UPDATE 2019:
BUIES CREEK ASTROS ARE NOW THE FAYETYTEVILLE WOODPECKERS

JIM PERRY STADIUM
Buies Creek, North Carolina

OUR RATING: 
39 / 50

HOME OF THE:
BUIES CREEK ASTROS

MLB AFFILIATE:
HOUSTON ASTROS

BUILT: 2011-12
CAPACITY: 1,000
CLASS: Advanced-A
LEAGUE: Carolina League

Review from June 13, 2018​
Buies Creek Astros vs. Carolina Mudcats
The Champs are Here!
By: Matthew Preslar

The champs are here! Beginning in the 2017 season, the Astros were awarded an exapansion team in the Carolina League. While the permanent home of this franchise will be in Fayetteville, NC, this city couldn’t have a worthy stadium built until 2019. Therefore, a temporary home was needed. The solution was nearby Campbell University’s Jim Perry Stadium.

As I researched this facility, I learned it was named after Campbell grad and 1970 A.L. Cy Young winner, Jim Perry. That’s a fun fact for any baseball fan. I also learned about the upgrades done to this facility to temporarily house an Advanced A ball franchise and how that benefits the Division I Camels baseball program. One benefit was expanded seating which includes a CLUB area along the third base side. The most notable improvement to the playing field is that it was changed to an ENTIRELY synthetic surface. The only traditional dirt on the diamond is the pitching mound. Synthetic fields are rare, especially in the South. More turf grass is used up north where weather conditions aren’t suitable for growing grass, especially early in the calendar year. This will make field maintenance much easier for years to come as the Astros leave the park back entirely in the hands of Campbell University.

The game was a very low key affair, nothing like an average game one could attend at this level in another city. However, we expected as such with the game being on a college campus after the students have left for summer. The all-turf playing field is different. The quiet, small-scale stadium is different.  As described below, we decided to give bonus points to the Astros organization. The franchise is OWNED by the Houston Astros and they have signed a 30 YEAR lease agreement with the city of Fayetteville. This means they have made an extremely long term investment in the city as well as the state of North Carolina. Having this great franchise choose to make North Carolina home means a great deal in terms of economic development. For us, Fayetteville is actually a closer drive to home than Campbell University. We can’t wait to see the new stadium and the Astros presentation starting next year.

Special consideration: +2 points 
With respect to the fact that this location is not a permanent stadium, we are going to give the Buies Creek Astros bonus points due to only being a 2-year partnership with Campbell University... we cannot wait to see the permanent presentation next year in Fayetteville, NC!

TICKET VALUE  8/10

  • $7 GA, no reserved seats except for season ticker holders in the section behind home plate.
  • First-come, first-serve seats; opportunity to sit very close if you arrive soon enough
  • Half seats are bleachers, some actual seats, no cup holders
  • Nets covering every seat - even on TOP of section behind the plate / in front of press box

CONCESSIONS  8/10

  • One concession stand with basic snacks (chips, candy, popcorn $2-3) and a few sandwiches (chicken, bbq., hotdog $4ea)
  • Minimal signage at concession stand advertising options
  • $2 soda in souvenir cup with $1 refills
  • No beer or specialty stands
  • No lines at concession stands. (Very small crowd on a Wed night game)

FAMILY FRIENDLINESS  4/5

  • Inexpensive tickets, snacks and drinks encourage making the game a family outing at a reasonable price
  • ​Open lawn area near concession stand & visitors bullpen for kids to run around and catch foul balls
  • Kids coming and going through main gate / into parking lot searching for foul balls and playing catch
  • No between-inning contests or free give-a-ways
  • No designated play area or structured kids activities

ATMOSPHERE  5/10

  • Low attendance (we attended a Wed night game)
  • Very quiet during the game. Felt like we were at a library or watching a private practice. Game was moved from 7pm to 6pm, which may have impacted the low attendance and less engaged crowd.
  • So quiet you could hear the ball crack off the bat
  • Music on speakers between innings
  • Plenty of employees/ ushers around during game, but no one on field or with microphone engaging the crowd
  • No between-inning contests, activities or free give-a-ways
  • Kids running along bleachers in front of seats throughout the game - was very loud and distracting
  • 7th inning stretch "take me out to the ballgame" on speaker with words on video board, but no one singing along
  • Decent amount of merchandise (BC & Astros) - team store in Campbell University trailer / cart by field
  • First Aid was advertised on speaker as "come to the merchandise cart"
  • No programs, but did provide a full-color brochure / scorecard branded with Buies Creek Astros
  • 1 set of restrooms by concession stand / ticket booth - clean and well-stocked​

CHARACTER  8/10

  • All-turf playing field - completely unique to anything else we have seen, and very unusual to have in the south
  • Team's 2nd year using the facilities of Campbell University - Astros organization scheduled to open a new ballpark for this advanced-A team in nearby Fayetteville, NC next year
  • BE Uniforms identical to Houston Astros
  • Most branding (team "store" cart, concession stand, signage on field, etc) for Campbell University Camels
  • Flag on 3rd base side of stadium with "BC Astros" name and logo
  • ​Field located on Campbell University campus - very clean, quiet and peaceful surrounding area

PARKING  4/5

  • Paved lot, on college campus - no dust and a very short walk to the entrance!
  • Completely FREE - No charge for parking
  • Foul balls did come into lot and hit some cars parked close to field - be careful, how close you park!

TICKET VALUE
(10 points)

• Ticket Prices
​• View from Seat

​CONCESSIONS
​(10 points)

• Variety, Quality & Price of Food
• Variety of Drinks / Souvenir Cups
• Length of Lines at Concession Stands

​FAMILY FRIENDLINESS
​(5 points)

• Play Areas
• In-Between Inning Activities & Contests
• ​Mascot
• Family Bathrooms

​ATMOSPHERE
​(10 points)

• Local Experience
• Sound-Effects & Music
• Programs
• ​Restrooms

​CHARACTER
​(10 points)

• Home Team Uniforms & Colors
• Architecture of Stadium
• History of Stadium
​• Tributes to MLB Affiliate / Local Players
• Location of Stadium & Surrounding Scenery

​PARKING
(5 points)

• Price for Parking
• ​Size, Quality & Location of Lot