Wild Things Park

Baseball stadium in Pennsylvania

Wild Things Park

"The House of Thrills"

Former names| Falconi Field (2002-2006) CONSOL Energy Park (2007-2016)
Location| 1 Washington Federal Way,
Washington, PA 15301
Coordinates| 40°9′15″N 80°17′1″W﻿ / ﻿40.15417°N 80.28361°W﻿ / 40.15417; -80.28361
Owner| WashCo Ballpark Holdings
Capacity| Baseball: 5,200
Concerts: 7,000
Field size| Left Field — 320 ft
Center Field — 410 ft
Right Field — 320 ft
Surface| Artificial Turf
Opened| May 29, 2002
Tenants
Washington Wild Things (FL) (2002-present)
California Vulcans (NCAA) (2002-present)
Steel City Sparks (WPSL) (2005)
Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL) (2005-2006)
Washington BlueSox (2006-2008)
Pennsylvania Rebellion (NPF) (2014-2016)

Wild Things Park is a 5,200-seat multi-purpose baseball stadium in North Franklin Township, a suburb of Washington, Pennsylvania.[1] It hosted its first regular season baseball game on May 29, 2002, as the primary tenants of the facility, the Washington Wild Things, lost to the Canton Coyotes, 3-0. The ballpark also hosts the California Vulcans baseball team, representing Pennsylvania Western University California. It was the home of the Pennsylvania Rebellion of the National Pro Fastpitch, a women's professional softball league, until 2017 when the team folded. It also hosts Trinity High School's baseball team and the WPIAL Baseball Championships. It was briefly the home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds soccer club (who now play at Highmark Stadium) during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Wild Things Park is located near Interstate 70 and is notable for including a hot tub in the viewing stands. ProGrass Synthetic Turf was installed in the fall of 2010.

The stadium was known as Falconi Field until April 12, 2007, when Consol Energy and Washington County Family Entertainment entered a naming rights partnership to rename the complex CONSOL Energy Park.[2] Consol Energy has let the naming rights deal expire as of January 2017.

## History

[edit]

In 2001, a 16-member "baseball exploratory committee" led by Leo Trich, member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, helped form a nonprofit group named Ballpark Scholarships Inc. to build a $5.8 million ($10 million today) stadium in Washington County. $2 million of the cost of the stadium came in the form of taxpayer assistance, while the rest was funded privately. A large amount of the private financing needed to build the stadium came from a local businessman, Angelo F. Falconi. The Wild Things made their debut on May 25, 2002 at Falconi Field for an exhibition game against the Johnstown Johnnies.

Trich originally hoped to bring an affiliated Class A minor league team to Washington, however he was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, a local group purchased the Canton Crocodiles of the independent Frontier League and moved them to the stadium to begin play as the Washington Wild Things in 2002. The team lost its inaugural game 3-0 to the Canton Coyotes.

The Wild Things rebounded from losing their first game to finish 56-28 and reached the Frontier League championship, which they lost to the Richmond Roosters three games to one. Playoffs included, the Wild Things drew 132,901 to Falconi Field in 2002. The year before the franchise had their games attended by just 29,703 fans in Canton, which is five times the population of Washington.

On April 12, 2007, the stadium's name was changed to CONSOL Energy Park after the Washington County-based coal mining company paid an undisclosed sum as part of a 10-year naming rights agreement. A plant garden just inside of the main entrance in right field contains a sign thanking Falconi for his contribution in the stadium's construction.

In 2012, WashCo Ballpark Holdings purchased the park from the non-profit Ballpark Scholarships Inc. in a deal that guaranteed that baseball will remain in the park for a decade.[3] Leo Trich played a role in selling the park.[3] At that time, Dermontti Dawson joined the ownership team.[3] The Washington BlueSox played at the stadium from 2006 to 2008 until the team was moved to Butler. They also played at Ross Memorial Park and Alexandre Stadium during their tenure in Washington.

