 | |
 The entrance of Ripken Stadium | |
 Interactive map of Ripken Stadium | |
Full name | IBEW 24 Union Field at Ripken Stadium |
|---|---|
Former names | Ripken Stadium (2002–2014) Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium (2015–2024) Ripken Stadium (2025) |
| Address | 873 Long Drive Aberdeen, Maryland 21001 |
| Coordinates | 39°31′51″N 76°11′10″W / 39.530873°N 76.185985°W / 39.530873; -76.185985 |
| Owner | City of Aberdeen |
| Operator | Maryland Stadium Authority |
| Capacity | 6,300[1] |
| Surface | Artificial Turf |
Field size | Left Field: 310 ft (94 m) Center Field: 400 ft (122 m) Right Field: 310 ft (94 m) |
| Construction | |
| Groundbreaking | October 19, 2000[2] |
| Opened | June 18, 2002[3] |
Cost | $18 million[4] ($32.2 million in 2025 dollars[5]) |
| Architect | Design Exchange Architects Inc. Ripken Design |
Project manager | Heery International[6] |
General contractor | Baltimore Contractors LLC[3] |
| Tenants | |
| Aberdeen IronBirds (NYPL/South Atlantic League/MLB Draft League) 2002–present | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Ripken Stadium (in full, IBEW 24 Union Field at Ripken Stadium) is the home of the Aberdeen IronBirds, a summer collegiate baseball team in the MLB Draft League. The stadium is located in Aberdeen, Maryland. The 6,300-seat Ripken Stadium held its first game on June 18, 2002. As of 2011 the team had sold out every home game at Ripken Stadium since it began playing there in 2002.[7][1]
The stadium is part of Cal Ripken Jr.'s Aberdeen Complex in his hometown of Aberdeen, Maryland, located just off Interstate 95 at Maryland Route 22. Ripken Stadium is only 2.9 miles off the East Coast Greenway. The complex also includes several smaller fields for local youth sports leagues, as well as an adjacent Marriott hotel. The stadium is the closest structure of the complex to the highway, with the right field fence and scoreboard visible from it. The stadium hosts soccer matches as well.
The expansive parking lot of Ripken Stadium is frequently used as a venue for SCCA autocross racing for many racers on the east coast.
In August 2025, it was announced that the Frederick Keys would replace the IronBirds as the Baltimore Orioles' High-A affiliate, with the IronBirds moving to the MLB Draft League.[8]
Naming rights
The ballpark was initially named Ripken Stadium. Leidos became the naming rights sponsor in 2015.[9] Their deal ended before the 2025 season and the name reverted to Ripken Stadium again. It was confirmed in March 2026 that the team was seeking a new naming rights sponsor.[10] In June 2026, the local branch of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers bought the naming rights, renaming the stadium to IBEW 24 Union Field at Ripken Stadium.[11] Neither the cost nor the length of the agreement was announced.[12]
Features
The stadium features a three-tiered cafe behind home plate, available for patrons who want to have dinner and drinks during a game. The upper level has a press box behind home plate, 256 club seats and six skyboxes. Ripken Stadium was one of the first short-season Single-A ballparks to have a fully enclosed club level and skyboxes.[6] A new synthetic turf playing surface and LED sports lighting were installed prior to the 2021 regular season.[13]
Notable events
In 2009, The Maryland Redbirds, of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, (the CRSCBL), played all weekday games and one weekend doubleheader at the stadium. The CRSCBL previously used the stadium for the annual all-star game in 2005 and 2007. The stadium also hosted the inaugural Ripken Cup collegiate baseball invitational between University of Maryland and Towson University on April 15, 2014, and May 7, 2014.[14] The 2016 Big East Conference baseball tournament was held in Aberdeen May 26–29.
References
- "Harford to Play Pair of April Baseball Games at Ripken Stadium". Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference. April 15, 2011. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
The 6,300 capacity stadium is one of two stadiums in the history of baseball to sell out every home game in franchise history.
- "Groundbreaking Set for Aberdeen Stadium". The Baltimore Sun. October 19, 2000. ProQuest 406468178. Archived from the original on June 10, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- Broughton, David (June 17, 2002). "Facility Opening: Ripken Stadium". SportsBusiness Journal. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- "The Error in Aberdeen". The Baltimore Sun. December 16, 2007. ProQuest 406182325. Archived from the original on April 9, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- Gunts, Edward (June 16, 2002). "Only the Players Are Minor-League". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 406529107. Archived from the original on June 10, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- "IronBirds Close Out Season With One Last Walk-Off Win". Minor League Baseball. September 5, 2010. Archived from the original on April 9, 2026. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
The IronBirds front office staff would like to send out a big "thank you" to the fans for making 2010 another sell-out season.
- Foster, Jason (August 1, 2025). "Frederick Keys to return to Minor League Baseball as Orioles' High-A affiliate in 2026". MLB.com. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
- "Ripken and Leidos Announce Naming Rights". MiLB.com. March 31, 2015. Archived from the original on April 9, 2026. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
- Lyons, Taylor (March 23, 2026). "Aberdeen IronBirds seeking naming rights sponsor for Ripken Stadium". The Baltimore Sun. ProQuest 3320746825. Archived from the original on March 23, 2026. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
- Danley-Greiner, Kristin (June 4, 2026). "IronBirds Teams Up With IBEW Local 24 For Stadium Naming Rights". Bel Air, MD Patch.
- Lyons, Taylor (June 3, 2026). "Aberdeen IronBirds secure new naming rights sponsor for Ripken Stadium". The Aegis. Harford County, Maryland. Archived from the original on June 3, 2026. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
- Melewski, Steve (April 30, 2021). "The value of pitching inside and Aberdeen's new playing surface". Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- "Ripken Stadium to Host Inaugural Ripken Cup". The Baltimore Sun. February 18, 2014. ProQuest 1499621247. Archived from the original on April 9, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2014.