In today’s world, it’s refreshing to find a ballpark that is devoid of a corporate name — and especially if that park has a name that ties in well with its geographical area. Five County Stadium, situated in Zebulon, NC, does an exemplary job of this. The ballpark’s name pays tribute not only to the county in which it sits (Wake County) but also to the four other counties that are located no more than five miles away. These counties are Franklin, Johnston, Nash, and Wilson.
Five County Stadium opened in 1991 and has hosted affiliated baseball at multiple levels of the minor leagues ever since. The ballpark has an official seating capacity of 6,500, which makes it one of the largest facilities in the Carolina League. Only the parks in Columbia and Myrtle Beach are bigger. The home of the Mudcats has seen multiple renovations throughout its history, which have helped to provide a contemporary feel in many parts of the park.
The ballpark has a variety of seating options for fans to enjoy; like many parks of its era, it doesn’t offer a 360-degree concourse or outfield seating, however. Unlike many 1990s ballparks, though, the concourse isn’t fully enclosed. While it’s not as open as you’ll find in many modern-day parks, it’s still possible to see the field from various points along the concourse.
One of the most unique things about Five County Stadium is the Mudcats-themed water tower, which is situated a short distance beyond the left field fence. Team-branded water towers are very rare in baseball; Grainger Stadium in Kinston, NC, is another minor league ballpark that has such a feature.