Bernie Robbins Stadium
Encyclopedia
Bernie Robbins Stadium is a 5,500-seat baseball-only stadium in Atlantic City, New Jersey
that opened in 1998. It was built as the home of the Atlantic City Surf
baseball team, which discontinued operations prior to the 2009 season. College teams have also used the stadium. The Stadium has been neglected for several years and is starting to show it.
The stadium is located on Albany Avenue, near the eastern terminus of U.S. Routes 40
and 322
and several blocks inland from the famous Boardwalk and casino
strip. The casinos are clearly visible from the seating areas and create a particularly attractive view at night.
Seating is in two primary sections, split by a "cross aisle". Luxury boxes are also available above the main seating bowl.
, a closed municipal airport. When the park first opened, the seating sections were named for the various properties on the U.S. version of the Monopoly
board, which took its names from the streets of Atlantic City and surrounding towns. However, saying "I'm sitting in Pacific Avenue" was not sufficiently descriptive, and so the seating sections were assigned numbers, as at most other stadiums. In 2006, the Bernie Robbins jewelry chain purchased the naming rights.
Bernie Robbins Stadium has played host to the Atlantic League All-Star Game in 1998 and 2005 as well as to various amateur baseball events and concerts. In October 2006, it was the venue for Atlantic regional qualifying
for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
. In May 2008, WCAU-TV sports director and former NFL player Vai Sikahema
accepted an open challenge from former MLB player Jose Canseco
to fight him in a celebrity boxing match for $5,000. Canseco claims to have earned black belts in Kung Fu, Taekwondo
, and Muay Thai
, while Sikahema, who grew up wanting to be a professional boxer, had once fought in a National Golden Gloves Championship that was eventually won by Sugar Ray Leonard
. The fight, dubbed the "War At The Shore", took place on July 12, 2008, and was hosted by Philadelphia-native adult film personality Steven Sheaffer. Sikahema won by knockout in the first round.
An August 2009 report in the Press of Atlantic City reported on the stadium's deteriorating condition due to lack of maintenance and vandalism. However, the abandoned stadium received considerable restoration in 2011 to prepare for an upcoming three day musical festival headlined by the Dave Matthews Band
to be held on Bader Field. Most of the improvements focused on repairing the facility's fire-suppression system and plumbing, as well as rejuvenating the field itself. The stadium would be used for VIP seating for special ticket holders for the festival, as well as the site for an upcoming "Summer Fest" concert featurimg rapper Rick Ross
.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
that opened in 1998. It was built as the home of the Atlantic City Surf
Atlantic City Surf
The Atlantic City Surf were a professional baseball team based in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Surf was most recently a member of the Can-Am League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
baseball team, which discontinued operations prior to the 2009 season. College teams have also used the stadium. The Stadium has been neglected for several years and is starting to show it.
The stadium is located on Albany Avenue, near the eastern terminus of U.S. Routes 40
U.S. Route 40 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 40 is a U.S. highway running from Park City, Utah east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. The easternmost segment of the route runs through the southern part of New Jersey between the Delaware Memorial Bridge over the Delaware River in Pennsville Township, Salem County, where it continues...
and 322
U.S. Route 322 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 322 is a U.S. highway running from Cleveland, Ohio east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. The easternmost segment of the route in New Jersey runs from the Commodore Barry Bridge over the Delaware River in Logan Township, Glocuester County, where it continues into Chester, Pennsylvania,...
and several blocks inland from the famous Boardwalk and casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
strip. The casinos are clearly visible from the seating areas and create a particularly attractive view at night.
Seating is in two primary sections, split by a "cross aisle". Luxury boxes are also available above the main seating bowl.
History
The stadium, originally known as The Sandcastle, opened in 1998 on a parcel located on the sprawling Bader FieldBader Field
Bader Field , also known as Atlantic City Municipal Airport, was a city-owned public-use general aviation airport located in west of Atlantic City, in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. It was approximately one mile from the terminus of U.S. Route 40 and U.S. Route 322. Bader Field...
, a closed municipal airport. When the park first opened, the seating sections were named for the various properties on the U.S. version of the Monopoly
Monopoly (game)
Marvin Gardens, the leading yellow property on the board shown, is actually a misspelling of the original location name, Marven Gardens. The misspelling was said to be introduced by Charles Todd and passed on when his home-made Monopoly board was copied by Charles Darrow and thence to Parker...
board, which took its names from the streets of Atlantic City and surrounding towns. However, saying "I'm sitting in Pacific Avenue" was not sufficiently descriptive, and so the seating sections were assigned numbers, as at most other stadiums. In 2006, the Bernie Robbins jewelry chain purchased the naming rights.
Bernie Robbins Stadium has played host to the Atlantic League All-Star Game in 1998 and 2005 as well as to various amateur baseball events and concerts. In October 2006, it was the venue for Atlantic regional qualifying
2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
There were ten places available in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, held in Australia.-Qualified teams:Pacific6 teams qualified for the World Cup. 3 qualified automatically, with the top 2 in the Pacific qualifying group also reaching the finals. Samoa finished third in the Pacific qualifying group...
for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
. In May 2008, WCAU-TV sports director and former NFL player Vai Sikahema
Vai Sikahema
Vai S. Sikahema is a Tongan former American football player. The first Tongan ever to play in the National Football League , he played running back and kickoff returner in the league for eight seasons, from 1986 to 1993. He played college football for the Brigham Young University Cougars, and was...
accepted an open challenge from former MLB player Jose Canseco
José Canseco
José Canseco Capas, Jr. is a Cuban-American professional baseball manager, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Yuma Scorpions of the North American League and former Major League Baseball player. He is the identical twin brother of former major league player and current teammate Ozzie Canseco...
to fight him in a celebrity boxing match for $5,000. Canseco claims to have earned black belts in Kung Fu, Taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
, and Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
, while Sikahema, who grew up wanting to be a professional boxer, had once fought in a National Golden Gloves Championship that was eventually won by Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
. The fight, dubbed the "War At The Shore", took place on July 12, 2008, and was hosted by Philadelphia-native adult film personality Steven Sheaffer. Sikahema won by knockout in the first round.
An August 2009 report in the Press of Atlantic City reported on the stadium's deteriorating condition due to lack of maintenance and vandalism. However, the abandoned stadium received considerable restoration in 2011 to prepare for an upcoming three day musical festival headlined by the Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
to be held on Bader Field. Most of the improvements focused on repairing the facility's fire-suppression system and plumbing, as well as rejuvenating the field itself. The stadium would be used for VIP seating for special ticket holders for the festival, as well as the site for an upcoming "Summer Fest" concert featurimg rapper Rick Ross
Rick Ross
Rick, Ricky or Richard Ross may also refer to:* Rick Ross , American rapper* Richard J. Ross, a Massachusetts State Senator* Richard Ross , an American photographer...
.