| It's really amazing that Utica was able to keep a team as long as they did (through the 2001 season). The city and surrounding area are quite depressed, the facility is substandard, and their attendance was down almost yearly. Donovan Stadium is basically just a bunch of metal bleachers. At least the ones behind home plate have a cover overhead. But that is one of the only good things about this park. The seats are too far away from the field making for bad sightlines. The concourse area is located behind home plate grandstand. The most interesting aspect of the park is the hospital that sits behind the outfield fence. While Utica's attendance hasn't been horrible, their park would seem more suitable for independent baseball than affiliated. Time finally ran out on Utica as an ownership group led by Cal Ripken Jr. purchased the team in 2002 and moved them to Aberdeen. In 2007 a four team independent league, the NY State League, began play here, but only lasted about a month before folding.
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