Photo by Eric Hasman and Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.43
Legacy Fields 851 Center Ross Rd Crown Point, IN 46307
Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 600
Have a Corndog & a Smile
In 2022, its inaugural season, the Lake County Corndogs baseball team captured the Northern League crown. They lost the championship in 2023 in their second season. In 2024, the Corndogs left the Northern League and are playing independently. Their opponents during the 2024 season mostly seem to be teams from the CSBL (Chicago Suburban Baseball League) and the Crestwood Collegiate League (wood-bat, semi-pro leagues). Hopefully, they are back in a league next season. Playing as an independent team seems like a college pickup game.
The club is privately owned and is looking to make an impact with fans outside the city of Chicago in The Region. The team calls Legacy Fields in Crown Point, Indiana, its home. The ballpark holds approximately 600 and opened in 2009.
The Corndog's name was chosen from a fan contest. The name combines two area staples: corn stalks growing in the area and the local high school Bulldogs nickname. The logo is catchy and fits in well in minor league baseball.
Food & Beverage 3
The ballpark has a concession stand and a beer garden with a surprising choice of reasonably priced food and drinks. The concessions are geared more towards kids. The food options include cheeseburgers ($3.50), chili dogs, hamburgers, walking tacos ($3), nachos / pretzels ($2.50), and popcorn ($1). Of course, there are corn dogs for $2. Some surprising items are string cheese, Slim Jims, freeze pops and cow tales ($0.50). Soda, Gatorade, lemonade or iced tea are $2.
The beer garden is sponsored by the local Off the Square Brewery. They provide an ale made especially for the ball club, Batter Up Ale, which is tasty. In addition, there are a couple of other domestic beers, such as Coors. They are $6 for a 20-ounce can, and a souvenir cup is an extra $2. If you are not a beer fan, you can choose a variety of White Claws.
Atmosphere 2
The complex has two fields and also serves as home to the local Babe Ruth League and it looks like it. No netting protects the fans. Instead, there is black chain link fencing with many poles. This makes it difficult to see the action on the field. With that said, this field is a good fit for low-level summer collegiate league baseball.
A double-decker press box offers more than enough space for radio and staff purposes and features aluminum bleachers behind the home plate and bleachers on each side of the press box. Another section of aluminum bleachers extends down the right field line. At the bottom of the press box, a concession area faces the main entrance.
Cornelius the Corndog, a corn dog with mustard, is the mascot. He dances on the field and runs with the kids in between innings. He did not make an appearance at the game I attended. I am not sure why. A kid's zone is in the large grassy area down the right field line.
The sound system is clear and loud enough for the various in-between gimmicks that include on-field contests like a hula hoop competition and the after-7th inning stretch for kids. Kids also chase foul balls and turn them into the concession stand for an ice pop, or they can keep them. The team encourages kids to turn them in.
Sponsored by Off The Square Brewing, a shelter serves as the Beer Garden between the two fields. Fans entering the area need a wristband to enjoy a beer, and it is packed for weekend games. A small table offering concessions is next door, selling t-shirts, adult and youth caps, and other collectibles, from stuffed animals to mini baseball bats.
Neighborhood 2
Legacy Fields is surrounded by a residential neighborhood and a wastewater treatment plant. However, downtown Crown Point is 1.5 miles from the downtown square of Crown Point. Multiple restaurants in that area include Station 21 American Grill, Ricochet Tacos, Tavern on Main, True BBQ and Whiskey Bar, and Twelve Islands. Crown Point Brewing and Off the Square Brewing are two local options for craft beer. Of course, chain fast food places like McDonald’s, Starbucks, Pop’s Italian Beef & Sausage inhabit the downtown region.
Crown Point is close to two other ballparks: Oil City Field and US Steel Yard in Gary. Oil City Stadium is home to the rival NW Indiana Oilmen and is worth a visit in downtown Whiting, while the Railcats play in Gary, bringing in large crowds on weekends.
Fans 3
I am told the Corndogs have created a nice fan base. However, on the day I went, approximately 100 people were in attendance, many of whom were parents of the players and a few other traditional fans. The atmosphere is similar to other summer collegiate leagues at this level. Kids chase foul balls, friends and family have a few laughs, and properly cheer for home runs and runs scored.
Access 2
Legacy Fields is located a few miles west of I-65 and accessible by GPS on your phone. The closest exit is the 109th Street exit. The field itself is easy to move around, with three sets of bleachers surrounding the ball field.
There is no public transportation in the area of the ballpark.
Return on Investment 3
The price of a ticket is $6 - $8, concession prices are no more than $4, beer is $6, and parking is free. The crowd is usually festive, and kids’ activities take place in between innings. If you have the time, the downtown square in Crown Point is visiting.
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Extras 2
The Corndogs earn points for having affordable concessions and a beer garden with local and affordable beer. They get an extra point for encouraging kids to turn in foul balls for ice pops.
The field gets a point taken away for the chain link fencing blocking the view. I hope this can be changed to netting.
Final Thoughts
The Corndogs management knows how to build a good team. Hopefully, they will be able to add some new items to the experience in the future. The stadium offers a small-town feel with plenty of affordable options at the concession stand and beer garden.