WARNER PARK

Madison, Wisconsin

Wisconsin's capital city has not truly embraced professional baseball through the decades. Maybe there's too much of a focus on University of Wisconsin football or out-of-town major league sports but pro baseball hasn't lasted in Madison. A couple of teams were able to put together a few seasons since the early 1900's though.

Warner Park came along in 1957 as a community ballpark and in the early 1980's it was outfitted to accommodate in a rustic manner the Madison Muskies, a Class A Midwest League team for the Athletics which operated from 1982-93. The Cardinals used Warner Park for their Class A Midwest League team for one season in 1994, the Madison Hatters, but by then the affilliated Minor Leagues seemed to be looking towards markets with more modern facilities.

Enter the independent Northern League which placed a team at Warner Park in 1996, the Madison BlackWolf. With attendance figures consistently below the league average, this team ended up relocating after the 2000 season. The collegiate Northwoods League promptly placed a team at Warner Park and the Madison Mallards have been averaging nearly two-thousand fans per game.

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A lot of fans have
a lot of fun here

As enjoyable a party deck as any ballpark I've visited

A great place to see a game