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Address/Directions:Lindborg-Cregg Field is about as far west as you can
get in Missoula without falling off the map. From Reserve Street -- a major
thoroughfare on the western side of town, accessible from an exit on I-90 --
look for Spurgin Road and head west. There's no marker on Spurgin Road to
indicate that there's a baseball stadium down the road; instead, there's a
marker indicating the presence of Montana state agencies. Stay on Spurgin Road
for one mile and hang a left on Tower Rd. The stadium is a block up, on the
left. The team's office address is 137 E. Main Street, Missoula, MT 59802.
Phone: 406-543-3300.
Web: www.missoulaosprey.com
Online ticket sales? Yes.
Online broadcasts?
Capacity: 2,200.
Year Built: 1999.
Dimensions: 340L, 410C, 340R.
Last Visited: Aug. 23, 1999.
League/class: Pioneer League, Advanced Rookie.
Affiliation: Arizona Diamondbacks.
Lindborg-Cregg is a glorified American Legion field, expanded to temporarily
house the Osprey until a new baseball stadium can be built in downtown
Missoula. Don't be swayed by the 1999 construction date for Lindborg-Cregg --
it may be the date when the bleachers were expanded and concession stands
constructed in anticipation for the Osprey starting operations in 1999, but
this is basically an older Legion field pressed into service.
However, Lindborg-Cregg perfectly serves the needs of Missoula residents
lobbying for a new downtown stadium: it's just good enough to show what a great
minor-league experience can be, but just bad enough to make fans lust for a
better stadium. Basically, everything in Lindborg-Cregg is either jury-rigged
or temporary -- the main concession stand is small, most concessions are sold
out of portable stands, and the players must dress in temporary trailers.
Considering the rather shabby nature of Lindborg-Cregg, the Osprey are rather
bold in charging the most expensive prices for tickets in the Pioneer League, a
testament to the pent-up demand for minor-league baseball in Missoula. (The
Missoula Timberjacks were in the Class C Pioneer League in 1956 to 1960 as a
farm team of the Washington Senators; notables from those teams include manager
Jack McKeon, pitcher Jim Kaat and outfielder Sandy Valdespino.) There is a
limited selection of $9 seats behind home plate and along each line, but these
are occupied mainly by season-ticket owners. Theater-style seats in the main
grandstand cost $7, while reserved bench seats in back of each base costs $6.
(Bench seating is a euphemism for seating with no backs, a small step
above pure bleacher seats.) Two small bleacher sections far down the
first-base line cost $3.75 for adults and $2.75 for children.
We'll keep tabs on the progress of a downtown stadium, the majority of which
will be funded by volunteer contributions. When this was written, the city was
in negotiations to purchase a former industrial site by the city's riverfront
and downtown.
There are a series of concession stands in back of the grandstand and down the
first-base line. The hot dogs -- Ball Park Franks -- cost $1.50 and were
decent, and as a bonus both sauerkraut and relish were available. Other stands
sold Baskin-Robbins ice cream, Nami's Shaved Ice, Pizza Hut personal-pan
pizzas, and Taco John's Mexican fast food. Out of these the most unique
offering came in the shaved-ice stand, where huckleberry-flavored shaved ice
was available. For those of you who have never spent any time in Montana: a
huckleberry is a small cousin of the blueberry, and virtually every tourist
attraction in the state sells huckleberry jam, huckleberry jelly, huckleberry
syrup, huckleberry taffy, and huckleberry candies.
The beer selections are surprising limited to commercial swill: Bud, Bud Light,
MGD, and Coors. Considering that Missoula is home to Bayern Brewery, a quality
brewer of microbrewed beers (which, incidentally, are sold at Alumni Field in
Butte), this lack of local support is sad.
There's no smoking in the grandstand or in the concession area. It's limited to
a grassy area behind the Osprey bullpen.
There's no playground area, and none of the between-inning promotions will
entice too many kids.
Yes, we know that baseball is ultimately a business, but charging for parking
on the edge of an open field seems obscene. The limited paved parking costs $2,
but there's free parking in an open unpaved area adjacent to the stadium. In
addition, there's free parking on Tower.
Missoula is a college town and definitely yuppified. This isn't a bad thing, as
downtown Missoula is a happening place, full of coffeeshops, restaurants, and
stores of all sorts, with a good chunk of the business coming from locals. In
addition, the town opens early and stays up late, so you can always find
something to do, especially on Higgins Avenue, one of Missoula's main drags. If
reading and sitting in a coffeeshop appeals to you, there are several
establishments that open at 6 a.m., including Bernice's Bakery (190 S. 3rd St.,
just one block west of Higgins; 406-728-1358) and Break Espresso (423 N.
Higgins Av.; 406-728-7300). Opening slightly later is the Second Thought News
and Deli (529 S. Higgins Av.; 406-549-2790) and the Uptown Diner (120 N.
Higgins Av.; 406-542-2449), where breakfast is served all day.
You might also think about doing some shopping while in Montana. There's no
sales tax on clothing in the state, so that new Calvin Klein ensemble will be a
little more affordable. Downtown, The Bon Marche (owned by Macy's) offers
designer clothes in a bustling atmosphere. The Southgate Mall, located on Hwy.
12 in the southwest corner of the city at Brooks Street and South Avenue, is
home to Dillard's and several national chains. If you find yourself at
Southgate with an appetite, a recommended stop is Caffe Dolce, a locally owned
cafe with excellent soups and sandwiches.
Don't bother looking for anything close to Lindborg-Cregg in terms of food or
cocktails; you're in the middle of trailer houses in that part of town, so
you'll need to drive somewhere for victuals. There is a host of coffeeshops
open until midnight, including the aforementioned Bernice's and Break Espresso.
For something on the harder side, there are a host of bars in downtown Missoula
-- this is Montana, after all -- serving a variety of foods and drinks.
Sean Kelly's (130 W. Pine, just off of Higgins Avenue; 406-542-1471) serves
Irish pub grub and a variety of Irish whiskies. The Bridge (515 S. Higgins Av.;
406-542-0638) has excellent pizza, a selection of vegetarian dishes and 10
microbrews on tap. And don't miss the Iron Horse Brew Pub (501 N. Higgins Av.;
406-728-8866), which serves locally brewed beers on tap.
Plus, don't forget this gambling is legal in Montana. Casinos abound, so you
shouldn't have any problems locating a keno game or a video-poker machine.
There's nothing within walking distance of Lindborg-Cregg and precious little
on that side of town. The best hotels in town are downtown: the Holiday Inn
(200 S. Pattee St.; 800-465-4329), the Doubletree Hotel Edgewater (100 Madison
St; 406-728-3100), and the Red Lion Inn (700 W. Broadway; 406-728-3300). Of the
three, the Holiday Inn is closest to the downtown main drag, being one block
off of Higgins Avenue, while the Edgewater is closest to the University of
Montana campus.
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