[Editor’s Note: With the IronPigs and R-Phils on the road at the same time, what is a baseball junkie to do? Well, there are a fair few options out there and our friend Shelby is set to tell us about them. This is the first in a series of guest posts on nearby minor league parks and teams. Lancaster plays in the Independent (read: non-affiliated, but newly authorized) Atlantic League.]
by: Shelby Fabian (@bichon1200)
There are 17 stadiums within 150 miles from Northampton, PA, excluding Lehigh Valley, Reading, and Jersey Shore. In 2025, I am attempting to attend 12 minor league games at stadiums I have not yet been to.
The first stadium for 2025 is Penn Medicine Park, home of the Lancaster Stormers. The Stormers are members of the Atlantic League (North) and made their debut in Lancaster in 2005. I attended the opening night matchup between the Stormers and the Gastonia Ghost Peppers on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Penn Medicine Park has a capacity of 8,000 and is located in the Northwest Corridor neighborhood of Lancaster. The playing field is all artificial turf, which made for some interesting bounces throughout the game. Stadium access was easy, as it is only about 2 miles from Route 222. There are several parking lots with attendants directing traffic, and parking is completely free of charge. The main level concourse allows for a complete 360° walk around the stadium, with views of the playing field throughout the walk. The home dugout is located on the first base side, and the field faces northwest, placing the sunset over the left field foul pole. The protective netting is pinned to the end of the dugouts on each side, leaving the far baselines still fairly exposed. The bullpens are located in foul territory on each team’s respective side of the field.
The Kreider Farms Kids’ Park beyond third base features a playground and a carousel. The TEC Pavilion is located in right field for groups and features a 2-hour all-you-can-eat buffet for $31-37 depending on the day.
On the Bobby Rahal Lexus Suite Level, there is “Lancaster Silverball”, a retro arcade that is also available for hosting group events. There are bathrooms on both the first base and third base sides along the main
concourse.
Old friends: Dalton Guthrie plays for the Ghost Peppers, while Noah Skirrow and Kelly Dugan are members of the Stormers.
Rapid fire notables:
- The store was a respectable size and had a decent selection of hats and shirts, as well as some collectibles for kids. I am a pin collector, and was disappointed they did not have any pins available.
- There were no programs to purchase, or no advertisements of virtual programs.
- There was no mascot race.
- The scoreboard graphics were basic, nothing spectacular or overly impressive. They did not show replays throughout the game.
- The 7th inning stretch song was Flying High Now, the Rocky theme.
- The scoreboard shuffle game (generally a cap game, at the Phillies) was a baseball hiding under hot dogs.
- The best between-inning mini game they played was chipping marshmallows. Contestants were given a golf club and a marshmallow and had to see who could chip it the furthest with one swing each.
The whole stadium is cashless. I purchased tickets online for $20 each (including all fees) and sat in Section 18, Row R. The Stormers pulled out to a seemingly comfortable lead of 5-1 after 4 innings, but the Ghost Peppers did not go quietly. They scored 1 run per inning the next 3 innings, bringing the score to 5-4 after 7. Lancaster grabbed an insurance run in the top of the8th, which proved necessary as Gastonia scored 1 in the 9th and had the tying and go ahead runs on base before Dalton Guthrie struck out to end the game.
FINAL: Lancaster 6, Gastonia 5.
Concessions Breakdown:
Hot Dog $5.00
16oz Beer $8.00
Bottled Water $4.00
Ice Cream Helmets Red helmet with “L” logo
Beer Bats Available for slushies
Collectible Concessions Souvenir 32oz cup, $10
with $5 refills all season
Soda Brand: Pepsi Products
Overall an enjoyable experience, a home team win, and postgame fireworks to celebrate their home opener was a great way to start the 2025 stadium tour. The outfield has the typical minor league lawn which is great for families and kids. The stadium definitely had a smaller, intimate feel to it, rather than something closer to AAA, which is of course expected.
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