Home of the Midnight Sun Game

Walking up to the main field at Growden Memorial Park, Jun-2019.

A look at some of the seating and the press box.

Mostly artificial turf in the infield, grass in the outfield.

• Location: Wilbur Street at 2nd Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska (map it using Google Maps)
• Opened: 1960 as Memorial Park
• Additional names: Growden Memorial Park (1964)
• Home team: Alaska Goldpanners, National Baseball Congress

The main stadium here, the northernmost regulation stadium in the United States, has been used by the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks since the team was founded in 1960. The Goldpanners have been the host of the annual Midnight Sun game on June 21 since its founding. The tradition of the annual game late at night on Midsummer Day in Fairbanks dates to 1906. While the sun dips below the horizon in the late innings, the field stays so bright due to twilight that the lights never need to be turned on. In fact, the lights are almost never necessary during the Goldpanners’ season.

At one time, the Goldpanners, who have always been a college summer team, played in the Alaska Baseball League. However, they have played as an independent member of the National Baseball Congress the last few seasons.