Zephyr Field - History

History

In addition to being the home of the Zephyrs, the stadium also hosts select games of the Tulane University Green Wave baseball program. The team plays annual games against cross-town rival, the University of New Orleans Privateers, and arch-rival, Louisiana State University Tigers, at the ballpark. During the 2006 and 2007 baseball seasons, Zephyr Field was the primary home of the Green Wave, as Tulane's on-campus facility, Greer Field at Turchin Stadium, was undergoing renovations. The renovations were scheduled to be completed in time for the 2006 season, but Hurricane Katrina significantly damaged Turchin Stadium, forcing a delay in the project. In the hurricane's aftermath, Zephyr Field was utilized by the Louisiana Army National Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a rescue facility. In 2006, the state of Louisiana approved $21 million to recover Zephyr Field from the effects of Katrina. Additional funds from the bill covered recovery costs for the New Orleans Saints' training facility, located behind the ballpark, and the New Orleans Arena.

On July 3, 2003, the largest crowd in Zephyr Field history for a Zephyrs game, 11,925, watches the Zephyrs lose 1 to 0 to the Nashville Sounds

Zephyr Field is featured in several scenes in the 2004 movie Mr. 3000, and one from the 2006 movie called Failure to Launch. Also, part of an episode of Spike TV's Pros vs Joes was also filmed at the ballpark.

A new playing surface was installed at Zephyr Field prior to the 2008 season. Its new dimensions are 330 feet (100 m) from home plate to left and right fields, and 400 feet (120 m) to center. The ballpark traditionally allows the fewest home runs in the Pacific Coast League. Zephyr Field's grass berm seating area, "the Levee", is located beyond center field and is the highest point in Metairie.

As a soccer venue, Zephyr Field served as home of the New Orleans Storm soccer team in the late 1990s and hosted the semi-final rounds of the 1998 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.