Growden Field - The Midnight Sun Game
- Paul Baker
- 7 hours ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Growden Memorial Field
207 Wilbur St.
Fairbanks, AK 99701
Year Opened: 1961
Capacity: 3,500
The Midnight Sun Game
The Midnight Sun Game began in 1906 as the result of a debate between miners in a pair of bars in Fairbanks, Alaska. The subject of the debate – whether a baseball game could successfully be played at midnight without the use of artificial light. The result – “The High Noon at Midnight Classic.” The game lives on today, 120 years later as The Midnight Sun Game.
Since the city of Fairbanks is located just 160 miles south of the Arctic Circle, the sun only briefly dips below the horizon on the summer solstice. Darkness never truly arrives, allowing this unique baseball game to proceed without the use of any type of artificial lighting.
The Alaska Goldpanners, an independent summer collegiate baseball team, have hosted this annual game since their inception in 1960. Given their status as an independent team, a new opponent visits every year. International teams from Japan (in 1967) and Taiwan (in 1984) have played in the Midnight Sun Game. Hall-of-Famers including Dave Winfield and Tom Seaver have played in the game.
Growden Field, the home ballpark of the Goldpanners, serves as host to the Midnight Sun Game every year. With a regular capacity of 1,900, expanded to 3,500 for this game, the ballpark has seen in excess of 5,000 fans descend on this Alaska city for the event.
Growden Field was originally named Memorial Field but 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. For the giant crowds here at the Midnight Sun Game, an auxiliary stand is opened that sells drinks, snacks and ice cream treats.
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 5
The special atmosphere for the Midnight Sun Game begins even as you approach Growden Field. Fans arrive several hours before the game to grab the best seats, and you can hear the band playing on the concourse as you enter the ballpark. The buzz around the field is evident as you walk around the facility. Fans are everywhere, and from everywhere.
Before the game, a jazz band performs oldies from the stands. For the 2026 game, a video board with replay capability was installed, a first for the game. The game itself has some traditions that have developed in tandem with the Goldpanners’ usual in-game promotions. Several F-35 jets from nearby Eielson Air Force Base perform a flyover before the game. When midnight strikes, the game is stopped and the Sweet Adelines sing the Alaska Flag Song. For the seventh inning stretch, the Goldpanners’ mascot, Happy Boy, takes the field to the song “Happy Boy” by the Beat Farmers.
The stands take on a festival atmosphere, as the fans come to have a great time. Beach balls bounce around the stands, and despite the tight quarters, everyone is friendly and ready to strike up a conversation with their new neighbors. It’s the best of small-town Alaska in a nutshell.
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 few fast-food restaurants, all points in the city are easily accessible by car. Fans looking for the closest lodging choices near the ballpark should check out the Comfort Inn.
Fans 5
As you would imagine, an event such as this, which has taken on international notoriety, will draw great crowds, even given Fairbanks’ remote location. Stadium Journey attended the 2026 game, which was no exception. The game regularly draws baseball fans from all over the United States and the world. The team brags that this game regularly draws fans from over 40 states and multiple countries.
The 2026 game was no exception, as an estimated 4,000 fans descended on Growden Field to be a part of the spectacle. And the fans are exactly what you’d expect from an Alaskan crowd. They are friendly, polite, and here to have a great time. There’s a positive, energetic and family-friendly vibe coming from every corner of the ballpark.
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.
One thing to remember if visiting Growden Field for the Midnight Sun Game is that this park welcomes a much bigger crowd for this event than usual. Expect lines for everything. Lines to get into the game, lines for concessions, lines for merchandise. A big drawback to the facility is the lack of facilities. However, the Goldpanners come prepared, and there are 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 3
As you can imagine, tickets are priced at a premium for the Midnight Sun Game. Reserved seats are priced at $95, with general admission tickets priced at $45. Parking is free, and concession prices are affordable. The team puts out event-specific souvenirs, including t-shirts, programs and more, and kudos to the Goldpanners for not gouging fans for parking and food for this special event. Prices stay the same as every other Goldpanners game.
Extras 5
There are so many special things going on during the Midnight Sun Game that a maximum score is all but guaranteed in this category. From event-specific merchandise (including free programs and special tickets) to the traditions of the game, the Midnight Sun Game is as much event as it is baseball game. Attracting fans from all over the United States and beyond, this game has been broadcast on ESPN and internationally.
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.
Final Thoughts
A game that started as a bar bet has become a Bucket List item for thousands of baseball fans around the world. Fairbanks may be far off the beaten path, but for one night (and morning) it’s the center of the baseball universe. As they say here in Fairbanks, We’ll leave the sun on for you.
