NORTHWEST ARKANSAS NATURALS
Arvest Ballpark
Arvest Ballpark sits in the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas — Walmart's headquarters (Bentonville, 20 miles north), Tyson Foods' headquarters (Springdale, adjacent), and a concentration of world-class art museums. The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is 20 miles away.
PHOTO: Brandonrush · Public Domain
Architecture & History
Arvest Ballpark opened in 2008 in Springdale, Arkansas, as the home of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Designed by Populous, it sits in the heart of the booming Northwest Arkansas corridor.
The Naturals name references the state's natural beauty. The park features an open-air design with views of the Ozark foothills and a berm area in right field popular with families.
Northwest Arkansas is home to Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt headquarters. The ballpark benefits from one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country, with a food scene that punches well above its weight.
Build specs
- ARCHITECT
- Populous
- CAPACITY
- 6,500
- OPENED
- 2008
- SURFACE
- Natural Grass
- COST
- $32.5M
Statues & Exterior
EXTERIOR FEATURES
Ozark Foothills View
Outfield
Rolling Ozark foothills create a natural green backdrop beyond the outfield walls.
Right Field Berm
Right field
A popular grass berm area with a family-friendly atmosphere, featuring lawn seating and a playground.
Names & History
2008–present
Arvest Ballpark
Named for Arvest Bank, a major regional bank headquartered in northwest Arkansas.
The Food
Tyson Chicken Tenders
Tyson Foods was founded in Springdale in 1935. The Naturals park serves Tyson chicken tenders — the most locally grounded food available.
Tyson Chicken Tenders
Chicken stand — main concourse
Tyson Foods was founded in Springdale in 1935. The Naturals park serves Tyson chicken tenders — the most locally grounded food available.
Arkansas Fried Catfish
Catfish stand
Arkansas catfish — cornmeal-battered, with hush puppies and coleslaw.
Feltner's Whatta-Burger
Regional burger stand
Feltner's Whatta-Burger from Russellville — not affiliated with Whataburger of Texas — smash-style burger with house sauce.
Smoked Chicken Nachos
Nacho stand
Tyson smoked chicken over nachos with jalapenos, queso, and pico de gallo.
Naturals Dog
Hot dog stands
Standard hot dog with Arkansas yellow mustard and optional Tyson chicken chili.
The Beer
Arvest Ballpark has a growing Northwest Arkansas craft presence. Bike Rack Brewing in Bentonville is the flagship.
Bike Rack Brewing Crystal Bridges Blonde
Bike Rack Brewing · Bentonville, AR
Bike Rack Brewing — named for the famous Bentonville mountain bike trail network — is the most high-profile NWA craft brewery.
Lost Forty Brewing Bare Bones Lager
Lost Forty Brewing · Little Rock, AR
Lost Forty, from Little Rock, is the most nationally distributed Arkansas craft option.
Core Brewing & Distilling Pale Ale
Core Brewing · Springdale, AR
Core Brewing is literally in Springdale — the same city as the park. Their Pale Ale and Amber are the most geographically proximate craft options available.
Bud Light
Anheuser-Busch
Volume beer throughout the Arkansas market.
Sun & Weather Guide
northeast — Springdale AR · Ozark Mountains · 1,320 ft elevation
Mountain valley — comfortable NWA evenings
Arvest Ballpark evening games in the Ozark Mountain valley are among the most comfortable in the Texas League. The elevation and mountain terrain produce reliable evening breezes.
Ozark summer — warm but elevated
Northwest Arkansas summer day games are hot but the Ozark elevation (1,320 ft) provides moderate relief from the worst humidity. Evening games preferred July-August.
Ozark Mountain seasons — excellent shoulder baseball
NWA spring and fall games are the best in the Texas League North. The Ozark mountain valley terrain produces mild spring and fall temperatures.
Bentonville is 20 miles north — Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Walmart Museum are both worth building into the itinerary.
Insider Tips
The One Thing
Order the Tyson chicken tenders and a Bike Rack Crystal Bridges Blonde. Tyson Foods was founded in Springdale. The Naturals park in Tyson's headquarters city serves the specific product that made Tyson a national brand.
Crystal Bridges Museum
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is 20 miles north in Bentonville — the Moshe Safdie-designed museum funded by Alice Walton. Free admission. One of the great American art museums. Worth building into the itinerary.
Ozark Mountain Trails
The Bentonville mountain bike trail network — funded by Walmart's fortune — is world-class. If you're spending more than a day in NWA, the trails and the museum together explain why this region has transformed.
Parking Reality
Arvest Ballpark has surface parking adjacent to the stadium. Springdale is car-oriented. NW Arkansas is a growing metro — traffic is increasing but parking is still accessible.
Best Value Seat
Third base lower grandstand — Ozark Mountain valley backdrop, evening shade development, and access to the chicken stand. Evening game in the Ozarks with a Bike Rack beer.
Plan your pilgrimage
Every Park a Pilgrimage.
Plan a baseball road trip through Springdale and beyond.
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