Editing Cheney Stadium

{{short description|Multipurpose stadium in Tacoma, Washington}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Cheney Stadium
| nickname = 
| image = Cheney Stadium Sunset.jpg
| image_size = 280px
| pushpin_map = Washington#USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within [[Washington (state)|Washington State]]##Location within the [[United States]]
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_label = Cheney Stadium
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| fullname = 
| former_names = 
| location = 2502 South Tyler Street<br>[[Tacoma, Washington]]<br>United States
| coordinates = {{coord|47|14|16.92|N|122|29|51.16|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground = January 2, 1960<ref name="orgicon"/>
| built = 1960
| opened = April 16, 1960<ref>{{cite news |title=About the First Day of Baseball at Cheney Stadium – April 16, 1960|first=John|last=McGrath|url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/10/1620291/news-brief-10cheneys2.html|newspaper=[[The News Tribune]]|location=Tacoma|date=April 10, 2011|access-date=February 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910152258/http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/10/1620291/news-brief-10cheneys2.html|archive-date=September 10, 2012}}</ref>
| renovated = 1992, 1998, 1999, 2011<ref name="proposal"/>
| expanded = 
| closed = 
| demolished = 
| owner = [[Pierce County, Washington|Pierce County]]
| operator = [[Tacoma Rainiers|Schlegel Sports Group]]
| surface = Grass
| construction_cost = $940,000<ref name="construction">{{cite book |title=Almanac of Architecture & Design 2006|last=Evans Yankopolus|first=Jennifer|year=2006|publisher=Greenway Communications LLC.|location=Atlanta|isbn=0-9755654-2-7}}</ref><br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|940000|1960}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})<br>$29–$30 million (renovations)<ref name="proposal"/><ref name="new"/>
| suites = 16<ref name="proposal"/>
| architect = E.L. Mills & Associates<ref name="construction"/><br>[[Populous (company)|Populous]] (2011 renovation)
| project_manager = 
| structural engineer = Anderson Birkeland & Anderson<ref name="orgicon">{{cite web|title=Tacoma-Pierce County Buildings Index - Image Display|url=http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1up.asp?n=27303|publisher=Tacoma Public Library|access-date=August 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054040/http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1up.asp?n=27303|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| services engineer = 
| general_contractor = Earley Construction Co.<ref name="orgicon"/><br>[[M.A. Mortenson Company|Mortenson Construction]] (2011 renovation)
| main_contractors = 
| seating_capacity = 6,500<ref>{{cite web |title=Cheney Stadium|first=Team|last=Website|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-41073112|access-date=February 23, 2016}}</ref>
| dimensions = '''Left field:''' {{convert|325|ft|m|abbr=on}}<br>'''Center field:''' {{convert|425|ft|m|abbr=on}}<br>'''Right field:''' {{convert|325|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| tenants = [[Tacoma Rainiers]] ([[Pacific Coast League|PCL]]/[[Triple-A West|AAAW]]), 1960–present<ref name="proposal"/><br>[[Tacoma Tides]] ([[American Soccer League (1933–1983)|ASL]]), 1976<ref>{{cite web |title=Legends 1976|publisher=Washington State Legends of Soccer|url=https://history.wasoccerlegends.org/year/1976}}</ref><br>
[[Tacoma Defiance]] ([[USL Championship|USLC]]/[[MLS Next Pro]]), 2018–2022<br>[[OL Reign]] ([[National Women's Soccer League|NWSL]]), 2019–2021
}}

'''Cheney Stadium''' is a [[multi-purpose stadium]] located in [[Tacoma, Washington]], United States. It is primarily used for [[baseball]] and is home to the [[Tacoma Rainiers]] of the minor league [[Pacific Coast League]]. The stadium also hosted professional [[soccer]] teams, including the [[Tacoma Defiance]] of the [[USL Championship]] until 2022 and [[OL Reign]] of the [[National Women's Soccer League]] until 2021. Cheney Stadium opened in 1960 and has a capacity of 6,500 seats. It is next to [[Henry Foss High School]], and the stadium has an agreement with the school to use the school parking lot for parking.

