George Dobson Field

History:

George Dobson Field, known fully as George Dobson Field at Spring Lake Park, is the home field of the Texarkana Gunslingers of the Continental Baseball League, an independent professional league. It is also home to the Texarkana College Bulldogs baseball team.

GDF has been used for professional baseball since the Gunslingers inaugural season in 2008. The Gunslingers’ first game at GDF was on May 25th, 2008. A crowd of 1,900 people showed up to witness the game, a Continental League record for a single game.

Before 2008, GDF was little more than just a field, seating about 600. But after renovations early in 2008, the field’s capacity rose to about 1,600, making it the 6th largest ballpark in Arkansas.

Even after renovations, the field still has little to boast about. All the seating is made up of 9 different metal bleachers which run down the base lines. A small press box sits behind homeplate. Concessions are located behind-left of the press box.

The ballpark was used by the Gunslingers again in 2009. The Continental League expanded to 6 teams in 2009 and with a good season, the league could have a good future.

The city of Texarkana might also have a good future in professional baseball. People in the city seem to have taken a liking to the Gunslingers, leading the CBL in attendance. But if Texarkana wants a minor league team, a major ballpark improvement will need to be made. A new $8 million dollar park that could open as soon as 2013 has been discussed, but plans are not finalized.

Note:

George Dobson Field is officially in Texarkana, TX, less than a mile from the Arkansas border. The team that plays there, the Texarkana Gunslingers, represents both Texarkana, TX and Texarkana, AR, therefore being considered an Arkansas ballpark.