Marinelli Field (officially Louis F. Marinelli Field) is a baseball park in Rockford, Illinois. Located within Blackhawk Park along the Rock River, it is owned and operated by the Rockford Park District. The stadium was the primary home for professional baseball in Rockford from its opening in 1988 until 2005, when the Rockford RiverHawks moved to the newly constructed RiverHawks Stadium (now Rivets Stadium) in Loves Park, Illinois.
History Marinelli Field was constructed in 1988 at a cost of $1.5 million to replace the aging Beyer Stadium as the home of Rockford's minor league baseball teams. It was named in honor of Louis F. Marinelli, a long-time Rockford Park District Commissioner and the late manager of the Rockford Blackhawks, a local athletic team that played at Blackhawk Park.
The stadium hosted the Midwest League All-Star Game in 1991. After the departure of affiliated minor league baseball in 1999, the stadium hosted the independent Rockford RiverHawks of the Frontier League from 2002 to 2005.
Decline and restoration Following the RiverHawks' move to Loves Park in 2006, Marinelli Field saw a period of reduced use and physical decline. The Rockford Foresters, members of the Midwest Collegiate League, played at the field from 2010 to 2012, before losing the stadium lease to the Rockford Aviators for the 2013 season.
In 2023, local resident David Aarvig led a community effort to restore the neglected facility. The restoration included cleaning the stands, repairing the field, and improving the amenities. The stadium held a "grand reopening" on May 26, 2023, hosting a high school baseball tournament.
Current use As of 2026, the venue hosts amateur baseball tournaments, showcases, high school games, and practices.
Tenants The stadium has hosted several professional and collegiate baseball teams: Team League Years Rockford Expos Midwest League 1988–1992 Rockford Royals Midwest League 1993–1994 Rockford Cubbies Midwest League 1995–1998 Rockford Reds Midwest League 1999 Rockford RiverHawks Frontier League 2002–2005 Rockford Foresters Midwest Collegiate League 2010–2012 The four Midwest League franchises were all affiliated farm teams that eventually relocated to Dayton, Ohio, to become the Dayton Dragons in 2000.
See also Beyer Stadium Rivets Stadium
References
External links Marinelli Field at GoRockford.com Marinelli Field at Baseball-Reference BR Bullpen