==History==
Cheney Stadium is named for [[Ben Cheney]], a local businessman who worked to bring minor league baseball to [[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] and also was put in control of the project.  Cheney Stadium was constructed in 42 working days after the [[San Francisco Giants]] had committed to moving their Triple-A affiliate from Phoenix if the city could open the stadium for the beginning of the 1960 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Memories Fade, but Ben Cheney Lives on Through Stadium|first=Erik|last=Lacitis|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20050419/cheney19m/memories-fade-but-ben-cheney-lives-on-through-stadium|newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=April 19, 2005|access-date=September 13, 2008}}</ref>  Construction included light towers and wooden grandstand seats from [[Seals Stadium]] in San Francisco.  Several of the wooden grandstand seats are still in place today.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The demolished first home of the SF Giants sold its seats to a Tacoma ballpark in 1959, and they're still there |url=https://www.sfgate.com/giants/amp/Seals-Stadium-seats-at-Tacoma-ballpark-17210032.php |access-date=June 5, 2022}}</ref>

Cheney Stadium has been home to [[Pacific Coast League]] baseball continuously since 1960, in the form of seven teams: the Tacoma Giants (1960–65), Cubs (1966–71), Twins (1972–77), Yankees (1978), Tugs (1979), Tigers  (A's) (1980–94), and the Rainiers (Mariners) (1995–present).

Notable players who played in Cheney Stadium include [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] inductees [[Juan Marichal]], [[Gaylord Perry]], [[Reggie Jackson]] and [[Ken Griffey Jr.]], as well as [[Tom Kelly (baseball)|Tom Kelly]], [[Jose Canseco]], [[Mark McGwire]], [[Jason Giambi]], [[Félix Hernández]], [[Cliff Lee]] and [[Alex Rodriguez]].

The stadium hosted the baseball competition of the [[1990 Goodwill Games]]<ref name=WSdot>{{cite web |title=Traffic Impacts During the Goodwill Games|url=http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/232.1.pdf|publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation|date=May 1991|access-date=February 20, 2014}}</ref> and hosted the 30th annual [[Triple-A All-Star Game]] on July 12, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=2017 TRIPLE-A ALL-STAR GAME|url=http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20160607&content_id=182555572&fext=.jsp&sid=t529&vkey=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618140329/http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20160607&content_id=182555572&fext=.jsp&sid=t529&vkey=|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 18, 2016|website=[[Minor League Baseball]]|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=30 January 2017}}</ref>

It was the [[Seattle Mariners]]' alternate training site in 2020 when the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] forced the cancellation of the [[Minor League Baseball]] campaign and the abbreviation of the [[2020 Major League Baseball season|Major League Baseball season]].<ref>[https://www.milb.com/news/roundup-major-league-alternate-training-sites Dykstra, Sam. "Roundup: Major League alternate training sites," Minor League Baseball, Thursday, July 16, 2020.] Retrieved August 28, 2020</ref> The Mariners had previously considered Cheney Stadium for use during the [[1994 Seattle Mariners season|1994 season]] after the [[Kingdome]] was closed for emergency repairs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Borst |first=Don |date=July 26, 1994 |title=Mariners might dock in Tacoma |page=A1 |work=The News Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune-mariners-might-dock-in/137362314/ |accessdate=December 24, 2023}}</ref>

