Modern Woodmen Field - Modesto Roadsters
- Meg Minard
- 6 hours ago
- 5 min read
Photos by Meg Minard, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Modern Woodmen Field
601 Neece Dr
Modesto, CA 95351
Year Opened: 1955 Capacity: 4,000
Modesto Roadsters
In December 2024, the Seattle Mariners sold the Modesto Nuts baseball team, and the new ownership group relocated the club to San Bernardino at the start of 2026.
Subsequently, in 2026, the Pioneer League added three expansion teams, two in California, including one in Long Beach and another in Modesto, to replace the Nuts.
With that came the rebranding and renovations of the baseball team and the stadium. The new ownership secured a multimillion‑dollar partnership with Modern Woodmen of America, prompting a change to the stadium’s name. Formerly known as John Thurman Field, it was officially renamed Modern Woodmen Field in April 2026.
Renovations to the stadium include upgraded locker rooms, new carpet in the gift shop and administration offices, and the new team colors, rust and blue, painted on the outfield walls, stands, and other structures.
The team’s name, Modesto Roadsters, was a result of a community-wide contest. After significant backlash to the original choice, the Glow Riders, the new ownership listened to local feedback and ultimately changed the primary name to the Roadsters.
Both the staff and the fans are delighted with the new team, its image, the new ownership, and its vision for the team, and are thankful that baseball remains in the San Joaquin Valley.
Food & Beverage 3
Permanent booths, carts and truck concessions are mostly behind the grandstand. The main concession stand (Cost Less) sells hot dogs, pretzel bites, nachos, chicken and fries, pulled pork fries, garlic fries, and smoked wings with prices ranging from $5 - $12. Satellite stands offer shaved ice, chips, Cracker Jack, and other snacks.
The concessions sell Pepsi-brand soda, Gatorade, lemonade, water, and Rockstar. Beers include Coors Light, Modelo, 424 Hazy, Cruiser Light, and are $5 - $8.
The lower seating sections have wait staff, and peddlers roam the upper-level seats hawking snacks and drinks.
Nachos and chicken fingers with fries are a popular choice amongst the fans.
Atmosphere 3
Fans will enjoy a night at a Modesto Roadsters game, thanks to a comfortable layout and a well-run presentation. Seating is split into two levels with a walkway between them. There are the traditional fold‑down stadium seats on the lower level and bleachers above. Several lower‑concourse sections include drink rails, and two party decks sit beside the press box. A medium-thick black net extends across all seats.
A decent scoreboard in left field displaying the current batter’s stats and the line score, with sponsor ads rotating between innings. Trees line the center and right fields, giving the park a pleasant backdrop.
The game day staff presents the ballpark experience well. The announcer’s voice is clear and easy to understand, offering pitching changes, challenge results, remaining challenges, and lineups. The sound operator does occasionally play brief between‑pitch noise, but it’s only a couple of seconds, nothing like the long, drawn‑out blasts some parks use, and the volume stays reasonable. Fans add their own energy by stomping on the bleachers.
I recommend the team address two small but meaningful items to enhance the fan experience. First, staff could use a quick refresher on the basics, namely, where the nearest restrooms are and where the team posts the starting lineups. I was sent to two different locations on opposite sides of the concourse before discovering that the starting lineup display is actually a set of Roadsters player photos mounted so high that they’re difficult to read, especially with the sun reflecting off them. It also displays only the home lineup, omitting the visiting team and leaving out player positions.
Fortunately, the customer service table provides a printed lineup, and that’s the option we suggest using.
Lastly, the Roadsters have a spacious team store chocked with hats, t-shirts, foam fingers, and trinkets.
Neighborhood 3
Modesto has a small, quaint downtown area about a mile and a ½ from Modern Woodmen Field. The region is known for its rich agriculture. Be sure to stop in Rodin Ranch Market for some farm-fresh goodies or visit Vanderhelm Farms for U-Pick activities. A popular attraction is the McHenry Museum.
For a pregame meal, Commonwealth, a gastropub, comes recommended, as does Churchkey. Modesto has a few breweries for hopheads to enjoy: Persuasion Brewing, Contentment Brewing Company, and Track 424 Brewery.
Dryden Park Golf Course, a public course along the Tuolumne River, is adjacent to the ballpark just to the south.
For places to stay, a DoubleTree is less than two miles from the ballpark. A Best Western and a Motel 6 are also in that same area downtown.
Other sports teams somewhat nearby during baseball season are the Stockton Ports (about a 40-min drive) or maybe take a drive down to Fresno and visit Chukchansi Park (about an hour and a ½ drive).
Fans 3
Cowbells. The Modesto Roadster fans know how to generate their own noise with cowbells, stomping of the feet on the bleachers, and cheering on good plays. Even better, when the fans ring their cowbells, the sound person doesn’t ruin it by drowning it out with noise and other music. Very smart move.
In this inaugural season, they’re already averaging over 3,000 fans per game, an impressive start for a brand‑new club.
Access 3
Getting to the park is relatively easy, as it sits just off State Route 99, though current road construction can slow things down. The stadium has two parking lots, East and West, with ticket booths on both sides. Parking is free for Roadsters games.
Gates open one hour before the first pitch. Security is notably thorough, with staff wanding every guest.
I don’t remember any bag restriction rules; I recommend just leaving your backpacks at home and bringing a clear stadium sports tote bag.
Inside, the concourse is wide and easy to navigate, offering plenty of room to move around. Both ramps and steps lead up to the seating areas, and several restrooms are available throughout the venue.
Return on Investment 5
Catching a Modesto Roadsters game is an enjoyable experience, and the wallet‑friendly price tag only adds to the enjoyment. Ticket prices don’t range more than $16, and more often than that, you can get in for just a few bucks.
Weekly specials include $2 Tuesdays (hot dogs, pretzel bites, and sodas for $2), $3 Thursdays (beer specials and $3 general admission), and Fireworks Fridays. Wednesdays feature t‑shirt giveaways, while Saturdays offer promotional giveaways and live music. Sundays are family days, complete with bring‑your‑pooch.
And, the team has voucher books, group rates, and season and half-season ticket packages.
Free parking, reasonable concessions, and a genuinely fun atmosphere make it an incredibly entertaining, affordable night out.
Extras 3
A few other items are worth noting. First, they hand out pocket schedules. Remember them? Second, when purchasing a ticket at the gate, they hand out decorative paper tickets. Remember them?
Collectables long forgotten about in this digital age.
Lastly, the Modesto Roadsters’ song is catching and lively. Listen below.
Music Written & Produced by Curtiss Staggs
Filmed & Edited by FlysVisuals
Final Thoughts
The staff and fans alike are pleased to have the Roadsters in town, and it’s easy to understand why. A night at the ballpark is affordable, relaxed, and family‑friendly, the kind of outing that feels good. Modesto has embraced its new team, and the Roadsters have given the community something fun to rally around.
Go and experience the newest chapter of baseball in Modesto and see the Roadsters for yourself.
