Werner Park

Werner Park opened in 2011 in Papillion, a suburb of Omaha, Nebraska, replacing Rosenblatt Stadium, which had served as both the home of the Omaha franchise and the iconic venue for the College World Series. The 9,023-seat ballpark was designed by Populous and built in the growing Sarpy County community of Papillion, a location that reflected the westward shift of Omaha's population center. The move from the beloved Rosenblatt, which was simultaneously losing the College World Series to the new TD Ameritrade Park downtown, marked the end of an era for Omaha baseball, but the new facility quickly established its own identity.

The ballpark's design is clean and modern, with a main concourse that wraps the entire facility and offers unobstructed views of the playing field from every point. The open outfield area features a berm, group gathering spaces, and a playground, creating a festival atmosphere that distinguishes the minor league experience from its Major League counterpart. The playing surface is surrounded by well-maintained landscaping, and the suburban setting provides ample parking — a practical consideration that the cramped Rosenblatt site could never adequately address.

The Omaha Storm Chasers have been affiliated with the Kansas City Royals since 1969, making it one of the longest-running partnerships in minor league baseball. The franchise, which was rebranded from the Omaha Royals to the Storm Chasers in 2011 to coincide with the move to the new ballpark, has served as the final developmental step for a parade of Royals players. The 2015 Kansas City Royals World Series championship team featured numerous players who had spent significant time at what was then called Werner Park, giving Omaha fans a legitimate claim to having contributed to that historic achievement.

Werner Park has hosted the Triple-A National Championship Game and has served as a venue for college baseball events, concerts, and community functions. The ballpark's influence on the Papillion-La Vista community has been substantial, with commercial development clustering around the venue and the area's profile rising significantly since the stadium's opening. For Omaha baseball fans who mourned the loss of Rosenblatt, Werner Park has proven a worthy successor.