| Fans of old ballparks got an unexpected treat in 2004 as Gill Stadium was renovated for use by an Eastern League team after not being used for professional baseball since 1971. It is a unique old ballpark built in a similar mold to that of New Haven's Yale Field (which ironically is where this franchise moved from). Squeezed into a city block, the ballpark features a semicircular, covered grandstand with a nice brick exterior complete with arches on the back side. The grandstand was completely gutted, a new metal floor was put down (to replace the rotted wood one), and green folding seats were installed. Like New Haven, the metal flooring can get loud when fans start banging on it, though there didn't seem to be many restless kids on the day I attended a game here. As part of the renovations, picnic areas and metal bleachers were added down each line. But because of the configuration of the ballpark, these bleacher sections are a long ways from the field. The concourse area runs behind the grandstand and is surrounded by an black iron fence. One concession stand and the souvenir stand are located underneath the grandstand. Additional concession stands are located near the picnic areas. Food options include chicken sandwiches, Italian sausages, and pizza besides thy typical ballpark standards. Prices are rather cheap and the food is quite tasty. Overall, the renovations done at Gill Stadium are quite impressive. The only negative I could find is the installation of artificial turf, which was deemed necessary due to the multiple uses of the stadium (football, soccer, etc.) Despite having an old park, the Fisher Cats make the experience just like one you'd find at any other new park across the country. This means lots of between inning promotions, tons of advertisements, and loud music between every batter. Despite this, it is still a fun place to see a game as old ballparks are now quite rare in the minor leagues. The Fisher Cats moved into a brand new ballpark in 2005. I'm sure the new ballpark will serve the city well, but I would have preferred to see the team stay at Gill Stadium. But at least the ballpark saw pro baseball for one more year and got a renovation that will keep it around for a long time to come.
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