QUAD CITIES RIVER BANDITS
Modern Woodmen Park
Modern Woodmen Park has hosted professional baseball since 1931 — one of the oldest continuously operating minor league stadiums in America. The park sits on a bluff above the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa, with the river and the Rock Island Bridge (built 1872) visible beyond the right field fence. The Quad Cities are the four cities where Iowa meets Illinois across the Mississippi: Davenport and Bettendorf on the Iowa side, Rock Island and Moline on the Illinois side. The ferris wheel beyond the outfield fence is the park's signature sight.
PHOTO: Iowahwyman · CC BY-SA 3.0
Architecture & History
Modern Woodmen Park opened in 1931 and is one of the oldest professional sports venues in the United States still in active use. The original grandstand from the Roosevelt Administration remains the heart of the ballpark.
Build specs
- OPENED
- 1931
- CAPACITY
- 7,500
- DIMENSIONS
- LF 343 · CF 400 · RF 318
Statues & Exterior
EXTERIOR FEATURES
Historic 1931 Grandstand
Main grandstand
Modern Woodmen Park opened in 1931 and is one of the oldest professional sports venues in continuous use in the United States.
Mississippi River Outfield
Beyond outfield
The stadium sits on the banks of the Mississippi River — one of very few professional ballparks where boats pass beyond the outfield fence during games.
Ferris Wheel in Center Field
Center field
A full-size Ferris wheel operates inside the outfield fence during games, making this one of the most distinctive amusement-park-style ballpark experiences in affiliated baseball.
Names & History
2012–present
Modern Woodmen Park
Named after Modern Woodmen of America, the fraternal financial organization headquartered in Rock Island, IL.
1931–2012
Various corporate names
The park opened in 1931 and operated under several name changes throughout the 20th century.
Also known as
The Food
Mississippi River Catfish Po'Boy
The Mississippi River — the largest river in North America, flowing past the right field fence — produces channel catfish and flathead catfish. A Mississippi River catfish po'boy — cornmeal-fried catfish in a hoagie roll with coleslaw, hot sauce, and pickles — is the most geographically specific food available at any professional baseball park.
Iowa Breaded Pork Tenderloin
Tenderloin stand
The Iowa version — thin, wide, fried golden, served on a small bun with mustard and pickles.
Maid-Rite Loose Meat Sandwich
Maid-Rite stand
The Maid-Rite loose meat sandwich — ground beef cooked without binding, served on a steamed bun with mustard, onions, and pickles — invented in Muscatine, Iowa in 1926.
River Bandits Dog
Hot dog stands
Standard hot dog with Iowa yellow mustard.
The Beer
Modern Woodmen Park has a solid Iowa craft presence. Bent River Brewing and Iowa Brewing Company represent the Quad Cities craft scene.
Bent River Brewing Uncommon Stout
Bent River Brewing Co. · Moline, IL
Bent River Brewing, named for the Mississippi River's bent course through the Quad Cities.
Iowa Brewing Company Dedication IPA
Iowa Brewing Co. · Des Moines, IA
Iowa Brewing Company brings Dedication IPA.
Old Style
Pabst Brewing Co.
Old Style is the dominant volume lager in the Illinois Quad Cities market.
Sun & Weather Guide
Mississippi River Valley summer heat
The river valley amplifies summer humidity in Davenport. Day games in July and August are demanding.
Mississippi River breeze moderates temperatures
Spring and fall evening games with the river breeze are the best Modern Woodmen Park experience.
Insider Tips
The One Thing
The Ferris wheel operates inside the outfield during games. Ride it. Modern Woodmen Park is also one of the oldest stadiums in America still hosting professional baseball — opened 1931.
Best Seat in the House
Upper deck seats on the first base side overlook the Mississippi River directly. This is one of the few professional ballparks in America where boats pass beyond the outfield fence during a game.
The History
The grandstand opened in 1931 — the same year as Yankee Stadium's renovation and two years before the first All-Star Game. Professional baseball has been played on this spot for nearly 100 years.
Getting There
Modern Woodmen Park is on the Iowa side of the Quad Cities, in downtown Davenport. The John O'Donnell Bridge over the Mississippi is the landmark. Parking adjacent to the park.
Pilgrim Stops Near Davenport
Weird, wonderful, and worth the detour.
Iowa 80 Trucking Museum
The world's largest truck stop, with a free antique truck museum next door.
Field of Dreams Movie Site Iowa
The baseball diamond in an Iowa cornfield. The corn still grows to outfield height.
Galena Historic District Illinois
The city that froze in 1854 and kept its architecture — with Grant's house at the end.
Plan your pilgrimage
Every Park a Pilgrimage.
Plan a baseball road trip through Davenport and beyond.
Start Planning →