Fort Marcy Ballpark - Santa Fe Fuego
- Meg Minard
- 4 hours ago
- 5 min read
Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57
Fort Marcy Ballpark
490 Bishops Lodge Road
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Year Opened: 1936/1947 Capacity: 1,100
Santa Fe Fuego
The Santa Fe Fuego are members of the Pecos League, an Independent Baseball League. They joined the league in 2012 and won the championship in 2014. They came close in 2015, losing to their in-state rival, the Roswell Invaders. They play their games at historic Fort Marcy Ballpark in Santa Fe, NM. The facility was built in 1936; some park guides and documents state 1947 as its official opening or primary reopening date.
The ballfield is part of the Fort Marcy Park and Recreation Complex, which has a swimming pool, racquetball, and other sports. The city park also features a dog area, a playground, shade-covered picnic benches, and walking trails.
Food & Beverage 3
The Santa Fe Fuego sells the expected stadium fare at reasonable prices. The venue has one concession stand and a separate beer table on its concourse. Offerings include several burger, hot dog, and nacho options, with prices ranging from $4 to $8. The menu indicates that the choices with green chili (New Mexico is known for its green chili) are the fan favorites. Fans can upgrade and get a soda and chips with each meal for an additional $3, which is a pretty good deal. Snacks include popcorn, chips, candy, pickles, seeds, and peanuts. Canned beer choices are domestic beers, 7K IPA 9 (brewed by Santa Fe Brewing Company), Corona, and others.
Atmosphere 3
The Santa Fe Fuego game day crew provides a pleasant evening of baseball.
They have an excellent announcer who reads the lineup clearly and at a pace slow enough to jot down on your scorecard, a rarity at most ballparks where lineups are rattled off too quickly to record. The sound person plays some between-pitch ‘noise,’ but it’s not too bad. Sit beyond the covered grandstand to be away from the loudspeakers.
The Sangre de Cristo Mountains provide a pleasant view in left field, along with houses I’ll never be able to afford. Trees line the left and right fields, and a city park (Magers Field Park) is beyond center field. It’s all very pleasing to the eye.
The seating area runs from inside first base to inside third base, and it is all cement with a grandstand roof. We recommend bringing a cushion or foldable chair (the team rents chairs for $5 if you forget yours). A chain link fence protects fans sitting behind home, but fans can move and see some ‘chain-free’ baseball closer to the bases. Within the grandstand, ‘box’ sections line the lowest level (closest to the field), where fans can sit with their chairs and be closer to the field.
A dot matrix scoreboard showing the line score sits in center field. Trees serve as the batter’s eye. The outfield grass looks plush; the infield is worn in some spots.
A mascot dressed as a dragon roams the stands. The team holds a 50/50 raffle with the proceeds going back to the players. Kids run the bases in the middle of the 4th inning. The Fuego players line up and give them high-fives as they exit the field. Pretty cool.
Neighborhood 4
Fort Marcy Ballpark is less than a mile from downtown Santa Fe, which has plenty of activities, eateries, and places to stay.
For things to do when in town, visit the New Mexico State Capitol Building, which has an abundance of art pieces (it’s almost like an art gallery). You can explore the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, stroll through the historic Santa Fe Plaza, or stop by the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi with its beautiful stained glass and Romanesque Revival design.
Sana Fe has many restaurants, bars, and breweries. Bumble Bee’s Baja Grill, Café Paqual’s, and Café Chimayo are some recommended local places near the ballpark. However, many more line the city streets. Santa Fe has several places for craft beer and cocktails; Desert Dog Brewery and Cidery and Second Street Brewery at the Railyard are worth a visit and are right near the plaza and downtown. And for something different, try Tumbleroot Pottery Pub (make your own work of clay art while enjoying an adult beverage).
As a tourist town, Santa Fe has no shortage of hotels, ranging from 2‑star to 5‑star. The further you get from downtown, the more affordable they are. Check here for an accommodations list.
The closest other summer sports are the Albuquerque Isotopes (MiLB) and the New Mexico United (USLC), about an hour south of Santa Fe.
Fans 2
The fans seem to enjoy themselves at a Fuego game. You’ll see families, kids, and retirees. At the game I attended, a couple of hundred fans were in the stands.
Access 2
Driving to Fort Marcy Park is relatively easy, as you can bypass the downtown area. Parking is free and near the stadium. Santa Fe does have bus service, but it ends at 7:30 pm, so it's not an option for a Fuego game.
The downfall is navigating the stadium and accessing the seating, as the setup isn’t at all accommodating for fans with mobility needs.
The steps leading up to the entrance are rickety wooden ones with a wooden banister that’ll give you splinters if you hold on too tightly. There is a ramp on the far end of the parking lot, but it doesn’t look in good shape.
Once inside, you’ll find the grandstand has steep cement steps, with handrails only at the far ends of the seating area and none in the middle. That said, there are half steps next to the handrails, making it a bit easier to descend and ascend, but it’s not easy for those uneasy on their feet.
The restrooms and concessions stand are on the concourse just beyond the entrance.
Return on Investment 3
The costs are low enough that most fans should find a Fuego game budget‑friendly. Parking is free. Tickets are $10 general admission. Rental chairs run $5. Concessions are reasonably priced.
Some fans even park their vehicles in the parking lot above the third base side slope and watch for free.
Extras 1
The Fuego stream their games via Meridix. Watching the streaming announcer (and listening if you sit close enough) is quite entertaining.
Final Thoughts
Baseball fans visiting Santa Fe should try to catch a Fuego game during the May - July stretch. Just keep in mind that the ballpark can be tough to navigate if you use a wheelchair, walker, cane, or feel unsteady on your feet.
