Mulcahy Stadium - Anchorage Bucs
- Paul Baker
- 6 hours ago
- 6 min read
Photos by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00
Mulcahy Stadium
498 E. 16th Ave.
Anchorage, AK 99501
Year Opened: 1963
Capacity: 3,500
The Bucs of Alaska
Mulcahy Stadium in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, is one of the largest outdoor sports facilities in the state of Alaska. In addition to serving as the home to both the Anchorage Bucs and Anchorage Glacier Pilots of the Alaska Baseball League, several high school and American Legion teams use the field for games.
The ballpark is named after former Alaska Railroad station auditor William Mulcahy. Mulcahy, who was instrumental in putting together the early baseball games that entertained the Anchorage community. Mulcahy was the first National Baseball Congress Commissioner of Baseball for Alaska. He introduced Little League Baseball to Anchorage, and was known around town as “Mr. Baseball” and the “Grand Old Man of Baseball.”
The Anchorage Bucs were formed in 1980 as the Anchorage Adult League Team. The team was renamed the Cook Inlet Bucs when they joined the Alaska Baseball League in 1981. In 1984 the team was again rebranded, this time as the Anchorage Bucs. Some notable alumni of the team include Wally Joyner, Jeff Kent, and Keith Foulke.
Food & Beverage 4
There is a small concession stand behind home plate. There is a decent menu served here, with hot dogs, burgers, nachos and kielbasa anchoring the menu (see what I did there?). You can add chili, cheese or bacon to your item for an upcharge. If you’re looking for something a little different, reindeer dogs are sold at the concession stand too. An assortment of snack items are also available, including pretzels, ice cream treats, candy and popcorn.
Pepsi products are featured at Mulcahy Stadium. If you are looking for an adult beverage, the beer stand has a good selection of beer and wine, as well as a large array of draft choices from local favorite Alaskan Brewing Company.
Atmosphere 2
The game day presentation at a Bucs game is old school, to say the least. Fans used to the constant noise and distraction at most games today might not know what to do with themselves, but those fans who prefer a traditional approach will feel right at home.
There is little in the way of extraneous noise, music or other shenanigans at a Bucs game. The game itself is the entire focus here. There are no walk-up songs for each batter, no between-innings shenanigans, no constant sponsor ads ringing in your ears (save for one unfortunate ad read after every foul ball. (Yes, every single one.). What noise there is here at Mulcahy Stadium comes the PA announcer, who makes lineup announcements and between-inning sponsor ads in an energetic manner over a very loud sound system. Music is only played between-innings, and the excellent playlist consists of classic 80’s rock.
The Bucs share Mulcahy Stadium with another Alaska League team, the Glacier Pilots. This is not a typical “shared facility” situation. The ballpark is almost split right down the middle. Each team has their own clubhouse on site, their own concession stands, their own season ticket holder sections, their own merchandise stands, and their own displays. Think of that Brady Bunch episode where Peter and Bobby put a line down the middle of their bedroom to divide their room in half, it's almost that extreme. You will practically experience a different stadium for a Bucs game than you will for a Glacier Pilots game. For a Bucs game, the third base side of the ballpark is open, while the first base side is shuttered.
Neighborhood 3
Mulcahy Stadium is part of the Chester Creek Sports Complex in the Fairview neighborhood of Anchorage. Also part of the complex are Sullivan Arena and Ben Boeke Ice Arena. This municipal facility also contains fields for football, softball, street hockey, soccer, pickleball, and tennis.
Visiting fans looking for dining or lodging options directly adjacent to the ballpark will be disappointed, but the options for dining and lodging just a short distance from Mulcahy Stadium are many and varied. Ingra Street, located just to the east of Sullivan Arena, anchors a busy commercial district, loaded with dining options for those happy with the usual chains. For those seeking a more traditional Anchorage experience, head to the downtown area, located just over a mile away. For more information on the best options in the area and Anchorage attractions, visit Anchorage.net.
Fans 2
Getting an exact attendance number for the Bucs is difficult, as the league does not release attendance figures. Stadium Journey visited Anchorage on a Monday night in late June with a crowd of about 250 fans in attendance. In speaking with people around the ballpark, this seemed to be a pretty representative crowd. With it being a cloudy Monday night, it felt like a decent crowd indeed. As mentioned before, the Bucs share Mulcahy Stadium with the Glacier Pilots, who tend to draw comparable, if slightly larger crowds.
The big draw in these parts is the annual Fourth of July game between the Bucs and Glacier Pilots, which draws a standing room crowd of up to 4,000 people each year. The teams do manage to coexist and open all the concessions and restrooms that night.
The crowd at a Bucs game seems to be made up largely of regulars, as it’s one of those places where everyone seems to know everyone. As with most summer college games, you’ll find a good number of families and youth groups out enjoying some affordable entertainment, as well as a core group of die-hard baseball fans. With the compact footprint of the Alaska League, you’ll be sure to see many fans of the opposing team in the stands as well.
The fans are exactly what you would expect from the good people of Alaska. They are friendly and welcoming, even to outsiders. You can feel comfortable striking up a conversation with your neighbors, as they are very used to people traveling here from all over. Given the die-hard nature of many of the fans here, they are very knowledgeable about the players and the team.
Access 3
Mulcahy Stadium is centrally located within the city. It is easily accessible via Route 1 (Ingra St.) or A Street on either end of the complex. Downtown Anchorage is just over a mile from the ballpark. For fans utilizing public transportation, Anchorage’s People Mover Route 25 stops on A Street about a block from the ballpark.
A large parking lot is located between Mulcahy Stadium and Sullivan and Boeke Arenas. Fans can enter the ballpark on the third base side, where the ticket booth is located. There is another entrance in deep right field, which may or may not be open, depending on the game.
The seating area is a hodge-podge of sections built up over the years. The main grandstand behind home plate features metal bleachers, as well as room for those who bring their own chairs. There are newer sections on either baseline featuring individual bucket seats. These are reserved for season ticket holders. A beer garden, which contains some popular seating options, but which is not open during Bucs game, is located on the right field side. Metal bleachers round out the seating down both foul lines. Seating along the first base side of the field is preferred, as the sun will not be in your eyes, and you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Chugach Mountains in the distance.
There are a pair of restrooms for use on the concourse, and the ballpark is easily accessible. Lines are not an issue at the concession or beer stands.
Return on Investment 5
Tickets to Bucs games are priced at ten dollars for reserved seats and eight dollars for general admission (bleacher) seats. Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the ballpark. With inexpensive concessions, a night at a Bucs game is an inexpensive entertainment option for local sports fans.
Extras 1
The Anchorage Bucs Hall of Fame is located on the third base concourse. Among the notable names found here are Keith Foulke, Jeff Kent and Wally Joyner.
Two rows of seating located in front of the Bucs clubhouse were formerly used at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
Final Thoughts
Mulcahy Stadium is a quaint old ballpark located in a wonderful destination city. The back story of the Bucs and Glacier Pilots, who cannot exist in their shared ballpark, makes for a unique visiting experience. Throw in the fact that the Alaska League continues to be one of the premier summer college circuits in the nation, and you have found yourself a fantastic Stadium Journey.
