Christmas Lite Show Opens at Fifth Third Ballpark

The 20th annual Christmas Lite Show started lighting up the Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park this week.  The popular event is set to run through Dec. 31.  The show consists of nearly two miles of more of than a million lights, which includes animated displays and lighted tunnels.  Read more and view photos here.

Whitecaps Announce Fifth Third Ballpark Improvements

PRESS RELEASE – The players have all packed up and returned home for the off-season. Road construction season is winding down with the coming freeze, but construction season at Fifth Third Ballpark is just beginning.

Whitecaps Look to Attract A-List Acts by Doubling Ballpark’s Concert Capacity

The owners of the West Michigan Whitecaps (Single-A, Midwest League) are working to determine the full capacity of Fifth Third Ballpark if the entire field were used for a concert, not just the infield as it has for past shows.  The estimated 16,000 capacity or more could make the ballpark the largest venue in the region and open up a host opportunities for big name concerts.  Read more here.

Whitecaps Calling on Fans for the Next Great Food Item(s)!

PRESS RELEASE – The 2015 Midwest League Champion West Michigan Whitecaps and Daily Deals Food Outlet are teaming up to look for ideas for some championship food items to be served at Fifth Third Ballpark this year. Starting today, fans can submit ideas for what new food items they would like to see served at Fifth Third Ballpark this summer.

Rebuilding the Whitecaps’ Fire-Damaged Home

Steve Mortensen, an executive general adjuster for the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, provides an inside look at the process for rebuilding Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League), after a raging fire damaged a large portion of the facility just three months before opening day.  Read more and view photos here.

Goo Goo Dolls & Daughtry to Co-Headline One Night of Three-Day Concert Series at Whitecaps Home

The Goo Goo Dolls and Daughtry will co-headline one night of a three-day concert series at Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League).  Read more here.  Go to ballpark website here.

Whitecaps Open in Front of 7,128 at Restored Ballpark

PRESS RELEASE – For three months, the West Michigan community watched and waited as the West Michigan Whitecaps worked to rebuild Fifth Third Ballpark after a devastating fire in early January. On Tuesday, at long last, they finally reaped their rewards.

Restored Fifth Third Ballpark Ready for Home Opener

Hours after a massive fired ripped through a portion of Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League), team co-owner Denny Baxter vowed that the restored baseball stadium would be back hosting baseball in 2014. He meant what he said.  The Whitecaps home opener is on Tuesday, April 8, and the ballpark is looking great.  Read more and view photos here.  10 things to know here.

Whitecaps Announce 2014 Ballpark Improvements

PRESS RELEASE – As the start of the 2014 baseball season fast approaches, the rebuilding process at Fifth Third Ballpark after the January 3 fire is well underway and on schedule to meet completion dates. In addition to rebuilding the first base concourse and suite level, the Whitecaps are also making several key improvements to the ballpark.

Despite Tent-Flattening Winds, Ballpark Brew Festival a Success

Despite freezing temperatures and high winds that flattened festival tents on Friday, 6,000 beer lovers showed up Saturday for the Michigan Brewers Guild’s Winter Beer Festival at Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League), to sample 768 available brews.  Read more and view photos here.  Check out the VIP ice mugs here.

Whitecaps to Hold First Public Event at Fire-Damaged Ballpark

The Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League) will host an open house on Saturday, Feb. 15, to provide fans an opportunity to look at construction efforts at Fifth Third Ballpark.  It will be the first public event at the ballpark since a fire on Jan. 3 destroyed the first-base side of the structure and caused other damage.  Read more and view photo gallery here.

There IS Crying in Baseball (After Ballpark Fire), But…

Lew Chamberlin and Denny Baxter, owners of the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League), remain steadfast that Fifth Third Ballpark will be ready by Opening Day and repairs completed in time for the June 17 Midwest League All-Star game.  Read more here.  Meanwhile it’s time for the ‘Caps to find that next unique new food item via the annual fan competition below:

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Post-Fire Photos of Fifth Third Ballpark Released

Photos showing the post-fire damage to Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League), have been released.  Indeed, a lot of work needs to be done to have the ballpark ready for opening day in April.  Read more and view photos here.  View Whitecaps Facebook photos here.

Fifth Third Ballpark Fire Report Released

The Plainfield Township (MI) Fire Department on Wednesday released a seven-page report that spelled out the cause of the blaze that destroyed part of Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League).  The report confirmed that the fire was accidental and that the ballpark’s fire suppression system failed.  Read more here.

Fifth Third Ballpark Fired Caused Space Heater

For those who haven’t heard yet, the fire that destroyed a large section of Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League), was started by a space heater used by a work crew in one of the skybox suites.  Read more and watch news report here.

Part of Whitecaps’ Ballpark Destroyed by Fire

A portion of Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League), collapsed after a massive fire broke out around 11 a.m. Friday.  Flames spread quickly throughout the first base side of the stands, and about one third of the concourse has been destroyed.  Watch news report here.  We’re not sure what this means for the 2014 MWL All-Star Game scheduled to be played at Comstock on June 17.

Fifth Third Ballpark to Host 9-11 Stair Climb

On Saturday, Sept. 14, Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League), will host a 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb to benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and honor the 343 firefighters who perished after the 9-11 attacks.  Read more here.  Register for the event here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Fifth Third Ballpark (Comstock, MI)

MLB.com reporter Benjamin Hill recently visited Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps  (Midwest League).  Read more and view photos here and here.

Weather, Music Blow Fans Away at WingStock

Despite the 60 mph winds and sheets of rain causing a 1 hour and 21 minute weather delay, the Third Annual WingStock Saturday night at Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League), was a success with six bands and 2,500 fans.  Read more here.

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All About ‘Wingstock 2012’

Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League), will host the third annual “Wingstock” on Saturday, June 16.  The event will feature six bands, including Pop Evil, Dokken, Wayland, Foxy Shazam, Gunnar, and Grizzly Boys.  Read more here.

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New Fifth Third Sign Installed at Fifth Third Ballpark

A new 70 foot high Fifth Third (Bank) sign has been installed at Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League).  Read more here.

Winter Beer Festival a Success

The Seventh Annual Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Beer Festival was held at Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the West Michigan Whitecaps (Midwest League), on Saturday, and it was a sold-out success.  The barley-pop lovers who attended were able to sample 450 different beers from craft breweries in Michigan.  Read more and view photos here.

Black Friday Feel for Beer Festival Tickets Sales

After the morning hours (Midnight – 11 AM) on Day 1 of tickets sales for the 7th annual Winter Beer Festival at Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Single-A West Michigan WhiteCaps (Midwest League), the Michigan Brewers Guild sold 561 tickets. This is three times the number sold after Day 1 of ticket sales last year.  The event takes place on Feb. 25.  Read more here.

Fifth Third Ballpark Launches Website to Promote Events

PRESS RELEASE – Fifth Third Ballpark’s management today launched http://www.fifththirdballpark.com, a website for all events held at Fifth Third Ballpark.