Misplaced Pages

#47952

30-716: The team plays at the Gold Mine on Airline , formerly known as the Shrine on Airline and Zephyr Field, in Metairie, Louisiana , on the East Bank of the New Orleans metropolitan area . For the first two seasons of Major League Rugby in 2018 and 2019, the team played at Joe Zimmerman Stadium at Archbishop Shaw High School under the branding of Gold Stadium. The natural turf field with grandstand seating for up to 3,000 people

60-461: A 24-inning game at Nashville, Tennessee 's Herschel Greer Stadium which was played over the course of two days and lasted a total of eight hours and seven minutes. The game matched the longest game, in terms of innings played, in PCL history. The Zephyrs scored once in the eighth inning and once in the ninth, and the teams remained tied through 18 innings before curfew was called. New Orleans won, 5–4, on

90-558: A Zephyrs game, 11,925, watches the Zephyrs lose 1–0 to the Nashville Sounds . The Wally Pontiff Jr. Classic college baseball game was held annually at the Shrine on Airline beginning in 2004. The LSU Tigers baseball team played an opponent in the game to honor the former Metairie resident, LSU Baseball player and Oakland A's draftee, Wally Pontiff Jr., who died at the age of 21 from a genetic heart disorder. In 2004, LSU won

120-505: A lifetime pass to Baby Cakes games, and would be entered into a raffle wherein the winner would receive a full four-year tuition to a state college in Louisiana upon their 18th birthday in 2035. As part of the rebrand, the team's stadium, Zephyr Field, was changed to Shrine on Airline . The name change was met with mixed reactions. Some fans found the new moniker and logos appealing, and the team reported increased merchandise sales after

150-399: A new color scheme and logos by Brandiose . The seven finalist monikers were Baby Cakes, Crawfish, King Cakes, Night Owls, Po'boys, Red Eyes, and Tailgators. On November 15, the team unveiled Baby Cakes as the new team name and purple, green, and gold as the new team colors, as well as a unique promotion to promote the name: any child born in the state of Louisiana during 2017 was eligible for

180-792: A suburb of New Orleans , and played their home games at the Shrine on Airline . The team began play in 1993 as a member of the Triple-A American Association (AA) when the Denver Zephyrs relocated to New Orleans. They joined the PCL in 1998. New Orleans has qualified for the postseason on three occasions and has won the PCL championship twice as the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros (1998 and 2001). At

210-688: A suburb of New Orleans . It is home field for the New Orleans Gold team in Major League Rugby . Known as Zephyr Field when built in 1997 as the home ballpark for the New Orleans Zephyrs (later New Orleans Baby Cakes ), the stadium was renamed when the Minor League Baseball team's name changed from Zephyrs to Baby Cakes in 2017. Shrine on Airline had been an unofficial name for Zephyr Field used by

240-481: Is located on the West Bank at Marrero, Louisiana . Home games are shown on Cox Sports Television . Ian McNulty and Geoffrey Ormsby are the on air talent. For the 2022 season, NOLA Gold partnered with local Louisiana, Port Orleans Brewing Company to make "GOLDen Ale". These 16-ounce cans will be available for purchase in the brewery's tap room and on tap at the start of the season. It will also be sold throughout

270-399: The 2006 movie called Failure to Launch . Also, part of an episode of Spike TV 's Pros vs. Joes was also filmed at the ballpark. A new playing surface was installed prior to the 2008 season. Its new dimensions are 330 feet (100 m) from home plate to left and right fields, and 400 feet (120 m) to center. The ballpark traditionally has allowed some of the fewest home runs in

300-633: The 2006 season, but Hurricane Katrina significantly damaged Turchin Stadium, forcing a delay in the project. In the hurricane's aftermath, Zephyr Field was utilized by the Louisiana Army National Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a rescue facility. In 2006, the state of Louisiana approved $ 21 million to recover Zephyr Field from the effects of Katrina. Additional funds from

330-877: The 2006 state-funded recovery bill for additional amenities, including 16 luxury suites, a swimming pool, two hot tubs, the Coors Light Party Shack, and the Metairie Bank Home Run Porch. New Orleans Baby Cakes The New Orleans Baby Cakes (formerly the New Orleans Zephyrs ) were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins . They were located in Metairie, Louisiana ,

SECTION 10

#1732779644048

360-831: The Pacific Coast League. The ballpark's grass berm seating area, "the Levee", is located beyond center field and is the highest point in Metairie. As a soccer venue, Shrine on Airline served as home of the New Orleans Storm soccer team in the late 1990s and hosted the semifinals of the 1998 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup . Concessions at Shrine on Airline feature traditional ballpark fare as well as several regional offerings, such as fried catfish , muffulettas , po' boy sandwiches, jambalaya , and pigskin nachos. The New Orleans Zephyrs added an extra $ 5 million to

390-464: The Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins (now the Miami Marlins ). In October 2009, the team unveiled a new logo with the letter Z set against a fleur-de-lis . Longtime New Orleans sports public address announcer Doug Moreau joined the game day staff in 2003 as the organization's fifth stadium announcer and remained behind the microphone for 13 seasons, giving him the longest stretch in

420-423: The announcement. Others expressed disappointment in the new name via social media, claiming it to be an unsuitable name for a sports team and that it did not accurately reflect local culture. At the time of the branding announcement, the team noted fan interest in retaining the Zephyrs moniker, but pointed out that the name had relocated from Denver to New Orleans and had no regional ties or significance other than

450-518: The ballpark against cross-town rival, the University of New Orleans Privateers , and arch-rival, Louisiana State University Tigers , at the ballpark. During the 2006 and 2007 baseball seasons, Zephyr Field was the primary home of the Green Wave, as Tulane's on-campus facility, Greer Field at Turchin Stadium , was undergoing renovations. The renovations were scheduled to be completed in time for

