George Taylor Field - Niagara Ironbacks
- Dave Cottenie
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
George Taylor Field
4 Seymour Avenue
St. Catharines ON L2P 1A3
Year Opened: 1986
Capacity: 2,000
Iron Baseball
The Niagara Ironbacks were born in 2025. Filling a hole that Ontario normally ignores, the Ironbacks joined the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, providing a true summer collegiate experience in the province. The dubious Intercounty Baseball League once provided a summer refuge for college baseball players; however, with the 2026 rebranding to the Canadian Baseball League and full professional focus, the Ironbacks are the lone summer collegiate team in Southern Ontario. The Ironbacks are owned by Mal Romanin, who is the former communication director of the Toronto Blue Jays. The team is named in honour of the “hard-working people of St. Catharines and the Niagara Region.”
Home for the Ironbacks is George Taylor Field. Found in St. Catharines, George Taylor Field opened in 1986 and is the former home of the St. Catharines Blue Jays. The stadium saw such well-known Jays as Carlos Delgado, Pat Hentgen, Vernon Wells, and Jeff Kent play in the New-York Penn League.
In 2012, it was rededicated and named after the former groundskeeper George “Clickey” Taylor, who also coached local baseball for over 35 years. It was originally known as Merritton Baseball Field, which has been in use since the sixties. The stadium was rebuilt in 1986 and named Community Park, to coincide with the arrival of the Blue Jays, who played here until 1999.
Food & Beverage 3
There is one simple concession stand on the outside of the stadium. Burgers, hot dogs, popcorn, candy, and chips are all available. Items can be bundled in combos to save a couple bucks. Soda, slushies, and bottled water, along with CWench sports drinks, are the soft drinks available. Beer, seltzer, and wine are also available for those of age. The Ironbacks also have signature beers, Ironbacks Lite and Dead Red IPA, provided by Decew Falls Brewery.
Atmosphere 2
George Taylor Field is a fairly simple venue but has received some improvements over the years. The exterior is very simple with no aesthetic entrance, just the backside of the stands. There is plenty of chain-link fencing around the stadium. George Taylor Field also lacks any real curb appeal as it is tucked behind what appears to be a vacant school. A temporary ticket table and merchandise table welcome fans entering the park.
Before entering the seating area, fans will take note of a whiteboard with the day’s starting lineups right beside a large Ironbacks roster poster complete with profile pictures. The poster is a nice touch in promoting the players along with the free lineup sheets available at the ticket table. Behind the first base stands, cornhole boards are set out along with some picnic tables for fans.
Entering the seating area, there are a variety of seating options. The first three rows consist of traditional, plastic, stadium seats, followed by three rows of aluminum benches with backs, followed by eight rows of aluminum benches. A small press box/operations box is behind the seating, covered in blue, corrugated siding. The seating area stretches from approximately first base to third base.
The field is a well-maintained grass surface, which was one of the improvements made. There are plenty of full-turf fields in the PGCBL, and the maintenance of George Taylor Field appears to be one of the best options. LED lighting and an upgraded speaker system are also improvements that have been made at the ballpark. A simple baseball scoreboard stands beyond left centre field.
The gameday production at an Ironbacks game is also fairly simple. Typical promotions include the beer batter, 50/50 draw and tracking the strikeouts with K’s on the outfield fence. Roster printouts are free and available at the ticket table. The in-game host is terrific and has a great balance of enthusiasm without being annoying.
Neighbourhood 3
George Taylor Field is located in Community Park in the Merritton neighbourhood of St. Catharines, southeast of downtown. The neighbourhood is fairly residential, but there are a few spots fans can go to get pre- or post-game food and drinks. Some options include Ferraree’s Italian Lounge, Olee’s Ale House, Early Bird Restaurant, The Lucky Penny, Doughboy’s Diner, and Taqueria el Errito.
There are a few sporting options in the summer in St. Catharines. George Taylor Field is also the home of Brock Badgers baseball in the fall. Brock also fields other athletic teams during the school year, including basketball and hockey. The St. Catharines Athletics and Niagara River Lions also play during the summer months. Other options include the Niagara IceDogs and St. Catharines Falcons.
St. Catharines is very close to Niagara Falls, which offers a whole host of tourist options and is a must-do for all first-time visitors to the Niagara Region. Other tourist options include the St. Catharines Museum, Bruce Trail, Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Canal Locks.
For fans wishing to stay near the ballpark, the Stone Mill Inn and Four Points Sheraton are good options.
Fans 2
The Niagara Ironbacks are still in their infancy, but are making headway when it comes to attracting fans. At the time of writing, during the 2026 season, the Ironbacks averaged 360 fans per game. This ranks them 10th in the 15-team PGCBL. This is also an improvement from the 109 fans the Ironbacks averaged the previous season. A school day game in June attracting over 1,100 fans does skew the results a bit. However, an improved product on the field is showing some improvement in the stands. Fans in attendance are fairly reserved, but do interact with the in-game host a bit.
Access 5
George Taylor Field is located at Community Park in the Merritton neighbourhood of St. Catharines. It is just 1 km east of Highway 406, which is the main artery for the Niagara Region south of the Queen Elizabeth Way. It is on the southeast corner of Seymour Avenue and Merritt Street. Getting to the ballpark is pretty easy, and traffic should not be an issue. Parking is available in a lot off of Seymour Avenue past the former school. For fans interested in public transit, there are bus stops on Merritt Street. Fans should consult the Niagara Transit website for fares, maps and schedules.
The ballpark is easy to maneuver, with not too many places to go. The washroom facilities are very good here, including a couple of family, gender neutral washrooms. A Niagara Ironbacks game is cash-friendly, along with cashless options.
Return on Investment 4
The Niagara Ironbacks have three tiers of tickets that coincide with the different types of seats. Preferred seats are $16, Standard seats are $13.50, and General Admission is $8. Preferred seats are specific. Tickets are available online or at the gate. Parking is free, and concession prices are good. Combined, this offers great value for a solid baseball product on the field. More fans in the stands would provide a better spectator experience and improve the ROI.
Extras 2
An extra mark for the Niagara Ironbacks as the lone Ontario team in the PGCBL and one of only two summer collegiate teams in the province. (The other is in Thunder Bay)
An extra mark for the manager of the Ironbacks, Richard Griffin, for five decades in baseball. Griffin was, among other things, a baseball columnist for the Toronto Star for years and won the prestigious Jack Graney Award presented by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame for a media member making a significant contribution to the game.
Final Thoughts
Although still in their infancy, the Niagara Ironbacks are continuing to blaze trails in the Ontario baseball market as the lone Summer Collegiate team in Southern Ontario. George Taylor Field has become a good place to catch a game, and improvements to the ballpark are ongoing.
