top of page
STADIUM HISTORY
How a local baseball field became a stadium hosting summer collegiate baseball and community events.
The First Baseball Diamond is Built
In 1925, the City of Kalamazoo developed the land purchased along the Kalamazoo River into Riverfront Park. In 1929, thanks to a generous donation of $250, the first baseball field was built at Riverfront Park.
1949
Women's Professional Baseball Comes to Kalamazoo
In 1950, Riverfront Park became home to one of the nation's first women's professional baseball teams, the Kalamazoo Lassies of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
1958-1963
Sutherland Field
In 1967, the park was renamed Sutherland Field in honor of Mayor Louis W. Sutherland, who had been instrumental in the development of baseball in Kalamazoo.
1996-1998
Kalamazoo Kings Inaugural Season
In 2001, the park was cleaned up and re-opened as the home of the Kalamazoo Kings, who also played in the Frontier League. The following year, Annen Park was renamed Mayor's Riverfront Park to honor all of the mayors who had served Kalamazoo and helped to develop baseball in the city.
2001-2003
Kalamazoo Growlers Arrive
After multiple years of sitting empty when the Kalamazoo Kings disbanded, the City of Kalamazoo and the Northwoods League announced a new team, the Kalamazoo Growlers, would call Homer Stryker Field their new home.
1929
First Bleachers Installed
The first set of bleachers were built in 1949. The park could again become host of professional baseball in Kalamazoo.
1950
Lights and Grandstand Installed
The first stadium lights were installed in the spring of 1958. In 1963, the bleachers were replaced by grandstands, further modernizing the ball field at Riverfront Park.
1967
Kalamazoo Kodiaks
In 1995, Kalamazoo's City Commission approved the building of an improved sports complex at Riverfront Park. The complex, which included Sutherland Field was renamed Annen Park after Mayor Ed Annen Jr. Renovations to the park were completed in 1996, and the complex re-opened as the home of the Kalamazoo Kodiaks of the independent Frontier League. The team left Kalamazoo following the 1998 season.
2001
Homer Stryker Field & Renovations
In 2001, the Stryker family donated the funds to build a club house, front office building, and make improvements to the field. In turn, the field was renamed Homer Stryker Field in honor of Dr. Homer Stryker, founder of the Stryker corporation. In 2003, a new concession area was added along the third base line and a fan services and souvenir building was added along the first base concourse. A left field deck was added to allow a second picnic area available for rent.
2013
2018
Hockey Dasher Boards & Video Board Installed
The Northwoods League Foundation, the City of Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo Growlers partnered to install a one-of-a-kind accessible seating upgrade to Homer Stryker Field in April 2018.
The improvement incorporated hockey dasher boards as the new barrier and backstop for the area behind home plate, making it the first baseball stadium to have hockey dasher boards as a backstop.
This added 82 accessible seats, an improved view for the entire home plate section, and add new field level seats called The Dugout Club & The Backstop. The City of Kalamazoo and the Growlers also installed a brand new 20'x28' video board to elevate the entertainment and fan experience at games.
New Box Seating and Safety Netting Announced
In Spring 2026, the Growlers and the CIty of Kalamazoo came to terms on a new, long term lease extension through 2038. The City of Kalamazoo also announced that the ballpark’s previous bucket-style seating would be upgraded to traditional, green stadium seats. The newly installed Aura Stadium Chairs provided a more ergonomic design and exceptional durability. They featured rust-resistant, powder-coated aluminum stanchions built to ensure a long lifespan at the ballpark. In addition to improved seating, the City of Kalamazoo also approved and installed new foul ball netting. It will extend significantly beyond its previous location at the dugout edges, adding 178 feet of coverage down the first-base line and 260 feet down the right-field line.
FEB 2026
APR 2026
Honor Credit Union Stadium
On April 15, 2026, the Growlers and Honor Credit Union announced a long-term stadium naming rights partnership. This collaboration between the Growlers and Honor Credit Union aims to continue stadium improvements, attract new events outside of Growlers baseball, and give back to the Southwest Michigan community.
2015
Bell's 30th Anniversary Funvitational Becomes the First Festival Hosted at Homer Stryker Field
In 2013, the Kalamazoo Growlers and Bell's Brewery teamed up to host the Bell's Funvitational to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Kalamazoo staple. The event featured numerous tents on the field for beer sampling, live music, games, and a Ferris Wheel on the field. This was the first large-scale festival to be hosted at Homer Stryker Field, paving the way for numerous other festivals like Donut & Beer Fest, Taco & Tequila Fest, Mac & Cheese Fest, and more to be hosted at the Stadium
2014
Home Plate Club & Left Field Deck Renovations
The first major stadium improvement when the Growlers moved in was installing the Home Plate Club. Rows of bleacher seating behind Home Plate were removed to make way for half-moon tables to allow for better socializing at games. The four-top tables extend four rows up and are primarily booked by local businesses to entertain clients or employees at games. The Growlers also began renovations to the decks in both left and right field. Field level seating was built in both areas, with additional enhancements added in the years to follow.
bottom of page