Kenosha Kingfish: Baseball in a Historic Stadium

Major League Baseball has Wrigley Field, attracting fans as much for the old-time ballpark atmosphere as for the game itself, with its ivy covered brick walls and manual scoreboard. Likewise, summer collegiate Northwoods League baseball has Simmons Field, another historic ballpark, albeit on a much smaller scale. Simmons Field is home to the Kenosha Kingfish.

Kenosha Kingfish baseball at Simmons Field in Kenosha Wisconsin

In a time when the trend is to build new, large minor league stadiums, with some seating as many as 10,000, the Kenosha Kingfish owners held onto tradition. They renovated the existing Simmons Field instead, retaining the historic charm but adding many modern-day amenities.

Historic Simmons Field in Kenosha Wisconsin

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Simmons Field History

The Simmons Mattress Company originally built Simmons Field in 1920 for its factory baseball team, the Simmons Bedmakers. The grandstand burned down the same year and was rebuilt in 1930. Since then, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and minor league baseball teams have used the field.

Simmons Field Today

Among renovations made to Simmons Field are the addition of table seating—with table service—behind home plate. Or choose to sit in one of the of 2,097 recycled stadium seats from Oriole Park in Camden Yards. Kids enjoy a bounce house, sandbox and a Bobble Head Ring Toss game.Table seating at a Kenosha Kingfish baseball game in Simmons Field

Seats recycled from Oriole Park in Camden Yards, Simmons Field in Kenosha Wisconsin

Flyig Elvi Bounceland in the kids area at Simmons Field in Kenosha Wisconsin

Attending a Kenosha Kingfish Game

Like most minor league and collegiate-level baseball, Kenosha Kingfish games are family oriented. Besides the children’s area, kids and adults alike are entertained with between inning events that often include kids racing around the bases. During the game we attended, we were event treated to a race down the third-base line on a toilet!

Between inning entertainment during a Kenosha Kingfish gameThe team mascot, King Elvis the First, is a cross between a kingfish and Elvis Presley.

King Elvis the First, Kenosha Kingfish mascotOther entertainment includes the Dancing Elvi, who you may fist encounter as parking lot attendants.

Dancing Elvi at the Kenosha Kingfish game, Kenosha Wisconsin

Find special events listed on the Kenosha Kingfish web site, including fireworks nights.

fireworks at Simmons Field following a Kenosha Kingfish game

Concessions

Concessions include traditional baseball foods like hot dogs, hamburgers and beer. Since this is Wisconsin, of course, brats are on the menu, too. The night we attended, the menu special was brats with wild rice and mushrooms. Now that’s something you won’t find at most ballparks.

Concession stand at Simmons FieldKenosha Kingfish Season

The Kingfish season runs from the end of May to the first or second week in August. Check  the Kenosha Kingfish website for schedule and ticket information. Simmons Field is located at 7817 Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Accommodations

Check rates and reviews of Kenosha hotels on TripAdvisor

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Kenosha Kingfish

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Disclosure: The Kenosha Kingfish and the Kenosha Area Convention & Visitors Bureau hosted us at the game, but any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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