2011 Baseball - Creighton University Bluejays

Records and History 2010 in Review Opponents Meet the Players Meet the Staff Creighton BaseballThis is CreightonCreighton BluejaysThe End of an EraAfter hosting the College World Series for 60 years, playinga role as the secondary field for the Creighton Bluejays andhosting various concerts, sporting events and community events,Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium closed its doors in 2010. While the playing surfaceof the “Diamond on the Hill” was in great shape, the design and structure of the62-year-old ballpark needed a major facelift. The expense of turning the originalOmaha Municipal Stadium, built in 1948, into a state-of-the-art facility that wouldcompare with ballparks across the country would require too much money, andthe decision was made to build a new facility, known now as TD Ameritrade ParkOmaha.Johnny Rosenblatt (1907-1979),whose name graces the ballpark,played amateur, semipro and professional baseball before entering a life of public service.He located this hilltop site and pushed for its construction. It opened in 1948 and twoyears later attracted the NCAA College World Series. Creighton annually serves as thehost of the CWS, and the Creighton baseball players have been able to experience on ayearly basis the aura and thrill of playing in a facility that held so much history.Rosenblatt Stadium had seating for 23,100 fans, with the outfield general admissionbeing a popular choice for the CWS fans. The stadium underwent many different reconstructions,expanding the first baseline seating in the late 80’s, adding seating in left andright field in 1993 and 1995, renovating the pressbox and suites in 1996 and putting in anew bleacher system in 2002. The giant scoreboard in left field was redesigned in 2006and can be seen from Interstate 80 when crossingthe bridge from Iowa to Nebraska.The City of Omaha put together a great sendofffor the stadium following the completion ofthe 2010 Omaha Royals season, which includedSteve Rosenblatt (Johnny’s son) hitting the finalball out of the infield, and removal of home plate,which was sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame inCooperstown, N.Y.Above: One of the final fireworkcelebrations at Rosenblatt, a staplefor Omaha families on July 4th.Right: The newest scoreboard at Rosenblatt Stadium, providingInterstate 80 drivers a view of the stadium.8Far Right: A panoromic view of the field from the Press Box.