## Concerts

[edit]

Bob Dylan played at Falconi Field in 2006. He returned to the park in 2009, this time with John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson.

On August 25, 2012, the Povertyneck Hillbillies played a reunion concert at the park. The group, based in western Pennsylvania, had minor national fame when they signed to the now defunct Rust Records.

## See also

[edit]

* Ross Memorial Park and Alexandre Stadium

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Wild Things Park". Washingtonish.com. 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
2. ^ [1] Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
3. ^ a b c Beveridge, Scott (2012-02-22). "Ballpark bought for $3.9M". Observer-Reporter. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2012-02-22.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* Photographs of CONSOL Energy Park, home of the Washington Wild Things - Rochester Area Ballparks
* Washington County Family Entertainment and CONSOL Energy Form Complex Naming Rights Partnership
* Baseball Pilgrimages: CONSOL Energy Park

Events and tenants

Preceded by

T.R. Hughes Ballpark

|  Host of the FL All-Star Game
Falconi Field
2005  | Succeeded by

Bosse Field

* v
* t
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Current ballparks in the Frontier League

East Division|

* Joseph L. Bruno Stadium
* Campanelli Stadium
* Clover Stadium
* Grainger Stadium
* Hinchliffe Stadium
* Ottawa Stadium
* Skylands Stadium
* Stade Canac
* Stade Quillorama

West Division|

* Bosse Field
* Crushers Stadium
* Duly Health and Care Field
* Grizzlies Ballpark
* Ozinga Field
* Thomas More Stadium
* Trustmark Park
* Wild Things Park
* Wintrust Field

* v
* t
* e

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Club|

* History
* Players
* Records & results
* Seasons

Stadiums|

* Bethel Park High School (1999–2003)
* Moon Area High School (2004)
* Falconi Field (2005–2006)
* Chartiers Valley High School (2008–2012)
* Highmark Stadium (2013–)

Rivalries|

* Penn FC (Keystone Derby Cup)

Key personnel|

Owner
Tuffy Shallenberger
General manager
Kevin Johnston
Head coach
Bob Lilley

Affiliations|

* Ocean City Nor'easters (USL2)
* Pittsburgh Riverhounds U23

United Soccer League

Seasons (26)|

* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

Washington in Washington County, Pennsylvania

Historic sites|

* David Bradford House
* East Washington Historic District
* F. Julius LeMoyne House
* LeMoyne Crematory
* McMillan Hall
* Dr. Joseph Maurer House
* Pennsylvania Railroad Freight Station
* Sackville House (demolished)
* Trinity Hall
* Washington Armory
* Washington County Courthouse
* Washington County Jail

Museums and attractions|

* David Bradford House
* F. Julius LeMoyne House
* Hollywood Casino at The Meadows
* Olin Art Gallery
* Pennsylvania Trolley Museum

Transportation|

* Freedom Transit
* Washington County Airport

Education|

* Washington & Jefferson College
* Washington Female Seminary (defunct)
* Trinity Area School District
* Trinity High School
* Washington School District

Industry and commerce|

* Cameron Coca-Cola
* Duncan & Miller Glass Company (defunct)
* Millcraft Industries
* Tanger Outlets Washington
* Washington Crown Center
* Washington oil field
* Washington Mall

Sports|

* Washington Wild Things (Consol Energy Park)
* Washington & Jefferson Presidents (Brooks Park, Cameron Stadium, Ross Memorial Park and Alexandre Stadium, IceoPlex at Southpointe)
* PONY Baseball and Softball
* Washington BlueSox

Media|

* Observer-Reporter
* Red & Black
* WJPA
* WNJR
* WKZV (defunct)

Houses of worship|

* Beth Israel Congregation
* Church of the Covenant
* First Presbyterian Church

Other|

* Brownson House
* City of Washington–Washington & Jefferson College relations
* Declaration and Address
* The George Washington Hotel
* Shorty's Lunch
* Washington Trust Building
* The Union Grill
* The Washington Hospital

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