Larry Carpenter Stadium - Lee University
History
Opened in the spring of 2019, Larry Carpenter Stadium ushered in a new era of Lee baseball. Located in Cleveland, TN, the field is named after Lee University and member of the original Flames baseball team Larry Carpenter. After a brief time where there was no baseball program at Lee, the team has fielded a team every year since 1997.
Atmosphere
Lee feels extremely intimate, as no seats are very far from the field. All the seats are chairbacks, and admission is free. I went for a weekday game that started a little early, and as time went on, the stands continued to fill, even as the crowd was relatively quiet. There are no huge advertisements or video board, making this pure baseball. One important thing to note is that as the lights come on, they make a really loud buzzing noise; this was hard on my sensory issues, so something to keep in mind.
Concessions
There is one concession stand in the main concourse selling sodas, chips, popcorn, candy, and hotdogs. One thing to note is that depending on the time of the game, they may not have everything; the day I went, they had no hotdogs. Outside of the stadium, there are a few different places to grab a bite in Cleveland.
Access
Like most cities in this area, there are a few different hotels for those out of towners. It is also roughly an hour from Chattanooga, a larger hub city if you’re in the area for more than just baseball. Parking is also free, but keep an eye out on game times for weekday games; parking is shared with the local elementary school, and they get priority in the lot before 4pm.
Final Thoughts
Lee is pure baseball. You aren’t going to get a ton of frills, and if mid-inning games and entertainment are your thing, Lee may not be a stop that makes sense for you. However, if you’re just looking to see good baseball for cheap, Lee’s a perfect spot on a trip to Tennessee.
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