New El Paso Ballpark, baseball park in El Paso, Texas, USA
Southwest University Park is a baseball stadium in downtown El Paso that opened in 2014 as home to the El Paso Chihuahuas, a minor league team. Built on a challenging site of less than 6 acres with slopes, the stadium holds around 9,500 people and features a modern design with brick, metal, and glass that reflects the city's industrial heritage.
Southwest University Park stands on the site of El Paso's former City Hall, demolished by implosion on April 14, 2013; former mayor Ray Salazar sued to stop the demolition but the case was dismissed. Ground was broken on May 30, 2013, before 300 attendees, and the ballpark opened on April 28, 2014, when the Chihuahuas lost 2-1 to the Fresno Grizzlies before a sellout crowd. The stadium cost $72 million.
The ballpark's name comes from Southwest University at El Paso, a for-profit technical school known until 2012 as Southwest Career College; the 20-year naming deal was signed on March 5, 2014. The design draws on the Union Depot and on downtown landmarks such as the Kress Building, and artworks refer to the city's baseball past. Fans voted it "Best View in the Minors" in 2018.
The stadium is accessible by car or on foot, with parking mostly located on the west side near Franklin Avenue, though lots fill up quickly on game days. The facility is fully accessible for all visitors and includes ramps and designated seating areas for people with mobility needs.
Southwest University Park was named best new ballpark of 2014 by Ballpark Digest, and in 2018 Minor League Baseball fans voted it "Best View in the Minors", ahead of parks in Altoona and the Quad Cities. The playing field sits at about 3,750 feet above sea level. The name honors Southwest University at El Paso, a for-profit virtual college known until 2012 as Southwest Career College, unrelated to the University of the Southwest in Hobbs, New Mexico.
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