With the unfortunate news that the Norwich Sea Unicorns are no longer affiliated with Major League Baseball, I felt that it was time to reflect on minor league baseball at Dodd Stadium and what it has offered the Norwich area community for the last 25 years.

Dodd Stadium began hosting baseball in 1995 with the Eastern League (Double A) affiliate of the New York Yankees, the Norwich Navigators, calling the stadium home. The former Albany-Colonie Yankees were looking to relocate. Eastern Connecticut was a prime market since it was void of professional baseball. Local politicians and leaders lobbied for years to bring baseball to the Norwich area. The Navigators began an affiliation with the San Francisco Giants starting in 2003. This continued through a name change to the Connecticut Defenders in 2006, and eventually, the team became the Connecticut Tigers in 2010 after the relocation of the former Oneonta Tigers of the short season “A,” New York-Penn League. The Tigers changed their name to the Norwich Sea Unicorns in 2020. Alas, the season was not played and the future of the team is in question due to the restructuring of the minor leagues.

Base Burnin’, Ball Bashin’, Fan Pleasin’ Navigators- Making the Dream Come True!

The team has seen many future major leaguers don their uniform through their years as the Navigators, Defenders, and Tigers. From future superstars Madison Bumgarner, Alfonso Soriano, and Pablo Sandoval to rehabbing veterans Tim Raines, Roger Clemens, and David Cone, Dodd Stadium has been witness to a slew of professional greatness. The ballpark opened in 1995 after 80 or so years without professional baseball in Norwich. Both the Navigator and Defender monikers reference southeastern Connecticut’s biggest industry, defense, as General Dynamics, which manufactures submarines, and the United States Submarine base are located in nearby Groton, while the United States Coast Guard Academy is next door to Groton in the city of New London. Both towns are about a 20-minute drive from Norwich. 

The Beginnings of Dodd Stadium

When Dodd Stadium opened its doors in 1995, the park was a shining example of the new wave of minor league ballparks which put comfort and family friendliness first and foremost. During the first year, 1995, the Navigators’ attendance peaked at 280,000 fans. Players, including favorites such as Mike Figga, Nick Del Vecchio, and Mike DeJean made appearances throughout the region, signing autographs at numerous places such as car dealerships and sporting goods stores. The opening game of the Navigators was attended by local politicians, including Senator Joseph Lieberman and Senator Christopher Dodd (whose father, Thomas J. Dodd, the stadium is named for), as well as the commissioner of baseball, Bud Selig. The mascot, an alligator named Tater was a fan favorite and the team even had their own song jingle. 

The team drew annual crowds in the 200,000s yearly, but eventually the attendance dropped drastically. Connecticut, especially eastern and central, is a battleground for Red Sox and Yankee fans, as roughly half of the population are fans of either team. This region of Connecticut is about half way between New York and Boston. When the Navigators were the farm team of the Yankees, it led to much enthusiasm for fans. They were able to see future Yankee stars as well as rehabbing all-stars. When the Red Sox relocated their Double A franchise to Portland in 2003, the Yankees jumped at the opportunity to move their team to Trenton, which was formally the Red Sox farm club and was closer to New York.

A Giant Step

This left a vacancy for Norwich which was soon filled by the San Francisco Giants. Without a local big league club, the attendance for the Giants’ minor league affiliate was never strong, even when the team was rebranded in 2006 as the Connecticut Defenders, trying to encompass the whole region and not just the city of Norwich. At this time the team was owned by successful boxing promoter and executive of HBO Sports, Lou DiBella. Try as he may, the fans were not filling the seats. Eventually, the former Oneonta Tigers of the New York-Penn League moved to Dodd Stadium once the Defenders moved to Richmond, Virginia, and were rebranded as the Richmond Flying Squirrels. 

25 years of baseball

Although over 25 years old now, the stadium is still in fine shape and is large for single-A standards. The concourse is on the street level and seating and field are below. From the concourse, the whole field can be seen. There are luxury boxes located above the seating bowl and the color scheme is maroon and grey. Today’s team plays into the history of their past inhabitants of Dodd and will turn back the clock with “Navigator” night once a year as the players wear Navigator uniforms.

Along with their mascot, CT the Tiger, Tater the Gator still entertains at games and a statue of his likeness has been resurrected in the front of the stadium. (The Defenders mascot, Cutter’s (named after the local Coast Guard ship) suit has been hung up permanently though. In question will be the Sea Unicorns mascot as well as the fate of CT and Tater. With very reasonable ticket and concession prices, Dodd Stadium creates a fun, affordable, family-friendly vibe at all the games. 

Ballpark Amenities:

Food:

Standard ballpark fare abounds, but there are a few special treats to be found at Dodd. Local cheesesteak restaurant, A Taste of Philadelphia or Philly’s for short, has a satellite branch at the stadium. They make outstanding cheesesteaks, as the owner was directly from Philadelphia. Dodd also features a hotdog bar where fans can choose their own toppings which run the gamut from ketchup, mustard, and pickles to Fruit Loops and chocolate sauce. There is a nice selection of craft beer from the likes of New England breweries such as Long Trail, Narragansett, and City Steam. Ben and Jerry’s ice cream has an outpost at Dodd. 

