Bernie Arbour Stadium, located on Mountain Brow Boulevard between Upper Kenilworth Avenue, Mohawk Road East, and Limeridge Road East on the East Hamilton Mountain, provides the McMaster baseball program one of the most beautiful home facilities in the OUA. The City of Hamilton owns and operates the facility and rents the Facility to the McMaster Baseball program.
In 1970, the civic baseball stadium was relocated to what is now Mohawk Sports Park. On June 30, 1971, it was officially named Bernie Arbour Stadium to honour Bernie Arbour (1921 - 1967), a former Hamilton police sergeant who directed the Police Minor Sports Association when it began in 1948.In 1949, he was appointed secretary of the association, a position he held until his death. He was elected Hamilton's Citizen of the Year in 1966 for his involvement in youth sports in the city. Bernie Arbour has been home to various professional franchises, the last being the now departed Hamilton Redbirds of the Class A New York-Penn league. During the summer months, the Stadium is currently home to the Hamilton Thunderbirds of the Intercounty Major League, and many other premier league teams.
McMaster relocated it's home games to Bernie Arbour Stadium in the fall of 1997. McMaster played its first game at Bernie Arbour on September 27, 1997 versus Wilfrid Laurier wining the game 7-6. Three weeks later McMaster went on to capture the CIBA Ontario West Division Championship winning both games of the best three series at the stadium.
Bernie Arbour served as host to the baseball competition at the 2000
International Children's Games this summer. A joint venture of the
City of Hamilton and
McMaster University.
Bernie Arbour Stadium dimensions are 300 feet down the left field line, 325 down right field, 365 to left-center, 405 to straight-away center and 365 to the power alley in right-center. The main grandstand accommodates upwards of 300 spectators and another 1,000 + spectators can be seated in the first and third base bleachers. The Press Box, seats up to 10 members of the media and is capable of supporting radio and television broadcasts.
McMaster University is fortunate to call home one of the finest fields in the region. Bernie Arbour provides McMaster with many things that weren't found at previous facilities -- outstanding playing conditions maintained by a dedicated and knowledgeable grounds crew, excellent lighting, and close to the field seating.
Historical Information provided by
The Canadian Public Parks Movement - The Hamilton Experience
