LMCU Ballpark - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Meg Minard
- Aug 27
- 5 min read
Photos by Meg Minard and Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.57
LMCU Ballpark 4500 W River Dr Comstock Park, MI 49321
Year Opened: 1994 Capacity: 9,500
Catch the Wave
The West Michigan Whitecaps are the successful High-A affiliate of the MLB Detroit Tigers. A member of the Midwest League (MWL), their home games are at LMCU Ballpark near Grand Rapids, MI.
As part of a multiyear modernization project, the turf at LMCU Ballpark was completely removed and resurfaced this past season and it looks brilliantly green and thick. Other noticeable renovations include moving the bullpens beyond the outfield fence, swapping the home and visitors dugouts, an updated team clubhouse, adding new tiered party/group areas in the outfield, and construction of a new suite-level club space. The spruced-up stadium looks newer than its 30+ years.
Joining the MWL in 1994, the Whitecaps have won the championship six times, the latest in 2015.
Food & Beverage 5
Fans won’t go hungry at LMCU Ballpark, thanks to a solid lineup of food options. The busiest permanent concession stand is Crash’s Cravings, with locations on both the first and third base sides of home plate. It sells stadium staples like burgers, dogs, chicken sandwiches, nachos, fries, pizza, etc. Snacks include popcorn, peanuts, pretzels, chips, and a Midwest favorite, Bosco sticks. Prices range from $4.50 (bag of Great Lakes chips) to $14.25 (double cheeseburger). Gluten free choices are available. Beverage choices at this stand include Pepsi products and a selection of mostly domestic beers.
We recommend walking the concourse to discover a range of specialty food kiosks, featuring rice bowls, gyros, quesadillas, build-a-burger, soft serve and hard scoop ice cream, popcorn, elephant ears, and more.
The park features several Midwest brewery outposts, including Founders Brewing, Mitten Brewing, and Leinie Lodges, all located along the concourse and offering a solid selection of craft brews. In addition, numerous portable beer stands are scattered throughout the concourse.
Atmosphere 4
Fans can expect a good time at a Whitecaps baseball game; noise and crowds are part of the package.
The main seating bowl consists of 24 rows stretching from field level to the concourse, with a small walkway dividing the sections around row 9 or 10. One notable omission is the lack of handrails along the steps—something that may be addressed in future renovations. Fans with mobility concerns may prefer seats in the higher-numbered rows.
Seats are on the narrow side and offer limited legroom. Premium suites occupy the second level, while bleacher seating is available farther from home plate, just beyond the bases. Grassy berms provide additional viewing areas beyond the outfield fences.
For evening games, the third base side benefits from shade earlier than other sections. Tiered group areas are located near the foul poles.
The playing surface is a lush, natural green turf. In left field, fans will find both a video board and a separate manual scoreboard, requiring them to glance in two places for player and game updates. The video board highlights the current batter, while the manually operated scoreboard displays the line score.
Typical between-inning shenanigans fill the game downtime with entertainment like dance teams, frisbee tosses, kids racing the mascot, pizza tosses, etc. Sound effects between every pitch often distract from the on-field action, and the music volume makes it challenging to hear the PA announcer.
Neighborhood 3
LMCU Ballpark is six to seven miles north of downtown Grand Rapids in the town of Comstock Park. Few pre or postgame places are nearby.
Two hotels are within ½ mile of the ballpark: Comfort Inn Grand Rapids North and Tru by Hilton Comstock Park. A GameTime Fun Park (go-karts and arcade) is adjacent to the ballpark if you want to bring your kids there before the game.
Otherwise, your best bet is to head to downtown Grand Rapids. For a bite to eat, consider Rome by Sanchez (international fare), Littlebird (farm-to-table bistro), Poke Toki (Hawaiian), or Butchers Union (gastropub); these are just several of the many fine choices. Often referred to as Beer City USA, Grand Rapids boasts over 35 breweries. Popular picks include New Holland, Atwater, Founders, and Mitten Brewing (a baseball-themed brewpub). Grand Rapids even has a meadery - Arktos Meadery.
When in town, be sure to spend a few hours in the Gerald Ford Presidential Library and Museum. The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (5 miles east of downtown – botanical garden) is worth a visit, as is the Grand Rapids Public Museum, home to a planetarium and a carousel.
Depending on schedules, you may be able to catch an AHL Grand Rapids hockey game or a Grand Rapids Rise volleyball game in the early season.
Grand Rapids has no shortage of things to see and do, but most of the highlights are a bit of a trek from LMCU Ballpark.
Fans 3
A group outing is the way to go when visiting the Whitecaps. Lots of groups fill the stands (especially appealing with the new group areas down the lines). The team’s attendance ranks high in the Midwest League and averages over 5,000 fans per game. Most fans aren’t glued to every pitch, but they’ll enthusiastically applaud a big play. For many, it’s more about hanging out with friends than keeping score, as that’s the appeal of minor league baseball. Expect to see lots of Detroit Tigers attire in the crowd, reflecting the strong support for their MLB affiliate.
Disappointingly, many fans leave their trash behind rather than disposing of it themselves, relying on others to clean up.
Access 2
The ballpark is seven miles north of downtown Grand Rapids in suburban Comstock Park. Although Grand Rapids offers public bus service, it does not extend to the stadium—driving remains the only viable option. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are available, with a designated drop-off and pick-up zone in the outfield lot. Parking is $10 in paved lots. For those flying in, Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) sits 17 miles to the south. Be prepared for delays when exiting, as the venue has only one street entrance and exit.
Fans must ascend a series of steps or ramps to reach the home plate entrance. Elevators are available, though they’re not conveniently located near the main entrances. Clear sports bags are permitted following a security check.
The concourse can become congested due to its narrow layout, the presence of kiosks, and high fan volume, making navigation somewhat challenging.
Return on Investment 5
Attending a Whitecaps game is well worth your sports dollar entertainment, though $10 to park seems high for this league.
Ticket prices are reasonable, and the team offers several promotions.
For the 2025 season, tickets range from only $22 for premium box (padded seats behind home plate) to lawn seats for $12. Weekly deals include:
Half Off Tuesdays - When you show a community or worship bulletin
Winning Wednesdays – Free Chick-fil-A sandwiches for each home run a Whitecap batter hits, and seniors (50 and older) get half off box seat tickets
Three-Dollar Thursdays - $3 hot dogs, Pepsi, and domestic beer, plus college students and military get half off tickets
Fireworks Fridays
Family Fun Sundays - Kids 12 and younger get in free
Extras 3
The cleverly-named merchandise shop, CapSized Shop, offers a superb selection of shirts, jerseys, caps, and souvenirs. Be sure to pick up a roster and the starting lineups at Guest Services. The game day program is spectacular: a glossy magazine-sized publication with sponsor ads and coupons, articles on the team and other topics, the Whitecaps Hall of Fame information, games, maps, a scorecard, and more. Very well done!
Final Thoughts
It could be easily said that a West Michigan Whitecaps game is a party with a baseball game going on. It’s an affordable way to spend a fun afternoon or evening. And with major upgrades underway, LMCU Ballpark is being transformed into a state-of-the-art venue that fans will enjoy for years to come.
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