480-777: The bill covered recovery costs for the New Orleans Saints ' training facility, located behind the ballpark, and the New Orleans Arena . The stadium hosted the 1999 Triple-A All-Star Game in which the Pacific Coast League All-Stars defeated the International League All-Stars, 9–5. New Orleans' Daryle Ward was selected as the PCL MVP. On July 3, 2003, the largest crowd in Shrine on Airline history for

510-669: The city's Denver Zephyrs were forced to relocate. Louisiana lawyer and business promoter Robert E. Couhig, Jr. led the effort to relocate the team to New Orleans. The "Zephyr" name was appropriate for New Orleans, too, as the Zephyr Roller Coaster was a popular ride at the Pontchartrain Beach amusement park (which had closed in 1983). The New Orleans Zephyrs remained in the American Association through 1997. The circuit disbanded following

540-529: The end of the 2019 season, the team relocated to Wichita, Kansas , where they continue as the Wichita Wind Surge . Initially, the city of New Orleans hoped to bring a Double-A Southern League team to the city and continue operations as the Baby Cakes. However, due to Major League Baseball 's reorganization of Minor League Baseball , the campaign ultimately failed. Professional baseball

570-648: The first game of the series vs. Southeastern Louisiana, 9-3. The last Classic played at Zephyr Field was played in April 2019, and saw the Ragin Cajuns of Louisiana defeat LSU 6-5. In 2022 it was announced that the 2022 game (to be played in Baton Rouge, and again against Louisiana ), will be the final game for the Classic. The ballpark is featured in several scenes in the 2004 movie Mr. 3000 , and one from

600-520: The last portion of their home games for the 2005 Pacific Coast League season three days before Hurricane Katrina hit the City of New Orleans, and though Zephyr Field sustained moderate damage, the team was able to open the 2006 season at home, making them the first professional team in New Orleans to do so after the hurricane. On May 5–6, 2006, the Zephyrs and Nashville Sounds participated in

630-406: The league ceased operations in 2021 and the campaign ultimately failed. With the departure of the Baby Cakes, the stadium was repurposed with a rectangular field for football of all codes, with a more thorough renovation scheduled for late 2024. The facility hosted the 1998 and 2001 Conference USA baseball tournaments and the 1999 Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament . Shrine on Airline

SECTION 20

#1732779644048

660-419: The organization's time in New Orleans. J.L. Vangilder was the official scorer from the beginning of the team's time in New Orleans until June 2014. At that point, Moreau took on the dual role as official scorer and announcer for the remainder of the 2014 season and much of the 2015 season. The Zephyrs rebranded for the 2017 season. A name-the-team contest was held in search of a new team name to be accompanied by

690-483: The public address announcer since the stadium opened and it became the new name. Minor league baseball left New Orleans at the end of the 2019 season, when the Baby Cakes relocated to Wichita, Kansas , where they continue as the Wichita Wind Surge . Initially, the city of New Orleans hoped to bring a Double-A Southern League team to the city and continue operations as the Baby Cakes. However, due to Major League Baseball 's reorganization of Minor League Baseball ,

720-570: The rest of the 2020 season. NOLA Gold played 16 games in the 2024 regular season, with all eight home games played at the Gold Mine . The team finished the regular season 10–6 and qualified for its first playoff berth, losing to the Chicago Hounds 45-21 in the Eastern Conference semifinal. Gold Mine on Airline Gold Mine on Airline , formerly Shrine on Airline , is a 10,000-seat stadium in Metairie, Louisiana ,

750-764: The roller coaster at Pontchartrain Beach which closed in 1983. On April 14, 2017, Baby Cakes pitchers Scott Copeland (7 IP ), Hunter Cervenka (1 IP), and Brandon Cunniff (1 IP) combined to pitch a no-hitter against the Iowa Cubs . On September 2, 2019, the PCL Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes played their final game ever as the "Baby Cakes" on the road against the Oklahoma City Dodgers in Oklahoma City with

780-534: The season in the team's home stadium, the Shrine on Airline . The New Orleans Gold squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is: Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality. On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic . One week later (March 19), MLR announced that it had canceled

810-692: The season, and they joined the Pacific Coast League in 1998. The Zephyrs won the 1998 PCL championship and went on to win the Triple-A World Series against the Buffalo Bisons , 3–1. The Zephyrs were also slated to participate in the 2001 championship series with the Tacoma Rainiers , but the playoffs were cancelled in the wake of the September 11 attacks , and the teams were named co-champions. The Zephyrs finished out

840-474: The second day on a Wiki González RBI single. The Zephyrs set 12 franchise records, including striking out a league-record 29 times. In 2008, the Zephyrs' season ended three days early due to the approach of Hurricane Gustav . When it became apparent that Gustav would hit the Gulf Coast on September 1, they cancelled their games of August 30 through September 1. On September 22, 2008, the Zephyrs became

870-653: Was also the site of the Class 5A Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) baseball tournament in 2004 and 2005. Zephyr Field hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 11, 1997, in which tenants New Orleans Zephyrs (later the New Orleans Baby Cakes ), defeated the Oklahoma City 89ers 8-3. The stadium also hosted select games of the Tulane University Green Wave baseball program. The team plays annual games at

900-699: Was first played in New Orleans in the late 19th century. The city's longest-running team was the New Orleans Pelicans who played off and on from 1887 to 1977 primarily in the Southern Association . The Pelicans left after the 1977 season, and the city went without a pro team until 1993. The New Orleans Zephyrs came to New Orleans by way of Denver, Colorado , in 1993. With the arrival of the Colorado Rockies Major League Baseball expansion team ,

#47952