Ballpark Extras:

On many nights, the stadium runs promotions such as Dollar Dogs, kids running the bases after the game, Friday Fireworks, Thirsty Thursday with pre-game happy hour specials, and bobble head nights with bobble head figures of local major league star Rajai Davis, George Constanza of Seinfeld, and former Defenders pitcher Madison Bumgarner. At the annual “Bark at the Park” game, fans are invited to bring their canine friends to the game, and often Wiener dog races are held.

Insider’s Tips:

Parking is not a problem at Dodd since the parking lots typically fill nowhere near capacity. They do charge a few dollars to park at the lot. Dodd Stadium is located in Norwich’s Industrial Park with no food and drink options walkable to the park. Fine food can be found inside or check the area amenities section for other nearby ideas. Tickets are always available at the door except for major events such as an all-star game. 

For the Kids: 

Kids love Tater the Gator and CT the Tiger. They are found giving high-fives around the concourse. There is also an inflatable which they enjoy bouncing on as well as room to play wiffle ball. Friday fireworks and Kids Run the Bases are big draws. In its early years, the stadium had an arcade that the Tigers are planning to bring back in the near future. 

Other uses:

Dodd Stadium has increasingly been used as a municipal field for community events. In 2017, the annual Jeffrey Osborne Celebrity Softball game was played at Dodd and included Smokey Robinson, Chris Tucker, and Paul Pierce. Local high school Norwich Free Academy plays its home baseball games at Dodd. Dodd has also played host to varied events, including an Octoberfest, the Connecticut Renaissance Fair, and a concerts with performances by the likes of Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan. 

While You’re There:

Restaurants:

Closest to the ballpark on West Town Street, just outside the boundary of the Industrial Park is Brick & Basil, a permanent food truck that has incredible wood fired pizzas. Favorites include the Margherita and Wild Buffalo Chicken. Brick & Basil has a play area for the kids, a fire pit, and, on some nights, live music. Outside seating only. Across the street is Illiano’s which also offers Italian cuisine, pizza by the pie or by the slice, and salads. All of the food here is stellar. 

Downtown Norwich is located only a few miles from Dodd Stadium, and good choices for a pre or post game bite or drink abound. The best grinders (submarine sandwiches) are at D’Elia’s on Franklin Street. The tiny grinder shop is no frills. Take these to go and walk a block to Epicure Brewing, also on Franklin Street, which encourages patrons to bring their own food as they do not serve their own. Grab a flight of beer or a pint while munching on a D’Elia’s grinder. Also on Franklin Street is the brewpub These Guys. They feature their own beer plus a well-stocked selection of guest taps with phenomenal upscale pub grub.

Up the street on Broadway is Billy Wilson’s, Norwich’s version of Cheers, a great place to grab a beer, with friendly clientele. Downtown Norwich has noted architecture, including the elaborate city hall, built in the Second Empire style, and a lovely marina to walk around at the confluence of the Yantic, Shetucket, and Thames Rivers. Fox Farm Brewery is about a 20-minute drive west on Route 82 and features juicy New England style beers which do not disappoint; it is worth the extra drive. 

Accommodations:

For a small city, Norwich has its share of chain hotels including Comfort Suites and Courtyard by Marriott, which are both located a mile or so from Dodd Stadium. Courtyard by Marriot includes the always satisfying restaurant, Prime 82 on premises. Further south, the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn, are located on Route 82 (Salem Turnpike) in Norwich. For a luxurious stay, the Norwich Inn is the place for romance and includes a premier spa.

Attractions:

Norwich is a five-minute drive from Mohegan Sun Casino in Montville and a fifteen-minute drive from Foxwoods Resort Casino. Both casinos feature much more than gambling and include top restaurants, lounges, and entertainment.  During the summer Mohegan Sun is home to the WNBA team Connecticut Sun. World-class performers, including Sting, Journey, and John Legend play the concert spaces at the casinos. Mohegan Sun also offers free nightly shows at the Wolf Den whose lineup often includes national names such as George Clinton, the Zombies, or G Love and Special Sauce. Both casinos have ample hotel rooms on-premises and attractions for the kids with arcades and family-friendly restaurants. 

Mystic is only a 25-minute drive from Norwich and is home to top-rated family attractions such as the world-renowned Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport. The aquarium is touted as one of the best in the country and includes Beluga Whales, penguins, and sea lions. Mystic Seaport is a living history museum chronicling the seafaring life of coastal Connecticut with costumed performers and craftspeople to view and to interact with, which enhances the visit. The highlight of the seaport is the ability to climb aboard tall ships such as the Charles W. Morgan and the Joseph Conrad. Throughout the summer, the seaport is constantly aglow with festivals including the Sea Music Festival, the Lobster Fest, and the Oyster Fest. 

Famous Alumni:  

Madison Bumgarner, Marcus Thames, Mike Lowell, Alfonso Soriano, Pablo Sandoval, Roger Clemens, David Cone, Andy Pettitte, Ruben Rivera, Shane Spencer, Nick Johnson, Brandon Crawford, Matt Cain, Tyler Collins, Devon Travis, Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Tim Raines.  

Did you know?

The ESPN miniseries “The Bronx is Burning” used Dodd Stadium in place of the actual Yankee Stadium for the home field of the television series which chronicled the 1977 New York Yankees season with the backdrop of a tumultuous New York City and the events of that summer. 

Check out these other baseball stadium experiences at Backyard Road Trips: Fenway Park, Kauffman Stadium and Hadlock Field