Veterans Memorial Stadium rises along the banks of the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, serving as the home ballpark of the Cedar Rapids Kernels, the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The current stadium opened on April 7, 2002, replacing an earlier ballpark of the same name that had stood on the site since 1949.
Built at a cost of roughly $16.49 million, the park has hosted far more than minor league baseball over the years, including a Midwest League All-Star Game, an American Legion World Series, and even a 2005 concert headlined by Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. Since 2009 the playing field has carried the Perfect Game name under a naming-rights deal with the scouting organization.
Stats at a Glance
- Team: Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota Twins, Midwest League)
- Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Opened: April 7, 2002
- Capacity: About 5,300
- Construction Cost: About $16.49 million
- Field Naming Rights: Perfect Game USA (since 2009)
- Notable Fact: Hosted a Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson concert on July 9, 2005
A Ballpark Built on a Legacy Site
The current Veterans Memorial Stadium replaced the Kernels’ original 1949 ballpark of the same name, which stood on this exact riverside plot for over 50 years before being demolished shortly after its final game in August 2001. The rebuild kept the site’s name and civic purpose intact while delivering a modern facility sized for today’s minor league experience.
At roughly 5,300 seats, the park is intimate by design, putting fans close to the action for a Midwest League schedule that runs through the Iowa summer. The stadium has twice hosted the Midwest League All-Star Game, in 2004 and 2016, cementing its reputation as one of the circuit’s premier venues.
More Than a Ballpark
Veterans Memorial Stadium has flexed well beyond baseball, hosting the American Legion World Series in 2006 and the NCAA Division III College World Series from 2019 through 2022. A standout non-sporting moment came on July 9, 2005, when Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson played a joint concert on the field.
The venue wasn’t immune to Iowa’s weather extremes, either. An August 2020 derecho tore through Cedar Rapids and caused about $1 million in initial damage, destroying outfield walls and light poles and underscoring the resilience required to keep the ballpark running for the Kernels and the community events built around it.
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Veterans Memorial Stadium FAQs
Who plays at Veterans Memorial Stadium?
The Cedar Rapids Kernels, the Midwest League affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, have called Veterans Memorial Stadium home since it opened in 2002.
How big is Veterans Memorial Stadium?
The ballpark seats about 5,300 fans, down from its original 6,000-seat capacity when it opened in 2002.
Is this the original Veterans Memorial Stadium?
No. The current stadium opened in 2002 on the same Cedar Rapids site as the original 1949 ballpark, which was demolished shortly after its final game in August 2001.
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