Dickey-Stephens Ballpark

North Little Rock, AK
Construction Cost: $33 million
Area / Square Feet: 5,300 (fixed), 1,800 (lawn)
Occupancy Date: April 2007

The design of Dickey-Stephens Ballpark is based on central Arkansas’ long history as a railroad center. The inspiration for the home to Minor League Baseball’s Arkansas Travelers came from the original design of the Little Rock Union Station, which was gutted by fi re in 1920. The exterior facade incorporates brick and manufactured stone in a fashion similar to the original station and helps the stadium share the community’s history, while gable-roofed and multistoried arched entries with exposed steel trusses are reminiscent of early-1900s train stations.

The ballpark is laid out with three entry points located at home plate, first base and third base. A clock tower emphasizes the home plate entry and is the stadium’s focal point. The interior design is an extension of the exterior and continues to play off the train station theme. Interior colors complement the exterior brick and stone, and lighting and signage were chosen to reinforce thematic elements.

Because of the stadium’s close proximity to the Arkansas River, subterranean water had to be displaced and maintained. This was solved with a large drainage system built underneath and around the stadium.