Crutcher Scott Field - Abilene Flying Bison
- Terry McCutchen
- 3 hours ago
- 9 min read
Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.14
Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers Park
555 Walnut St
Abilene, TX 79601
Year Opened: 1991
Capacity: 1,540
Abilene Flying Bison
Summer baseball has become an important part of the baseball landscape across the country, giving collegiate players an opportunity to develop their skills while providing affordable family entertainment. The Abilene Flying Bison compete in the Texas Collegiate League, a summer wood-bat circuit featuring players from NCAA, NAIA, and junior college programs throughout the region. The Flying Bison’s inaugural season was the summer of 2024 as a charter member of the Mid America League. After two successful seasons of leading this upstart league in attendance and fan engagement, the Bison accepted an invitation to join the more established and higher regarded TCL prior to the 2026 summer campaign.
In addition to competing in the new league, the team chose to relocate across town to a new ballpark – having played their first two seasons at NCAA Division III McMurry’s Walt Driggers Field, the Flying Bison decided to migrate 10 miles north to play their home games at Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers Park on the campus of Abilene Christian University. As an up-and-coming mid-major NCAA Division I university, ACU offers one of the premier college baseball facilities in West Texas, featuring premium chairback seating behind home plate, folding theater seating along the first baseline, and aluminum bleachers along the third baseline. The layout of the stadium provides excellent sightlines from nearly every location.
Despite the youth of the Flying Bison franchise, the City of Abilene is no stranger to summer baseball. Dating back to the 1920s, minor league or semi pro teams such as the Eagles and Aces played in the West Texas League, and in 1939, the Apaches joined the West Texas-New Mexico League for a single season. Later in the 1940s and 50s, the Blue Sox most famously played as a Brooklyn Dodgers and Kansas City Athletics affiliate. In fact, the 1946 Blue Sox team was named a top 100 team in minor league baseball history; the Blue Sox legend and legacy grew deep roots in the Abilene baseball community.
More recent efforts for minor league baseball included the Abilene Prairie Dogs, who became members of the independent Texas-Louisiana League in 1995, playing through 1999. The Prairie Dog moniker also had a brief revival in 2012 with another independent minor league team, which only lasted a partial season. Despite these two short stints, the Prairie Dogs were beloved. The Flying Bison honor Abilene’s baseball past by completely rebranding on social media and playing as the Prairie Dogs every Thursday.
Food & Beverage 3
Concessions at Crutcher Scott Field are straightforward and emphasize traditional ballpark fare. A single concession stand inside the gates serves fans but is bolstered by food trucks outside the front gate. The food trucks, while being a bit more expensive than the ballpark concession options, are a welcome addition for many fans and prove to be popular options.
Efficiency at the concession stands is hit and miss, as many times only one line is open despite fans in the double digits lined up to be served. The concession stand will also close before the 7th inning during each game, so make plans to get your final drinks or snacks no later than the bottom of the 5th inning to be safe.
The concessions menu typically includes hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, nachos, popcorn, pretzels, candy, and assorted snacks. While the selection is somewhat limited compared to larger professional venues, the food is reasonably priced and relatively fresh. Bottled drinks include Coca-Cola products, bottled water, Powerade, and tea. Periodically you may also get a collectible cup and ice with the purchase of a bottled drink at no extra charge. Drinks cost $3-4, snack items are generally $3-5, and hearty foods are $6-10. Credit cards and cash are both accepted, making purchases convenient. Due to the ballpark being on the campus of Abilene Christian University, alcohol is not available during Flying Bison games.
In my opinion, the grilled chicken sandwich offers great value, while the classic hot dog and soft drink combination remains a dependable choice.
There are a few food trucks just outside the front gate that offer additional options. Food trucks available at each game include Sherrod’s BBQ, Bahama Bucks, and Crazee Treats lemonade. All the options from these trucks are excellent, even if the cost is a little more than the concession stand prices. BBQ options usually cost between $13 and $18, but the serving sizes are extra large. Lemonade and shaved ice treats cost between $6 and $10 and are approximately 20-30 ounces each.
Atmosphere 4
Crutcher Scott Field is an excellent location to watch baseball. First base general admission seating is behind the home team dugout, while reserved seats are directly behind home plate. Both these sections are completely shaded, and are set to feel the prevalent south breeze, which is greatly appreciated during summer games in Texas.
The Flying Bison offer a baseball experience that emphasizes family entertainment and elaborate game presentation, similar to many affiliated minor league ballparks. Nearly every break between innings includes either upbeat music or entertaining contests led by two engaging emcees. Fan engagement begins with an entertaining animated pregame video on the large scoreboard, continues once the game begins with the introduction of the mascot Bomber (or Grounder on Throwback Thursday when the Flying Bison play as the Abilene Prairie Dogs), and proceeds throughout the game with competitive games such as the concession stand race and a dance contest, the 7th inning stretch with Take Me Out to the Ballgame and Cotton-Eyed Joe, as well as Sweet Caroline in the 8th inning.
During each break in action, the involvement of the crowd is very much the focus. The fans of the Flying Bison have created their own personality and traditions: come ready to join in yelling “Foul ball!” or “Ball four!” multiple times per inning, or to high five Bomber, one of the most engaging mascots you’ll find in any sports venue in the country. Flying Bison fans are also fortunate to have a live organ, something few other summer college teams offer.
As mentioned above, there is a pregame video on the large scoreboard in right field. This is a must watch event that is animated and highly engaging; the video involves the mascot Bomber. Other than the pregame video, the team is missing some opportunities to utilize the scoreboard to its full potential, however, as many fans expect certain elements to be included when teams have access to video scoreboards. While there are player names and basic information and the periodic pre-recorded video, there are no live statistics updated during the game, no live league scores, nor are there any Jumbotron games such as Simba Cam, Dance Cam, or Guess the Cup.
