Volcanoes Stadium was originally constructed in 1997 where after it spent twenty three years in relative obscurity, as a minor league baseball park and home of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. But then, during the depths of the Wuhan Coronavirus Pandemic, Volcanoes Stadium reached new heights many never thought possible, when it became the host site of the 7th Annual Oregon Tapey Beercone Invitational.
The field is the first professional ballpark to be fully converted to Tapey Beercone play. The small confines of a Tapey Beercone infield easily fit within the infield dirt instead with 2nd base, an empty keg, resided right behind the baseball field’s pitcher’s mound. First base was a large metal tub which housed two beer kegs, while third base was the more standard beer cooler.
Should any beercone make it past the dirt infield, and few did, the outfield was all standard flat field turf and a plastic kiddie pool formed the grand salami zone in deep-deep left field.
While the field had exceptional drainage, the onslaught of Oregon rains meant that by the time the 7th Annual Invitational had ended, the field, especially the batter’s box, was a rather muddy mess. Still, Volcanoes Stadium forms a strong proof of concept and roadmap for other professional ballparks to make way for the growing popularity of a new Sport, and convert to Tapey Beercone play.
Field Name | Volcanoes Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Salem-Keizer |
| County | Marion |
| State | Oregon |
| Latitude | 45°0'55"N |
| Longitude | 122°59'37"W |
| Elevation | 146 ft |
| Heading | ENE |
| Play Area Angle | 90° |
| Grand Salami Zone | Plastic Kiddie Pool |
| Grand Salamis Hit | None |
| Infield Surface | Field Dirt and Turf |
| Outfield Surface | Field Turf |
| Outfield Obstacles | None |
| Beer Pope Coronations | None |
| Inception Date | 11/13/2020 |
| Total Regents to Play at the Field | 3 |
| Largest Crowd | A barely legal gathering of participants and many interstate onlookers. |