Opening Day Arrives

El Paso Chihuahuas Set to Play First True Home Game

Chico, the El Paso Chihuahuas mascot.
(El Paso Chihuahuas)

Many months of construction and tens of millions of dollars later, the brand new baseball stadium in Downtown El Paso will host its first game ever tonight. The El Paso Chihuahuas Triple-A team will take on the Fresno Grizzlies at 7:05 p.m. in a game that sold out months back.

The stadium will not be 100% complete when the doors open to the public in the early evening, though those areas vital to the game's operation are expected to be up and running, including most public areas.

According to the Chihuahuas website, the total cost of the park is $74 million. Construction crews have been racing against the clock, and team officials earlier this year opted to play the team's first official home stand in Tucson to allow more time to ready the Downtown El Paso ballpark, moving opening day from April 11 to April 28.

Southwest University Stadium gets a final drenching before opening day in Downtown El Paso. (El Paso Chihuahuas)

Last year, the former City Hall building was demolished to make way for the stadium, which will seat 7,500 but has room for larger crowds, such as today's expected 9,000 plus. Recently, the team's mascot Chico was introduced, and the park's official name, Southwest University Park, was announced.

Tickets are still available for other games in the eight-game home stand and can be purchased at the box office or at epchihuahuas.com.