Growden Field - Alaska Goldpanners
- Paul Baker
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43
Growden Memorial Field
207 Wilbur St.
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Year Opened: 1961
Capacity: 3,500
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Baseball in the Land of the Midnight Sun
The Alaska Goldpanners are an independent summer collegiate baseball team. Founded in 1960 as an independent barnstorming team, they were a founding member of the Alaska Baseball League. The “Panners” left that circuit to return to a barnstorming schedule in 2015 as membership in the Alaska League became financially untenable. The team and league have had frequent talks about the Panners returning to the ABL, but without success for a variety of reasons. The team is most known for hosting the annual Midnight Sun Game, which is played annually on the summer solstice at midnight. The game attracts fans and media attention from all over the world.
Over their existence, over 200 Goldpanner alumni have played in the Major Leauges, including Baseball Hall of Famers Tom Seaver and Dave Winfield. Among the notable players to spend a summer in Fairbanks are Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Bill Lee, Terry Francona, Alvin Davis and Mike Boddicker.
Growden Field in Fairbanks, AK, serves as home to the Goldpanners. It was originally named Memorial Field and was renamed in honor of James Growden and his two sons, who perished in the tsunami created by the Good Friday Earthquake of 1964. Growden had been active in supporting youth sports in Fairbanks throughout his life. The ballpark is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Food & Beverage 4
There is one main concession stand at Growden Field, which serves up basic ballpark fare, including hot dogs, burgers, pizza slices and nachos. There is a decent selection of snacks to augment the menu, including all the expected favorites such as popcorn, pretzels and even Frito Pie. The team also sells ice cream sundaes in plastic mini-helmets. The quality is good and the prices are decent. Keep an eye out for daily specials. Lines are usually not too bad.
Coca-Cola products are featured at Growden Field. New for 2026 are a pair of beer gardens located on either side of the grandstand, featuring a good selection of beer and other adult beverages. Fans of craft beers will find selections from local favorites Hoo Doo Brewing.
Atmosphere 4
If you’re only familiar with Groden Field and the Goldpanners from the Midnight Sun Game, you might feel a little let down if you visit during another game on the schedule. But the team’s staff put on a good show, no matter what day you might find yourself in Fairbanks.
Some of the promotions hold steady game in and game out, such as when kids run the bases at the end of the fifth inning and when the team’s mascot, Happy Boy, dances to what else, “Happy Boy” by the Beat Farmers in lieu of the seventh inning stretch. The game day entertainment is anchored by the PA announcer, who keeps things moving and adds a lot of energy to the proceedings. The ballpark’s sound system isn’t the greatest, and can fade in and out at times during the game. The team’s staff is friendly, helpful and very present.
Neighborhood 3
Growden Memorial Field is part of a much larger municipal park situated in downtown Fairbanks. Also located in the park is a skate park, four Pony baseball fields, a youth softball field, volleyball courts, a playground and a picnic area.
The city of Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska, with a population of over 32,500. Growden Park’s centralized location in the city puts it close to many points of interest, the airport, the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and even the Santa Claus House in nearby North Pole. While nothing is in the immediate vicinity of the ballpark except for a bunch of fast-food restaurants a few blocks away, all points in the city are easily accessible by car. Fans looking for lodging close to the ballpark should check out the Comfort Inn on Airport Road.
Fans 3
Actual attendance for Goldpanners games is hard to accurately establish, as the team does not release attendance figures. But a look at the crowd at a pair of games visited by Stadium Journey show that the team draws solid crowds to Growden Field, even when not factoring in the circus that is the Midnight Sun Game. An estimate would place crowds for Goldpanner games anywhere between 500 and 1,000 fans.
The crowd at Growden Field will look familiar to anyone who has frequented summer baseball games anywhere in the country. There’s a good mix of families, diehard fans, and young adults looking for an inexpensive night out before heading on to the evening’s other activities. The Goldpanners target families and groups with their game day presentation, and their efforts are reflected in the stands, with many young fans running around the facility every night.
Access 3
Growden Field is located in the larger Growden Park, about two miles from downtown Fairbanks. It’s easy to get to from all points in the city, as it is located just off of Airport Way and Johansson Expressway, two of the busier roads in the city. Alaska State Highway 3, which runs south to Denali National Park and Anchorage, is about two and one half miles west of the ballpark.
Plenty of parking is available in an unpaved lot adjacent to the ball field., as well as on the surrounding streets and at the neighboring Carlson Center. For fans taking public transportation, the MACS (Metropolitan Area Commuter System) blue route has a stop right in front of Growden Field, at the corner of Wilbur St. and 2nd Ave.
A big drawback to the facility is the lack of facilities. However, the Goldpanners come prepared, and there are numerous port-a-johns everywhere. There are so many, in fact, that lines are not an issue, even during peak use.
The seating at Growden Field is a hodge-podge of different sections that appear to have gone up over the years. Some seats are plastic stadium seats, with the majority of seating consisting of metal bleachers without backs. There is a section of Green Monster-style bar seats on the first base side of the ballpark. For the Midnight Sun Game, extra sections are brought in. Seats on the third base line are preferred as the sun will be at your back, not directly in your face.
Return on Investment 5
Tickets for Goldpanners games are priced at $18.50 for reserved seats and $13.00 for General Admission. Children and members of the military can purchase General Admission tickets for $8.00. During numerous games throughout the season there are additional specials on tap where fans can save additional money on tickets. Check out the team’s website for additional details.
Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the ball field and on neighborhood streets should the lot not be sufficient for the evening’s crowd. Concessions are reasonably priced, making a Goldpanners game an affordable entertainment option for local sports fans.
Extras 3
The Goldpanners display banners honoring their most famous alumni around the ballpark. Among the honorees are Terry Francona, Alvin Davis, Harold Reynolds, Dave Kingman and Barry Bonds.
A statue of Dave Winfield, one of two baseball Hall of Famers to play for the Goldpanners, is located in a small plaza across the street from Growden Field. Winfield is beloved around town for not only his play, but the way he embraced the Fairbanks community not only during his days here, but afterwards throughout his Major League career and beyond.
A final extra point is awarded for the amazing amount of merchandise sold by the team, and the support by the fans, many of whom sport team gear while roaming Growden Field.
Final Thoughts
The Goldpanners are most well-known for hosting the annual Midnight Sun game. But if you happen to be visiting Fairbanks at another time during the season, you can find affordable, entertaining baseball being played at normal hours of the day as well.
