Crushers Stadium - Lake Erie Crushers

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71

Crushers Stadium 2009 Baseball Blvd Avon, OH 44011

Lake Erie Crushers website Crushers Stadium website

Year Opened: 2009 Capacity: 5,000

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Crushing It at the Ballpark

When people think of baseball in the Cleveland area, their minds drift towards the Cleveland Guardians, but just a 30-minute drive away downtown is another baseball stadium. Nestled in the suburban town of Avon, the Lake Erie Crushers have quietly built a reputation of their own, emerging as a beloved gem in the local sports scene.

Since their founding in 2009, the Crushers have steadily won over the hearts of residents throughout Lorain County and beyond. What began as a modest independent league team has blossomed into a community staple, drawing crowds with a genuine love of the game, an engaging atmosphere, and a strong connection to local fans.

At the heart of the Crushers’ appeal is their commitment to accessibility and affordability. While big-league games can quickly become a costly affair for families, a night at Crushers Stadium offers an affordable and stress-free alternative. Ticket prices are modest, parking is convenient, and concessions are budget-friendly—all without sacrificing the quality of the fan experience. 

The stadium’s cozy size ensures that every seat feels close to the action, and interactive features like on-field games, theme nights, and meet-and-greets with players help make each visit feel special, particularly for young fans.

Food & Beverage 4

The Crushers offer down-to-the-basics food options at the multiple concession stands and kiosks, along with hard liquor varieties at the Third Base Bar.

Sahlen’s hot dogs are prominently featured, along with brats, nachos, chicken sandwiches, steak burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken tenders, french fries, and walking tacos. A couple of interesting items are the loaded nachos with pulled pork and giant pretzels that can be shared with a couple of people. Plain and pepperoni slices are also sold at the ball game. A Chick-fil-A tent offers sandwiches, nuggets, and chicken wraps.

For the sweet tooth, the stadium sells funnel cake fries, shaved ice, ice cream, soft-serve ice cream, and mini donuts. Pepsi products are the drink of choice at the Crushers game, with multiple varieties sold.

The alcoholic beverages are offered by draft and in 16-ounce cans. Budweiser, Bud Light, Yuengling, Sam Adams, Busch Light, and Labatt Blue and Light are a few of the beer varieties. A few local craft beers include Great Lakes Dortmund Lager, Mexican Lager, and Midwest IPA. For the non-beer drinkers,21 Brix Wines,  Loncaro Long Drinks, and Carbliss Vodka Cocktails include three varieties in cans. The 3rd Base Bar offers mixed drinks: old-fashioned, espresso martinis, the Crusher Margarita, and Crush on the Beach.

Atmosphere 4

Stadium Journey took in a Saturday night game at Crushers Stadium, which was Monster Hockey Night, the local American Hockey League team. The Crushers wore specialty jerseys, invited the hockey team’s mascot, Sully, to entertain fans, and featured a giant Monsters inflatable to introduce players. The weather was somewhat cloudy, but otherwise ideal for an evening of baseball.

The design of the Crushers stadium is simple and similar to others of its kind this century. A sunken-style seating bowl with a concourse that opens up from foul pole to foul pole. At the corner of the right field foul line is the children’s play zone that offers inflatable rides for the children for $5 extra. The left field line is a giant grass berm seating area that may be fun for children to roll up and down on during the game.

There are various table seating with tents on the main concourse that sit up to four people. Many of them were filled tonight, and the multi-color tents. Luxury boxes and suites are situated on the upper deck of the facility, and a third base bar offers a large area for fans to enjoy a few hard liquor cocktails during the game. The space also includes table tops and seating for fans.

The Grape Race entertains fans in between innings, Photo by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey

The organization has leaned heavily into its community-first identity, hosting local school nights, charitable events, and youth baseball camps that further cement its place in the hearts of area families. The team’s mascot, Stomper—a lovable purple creature with a mischievous grin—has become a recognizable figure across schools, parades, and birthday parties throughout the region.

Overall, a festive mood at the ball game with kids running around, fans grabbing a bite to eat, and plenty of mingling with neighbors and friends. The Crushers team shop has a small collection of merchandise, a stadium MC adds to the revelry of the crowd, and there are plenty of in-between promotions on the field, including a three-person race with runners dressed up in grape outfits.

Neighborhood 3

The neighborhood around Crushers Stadium in Avon, Ohio, is a suburban, family-friendly area with a mix of residential, commercial, and light industrial developments. 

Just a short drive from the stadium is Chester Road and Detroit Road, where you'll find Target, Lowe’s, Walmart, Home Depot, and several strip malls. The area offers a range of dining options, including fast food (Chick-fil-A, Culver’s), chain restaurants (Applebee’s, Olive Garden), and some local spots: Winking Lizard, a chain pub with classic American cuisine, hundreds of beer choices, and Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream. 

Downtown Cleveland is a 30-minute drive on I-90 by car and offers more choices of sporting events, including a Cleveland Guardians game at Progressive Field, a Cleveland Monsters or Cleveland Cavaliers game at Rocket Arena.

Fans 4

The local community supports the Lake Erie Crushers. The stands are filled with kids and families, making it an ideal destination for a fun, family-friendly outing. From diehard baseball enthusiasts to casual fans just looking for a good time with friends or relatives, the Crushers are drawing a diverse and growing crowd.

Access 4

The stadium is visible off I-90, and easy to drive from Cleveland (about 25–30 minutes east). Ample parking is available, and traffic is manageable even on game days. There are two areas of parking available at the stadium, including lots with accessible handicap spaces.

Inside the ballpark, the wide-open concourse offers easy access to all points of interest, including the third base bar down, lawn seating in left field, and the children’s play area in right field. The official team store is located near the entrance steps of the stadium.

Return on Investment 4

The cost of a ticket starts at $11, with seating behind the backstop $17 and $19. However, there are other, more affordable options when attending a Crushers game during the week. $2 for Tuesdays, tickets start at the low price of $2 per person. It also includes $2 for hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and 12-oz sodas. Giving Wednesday allows fans to bring two non-perishable items for free admission. Thirsty Thursdays feature drink specials at the stadium.

Team gift shop has plenty of merchandise, Photo by Chris Green, Stadium Journey

The Crushers charge $6 for general admission parking and $10 for VIP parking, while concession items such as a hot dog are $5, and a 24-ounce can of beer is $7. A majority of the menu items are fairly priced for a Frontier League stadium.

Extras 3

Crushers Stadium earns additional points for the Third Base Bar offering hard liquor and mixed cocktails, affordable weekday games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and affordable concession prices from hot dogs to beer. It is one of those honest, simple suburban neighborhood ballparks.

Final Thoughts

The Lake Erie Crushers are a refreshing reminder of community, tradition, and a love of the game. Whether you’re a die-hard baseball enthusiast or simply looking for a fun summer evening with the family, a trip to see the Crushers play offers an experience that’s both memorable and meaningful—and all just 30 minutes west of Cleveland.

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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com