately 106,000 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.
Baseball fans visiting Brockton for a Knockouts game will not find much near the ballpark in terms of dining or lodging options, although Pho89, McMenamy's Seafood and Charleys Cheesesteaks are solid choices. Just a few miles away, Stoneforge Grill and Brack’s Grill & Tap offer outstanding pub fare near Stonehill College. The Residence Inn here is a quality lodging option.
For fans visiting during the baseball season, there is much to see and do in the area. As mentioned before, 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
The presence of two teams at Campanelli Stadium this summer has had a distinct negative effect on attendance for the Rox. On most nights the fans number only in the dozens. Halfway through the 2024 season, the Rox are only averaging 125 fans per game.
Most of the fans in attendance have a personal connection with the players on the field, and as a result are knowledgeable about the game and enthusiastic in their support. With the compact geographic footprint of the Futures League, you’ll often find many visiting fans in the stands as well.
Access 3
Campanelli Stadium is located on the campus of Brockton High School about a mile from Route 24, the highway which connects 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 Middleboro/Lakeville train brings passengers from downtown Brockton north to Boston (and soon south to Fall River and New Bedford) throughout the day until after midnight.
The Rox website advises visiting fans to park in the large lot at Brockton High School. This has proven to be problematic, as the path from the lot to Campanelli Stadium is unpaved, unlit, overgrown with brush, and strewn with trash. Even worse, the path is blocked by a fence, forcing fans to push their way through this barrier. For now, Stadium Journey advises that fans park in the lots along Feinberg Way behind the stadium. The businesses on this street do not charge for the use of their lots (at least not yet).
Most fans will enter Campanelli Stadium via the main entry plaza, where the ticket offices and team store are located. Additional entrances are located on the third base side of the ballpark and in the deep right field. No matter which entrance you use, you will be required to climb a set of stairs to reach the concourse level. There is an elevator located in the main plaza for fans 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 legroom. All seats feature good views of the field, even with the strange placement of cameras atop the first base dugout. A deck in right field provides a unique, if unfinished, spot from which you can take in the action.
Return on Investment 5
Before heading to Campanelli Stadium, be aware that the facility is totally cashless. Tickets for Rox games are priced at $8 for outfield seats, $10 for upper infield seats and $13 for lower infield seats. Purchasing tickets on the day of the game increases all prices by two dollars. Parking at the lots on Feinberg Way and at Brockton High School is free of charge. While some concession prices may feel high for this level of baseball, overall food and beverages are priced similarly to other area facilities.
Extras 1
Boxing fans may want to take a walk behind Campanelli Stadium to Champions Park, where a statue of legendary boxer and Brockton native Rocky Marciano is located. The Rox have retired two numbers in honor of notable local athletes who never played for the team. Brockton residents Rocky Marciano (#49) and Marvin Hagler (#62) have numbers retired matching the number of victories each man recorded in his boxing career. Their jerseys hang on the outfield wall.
Final Thoughts
When Rox ownership was awarded a franchise in the professional Frontier League, it surprised many when they announced that the Rox would continue operations. Having two teams in the same facility has proven to be problematic, with the great majority of attention given to the professional Knockouts. As a result, the Rox have suffered in terms of sponsorship, fan support and gameday atmosphere. The future of the Rox beyond the 2024 season looks, well, rocky.