Alumni Field, the quaint former home of the Butte Copper Kings (rookie; Pioneer League), is coming down, as owner Montana Tech decides to upgrade the adjoining football field with artificial turf.
It really wasn’t much of a ballpark, even by rookie-ball standards: a small grandstand and even smaller concession stand/gift shop, some kids’ play features seemingly rescued — or liberated — from a McDonald’s, and a outfield fence backed by a football field leading to a steep hill and Montana Tech. Interestingly, Alumni Field has looked better in recent years than ever before, with some new covered group and party areas built by the school and the American Legion Butte Miners.
But it’s gone down, as Montana Tech officials decided to install artificial turf on the football field, cutting into the infield. It’s not exactly the most beloved of old ballparks, but locals will likely remember it more as the home of the Miners than as home of the Copper Kings, the ill-fated minor-league team where then-owners Mike Veeck and Bill Murray once had an Opening Day fireworks extravaganza snowed out.
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