Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86
Griffith Generals 600 N Wiggs St. Griffith, IN 46319
Year Opened: 1962 Capacity: 500
Green & Gold for Griffith Generals
Griffith High School’s baseball stadium is the home of the Griffith Generals of the Northern League. The summer collegiate team had played in Joliet, Illinois, for the past few years before making the move before the 2023 campaign. The relocation moves the club closer to other members in Northwest Indiana, locally known as The Region.
The selection of Griffith High School was based on Assistance Principal Brian Jennings, who was the school’s former head coach and had been involved with the league in the past. The Generals were formed in 2018 and are entering their sixth season in the league. They won the league championship in 2021 and made the playoffs in 2022.
Food & Beverage 3
The concession stand is open for General games. The menu options include hot dogs, Polish sausage, nachos, pretzels, candy, popcorn, chips, and pop. The prices range from $1 to $3 and are enough to snack on during a ball game. Since this is a high school baseball field, there are no alcoholic beverages served.
Atmosphere 3
The Generals play at a small, 500-seat high school stadium that features two aluminum sets of bleachers with a concession and press box directly behind home plate. The area behind the concession stand offers picnic tables and borders the softball field. The setup creates an opportunity for an atmosphere that is grassroots.
There is a PA announcer, music played between innings, and announcements made for the concession stand. Kids who retrieve a foul ball and earn a dollar when returned and a small ticket both at the entrance of the stadium provides information about the team.
The atmosphere is laid back with the focus on baseball. There are not any in-between inning promotions, mascots, gimmicks, or over-the-top announcements for local companies. Player banter can be heard from the respective dugouts and when they are on deck. Player uniforms are vibrant gold and yellow and feature slashes through the number zero.
Neighborhood 4
The high school is in a residential area of Griffith, Indiana, but a few miles away from the busy US-41, where a myriad of shops, retail chains, and malls exist. The average fan will find almost everything they want in these various spots.
Sophia's Pancake House, Kui Korean BBQ, Theo's Steak & Seafood, and Highland Gyros are on US-41, A
KA Indianapolis Blvd. The Blue Top Drive-In is a throwback to the early 1960s that features burgers, fries, shakes, and a few muscle cars. It is a great spot for families.
The Highland Grove Shopping Plaza offers a variety of regional chains that include Chipotle, Panda Express, Dave's Hot Chicken, Noodles & Company, Tomato Bar Pizza Bakery, and Naf Naf Grill. Lou Malnati's is home to Chicago-style deep-dish and thin-crust pizza.
Fans 2
There are few supporters in the stands at the Generals game. Many are friends and family members of the players on the field. However, with enough time and promotion, more fans might make their way to ball games during the summer months in The Region.
Access 4
Griffith High School is south of I-94, east of US-40, and west of I-65. The ballpark is easily accessible by car in every direction. The parking lot is down the left field line and there is plenty of room to move around once inside the stadium.
Return on Investment 2
The price of a ticket is $7, kids/veterans/seniors are $5, and children under 5 years old are free. T-shirts are $12 and $15 and ball caps are $25. The food prices range from $1-$3. It is affordable baseball for the entire family, and the gameday atmosphere is better than a few other fields in the area.
Extras 2
Griffith Ball Field earns a point for selling team merchandise and offering kids a buck for returning foul balls.
Final Thoughts
Griffith Ball Field is a nice place for a Northern League franchise. Ownership has provided a nice backdrop for a game and perhaps that will improve in the future years with a little more game day production and promotion. Right now, if your focus is on the game, this is a nice escape during the summertime.
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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com