The Flying Bison offer numerous free giveaways for fans, creating a culture where fans lining up before gates open is the norm, oftentimes resulting in hundreds of people waiting for their chance to enter. Luckily for fans, seats are in the shade, and there are usually community groups with tables set up with games and extra giveaways to peruse before game time. One consistent group, which is unique among summer collegiate teams, is the Abilene Flying Bison Booster Club. The Booster Club offers some unique items to sell as well as a 50/50 raffle, where the winning ticket gets half the money in the pot for the night. The club retains the rest, with donations going to support players and their needs. You may want to try your luck while supporting the players.
There is also a team store set up on the concourse level selling a wide variety of merchandise and souvenirs. Every game offers a unique t-shirt of the game, which is deeply discounted just for that particular game. The store also offers more caps, shirts, and other items than most teams playing at the collegiate summer level. As an avid cap collector, the author had difficulty deciding on which caps to purchase. You’ll want to make your final selections before the 7th inning, however, as the store closes down before the 8th inning each night.
Neighborhood 4
Abilene Christian University is located along Judge Ely Boulevard on the northeast side of Abilene, only a few minutes from Interstate 20. Numerous restaurants, hotels, and shopping areas are located nearby.
Popular dining options include Jay’s Bar-B-Que, Twisted Root Burgers, Beehive Restaurant, Blue Agave Mexican Cafe, and Galveston Seafood Company. Visitors looking for a classic Abilene experience should consider stopping at the iconic Frontier Texas Museum, visiting the Abilene Zoo, or taking in the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, Grace Museum, or Heritage Square before a game. All these are fun for children and families alike.
Hotel accommodations are plentiful near Interstate 20 and throughout north Abilene, including Hampton Inn, Home2 Suites, Holiday Inn Express, and Courtyard by Marriott. However, due to construction in the area, short-term rooms can be difficult to find at reasonable rates. Expect to pay higher than normal prices for lodging when visiting the Big Country until at least 2028.
Fans 4
The Flying Faithful are a loyal following of fans of all ages. Young baseball fans, retired couples, and families with children make up the consistent crowd that attends Bison games. Attendance varies depending on many factors, but the crowd is usually engaged and active. They support their team and attempt to lead them to victory each and every night. Armed with cowbells (an early season giveaway) and whistle cups, fans are typically loud. They generally root for the Bison but will give the umpires an earful of disdain if they disagree with a call. The author suggests bringing a pair of earplugs if you are sensitive to loud noise.
Access 5
Located on the corner of Judge Ely Boulevard and Ambler Avenue, getting to The Crutch is simple. Interstate 20 provides easy access within minutes of campus, and ample free parking is available adjacent to the baseball stadium.
Abilene Regional Airport sits approximately fifteen minutes away for visitors arriving by air, while those driving from Dallas-Fort Worth can reach the stadium in about three hours. The baseball field is easily visible and well marked, sitting on the corner of ACU’s campus.
Entrance to the stadium is through one main gate on ground level. Seats can be accessed by going either left or right around the concession stand, with a long wheelchair-accessible ramp leading to the third base bleacher stands, as well as a stairway leading up to the concourse above the first base seating area. There is also an elevator available for mobility-limited fans to utilize to access the concourse. Restroom facilities are conveniently located near the main seating areas on both the ground and concourse levels.
Exiting the parking lot is possible going either north or south, though most fans exit toward the north (Ambler Avenue). My suggestion, especially if time is an issue, is to take the southern option that eventually will exit onto Judge Ely Boulevard.
Return on Investment 4
The Flying Bison provide excellent value for the money spent. Tickets are relatively inexpensive with general admission costing $11 and reserved tickets $15. Parking is free and concession prices remain affordable for most families, meaning a night at the ballpark is comparable to a night at the movies.
When you figure in the amount of crowd engagement as well as the intimate interaction with Bomber, you don’t necessarily have to be a baseball fan to have fun at Crutcher Scott Field.
Considering the quality of collegiate talent on the field, the intimate setting, and the overall affordability of the experience, few baseball venues offer comparable value.
Extras 5
The vast amount of merchandise available for sale at the team store, especially the number of caps, is worth special recognition. Add in the “shirt of the game” deal for every game, and the team begins each night with a home run before a single pitch has been thrown on the field.
The intimate ballpark also allows easy interaction between players and fans, particularly following games when many players remain available for autographs and conversation.
Comfortable, theater seating in the shade is a welcome benefit. As temperatures soar in Texas summers, the ability to find relief from the sun’s wrath is a positive.
Crowd engagement through entertaining between-inning games and activities is well worth extra recognition. Both emcees and their support team do an excellent job of entertaining fans.
Bomber is also worth an extra point by himself, as he is one of the best mascots you will likely encounter. There are also two additional occasional mascots: Beao, Bomber’s sister who makes an appearance on most Sundays, and Grounder who is present on Prairie Dog Thursdays.
Final Thoughts
Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers Park is an excellent place to spend a summer evening watching talented players continue their development, while enjoying one of baseball's most relaxed settings. For baseball fans traveling through Texas, a Flying Bison game is a worthwhile stop that delivers an authentic and enjoyable experience. Making the trip west of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex on Interstate 20 to include Abilene and the Abilene Flying Bison into any baseball vacation tour should become standard operating procedure for all baseball travelers. Compared to other collegiate summer games, you are sure to find an experience that compares favorably to what other affiliated minor league teams offer.