===2011 renovation===
On November 11, 2009, it was announced the City of Tacoma was considering a $30 million renovation to Cheney Stadium. Early renovation plans included a new grandstand superstructure, roof and concourse, as well as new concession stands, seats, luxury suites and a restaurant.<ref name="new">{{cite news|title=Tacoma Board to Consider Face-Lift for Cheney Stadium|first=Lewis|last=Kamb|url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/rainiers/story/947034.html|newspaper=[[The News Tribune]]|location=Tacoma|date=November 11, 2009|access-date=November 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102205743/http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/rainiers/story/947034.html|archive-date=January 2, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The proposal drew little controversy from taxpayers.<ref>{{cite news|title=There Are Good Reasons Public Renovation Deal for Cheney Drew so Little Protest|first=Peter|last=Callaghan|url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/callaghan/story/960669.html|newspaper=[[The News Tribune]]|location=Tacoma|date=November 19, 2009|access-date=November 25, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On November 19, 2009, the Tacoma Rainiers renewed their lease with the City of Tacoma to keep playing at Cheney Stadium for 32 years.<ref name="rainiers">{{cite news|title=30-Year Deal Keeps Rainiers at Cheney Stadium|first=Lewis|last=Kamb|url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/959874.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120418223746/http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/959874.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 18, 2012|newspaper=[[The News Tribune]]|location=Tacoma|date=November 19, 2009|access-date=November 25, 2009}}</ref> The deal relied on the renovation proposal getting passed.<ref name="rainiers"/> The proposal, now said to be $28 million in cost, was approved on November 25, 2009.<ref name="proposal">{{cite news|title=Tacoma Goes to Bat for Ballpark|first=Lewis|last=Kamb|url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/968290.html|newspaper=[[The News Tribune]]|location=Tacoma|date=November 19, 2009|access-date=November 25, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The approval means the Rainiers will continue to play in Tacoma until at least 2041, and renovations were completed before the 2011 season.<ref name="proposal"/> The renovations included basic repairs, 16 luxury suites, a kids' "play area", more restrooms and concession stands, and a new restaurant.<ref name="proposal"/>

==Soccer==

The reserve team of [[Seattle Sounders FC]] of [[Major League Soccer]], known at the time as Seattle Sounders FC 2, played in Cheney Stadium from 2018 to 2021. The team rebranded as the [[Tacoma Defiance]] in 2019, but maintained the Sounders affiliation. The club, along with the [[OL Reign]], then known as Reign FC, of the [[National Women's Soccer League]] originally planned to build their own [[soccer-specific stadium]] in a nearby parking lot, with assistance from the Rainiers, and had aimed to open the new stadium in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Geoff |date=January 30, 2019 |title=Reign FC announces immediate move to Tacoma, dropping Seattle from name |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/reign/seattle-reign-womens-soccer-team-announces-immediate-move-to-tacoma/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hammond |first=Andrew |date=January 30, 2019 |title=Seattle Reign is moving its 2019 games to Cheney Stadium in Tacoma; and S2 becomes Tacoma Defiance |url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/soccer/article225264695.html |work=The News Tribune |access-date=January 30, 2019}}</ref> After the 2021 season, Major League Baseball tightened restrictions on alternate uses of their fields and both teams found new locations.<ref>of the [[National Women's Soccer League]]</ref> Reign moved their home matches to [[Lumen Field]] beginning with the 2022 season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=December 19, 2021 |title=OL Reign's departure to Seattle leaves Defiance's future in Tacoma a question mark |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/ol-reigns-departure-to-seattle-leaves-defiances-future-in-tacoma-a-question-mark/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=May 20, 2023}}</ref> The Tacoma Defiance currently play at Starfire Stadium.

The Sounders played one [[U.S. Open Cup]] match at Cheney Stadium on June 12, 2019, which ended as a 2–1 loss to the [[Portland Timbers]]. 6,280 spectators attended the match.<ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=June 12, 2019 |title=Portland stymies short-handed Sounders 2-1 in U.S. Open Cup play |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/portland-stymies-short-handed-sounders-2-1-in-u-s-open-cup-play/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=May 20, 2023}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Cheney Stadium outfield.jpg|{{center|Outfield and scoreboard}}
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-41073112 Cheney Stadium Home Page]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140314181413/http://tacomasports.org/venues/cheney_stadium.php Cheney Stadium - Tacoma Sports]}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040812104453/http://www.minorleagueballparks.com/chen_wa.html Cheney Stadium on MinorLeagueBallparks.com]
* [http://www.littleballparks.com/Stadium/2010/Tacoma/Tacoma.htm Ben Cheney Stadium Views - ''Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218015514/http://www.littleballparks.com/Stadium/2010/Tacoma/Tacoma.htm |date=2020-02-18 }}

{{PCL Ballparks}}
{{USL Championship venues}}
{{Seattle Reign FC}}
{{Tacoma Defiance}}
{{National Women's Soccer League stadiums}}

[[Category:Minor league baseball venues]]
[[Category:Seattle Reign FC]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Tacoma, Washington]]
[[Category:1960 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Tacoma, Washington]]
[[Category:National Women's Soccer League stadiums]]
[[Category:Pacific Coast League ballparks]]
[[Category:Soccer venues in Washington (state)]]