GD Field

[Apollos]

When it opened in 2033, Gisolo-Duppa Field was a shining beacon of hope for the Knights and their return to PEBA. Built in a shade under two years, it became a symbol of the moribund Knights rebirth and their outsized expectations as they re-emerged from the shadow of a near decade in the World Independent League and their ignominious exit from the PEBA. Two years on and 204 losses later, one could be forgiven if they expected the Knights fans to be abandoning the team en masse as those hopes and expectations are met with the harsh reality of a full-scale rebuild. Yet, despite the mounting losses and continued incompetence of the major league team, a curious thing has happened amongst Knights faithful during their return to the PEBA - the fans have embraced the lovable losers. As this transition has taken place, the Knights modern, frontier-chique stadium has become the centerpiece of this movement with fans flocking in record numbers to support “the GD Knights”.

Named for two of Tempe’s most esteemed residents, the selection of Gisolo-Duppa Field was intended to pay homage to these founding sons and daughters of the city. And while it appears that fans have largely embraced the name, it’s moniker and associated nickname has become a fan favorite, linking it to everything associated with the club:

“Let’s go to GD Field!”
“I’m watching the GD Knights”
“How about a GD run?!”
“These GD Knights are GD awful”
“Give me another GD beer to make these guys watchable”

To the club’s credit, the sales and marketing team have embraced and monetized this concept and relative popularity, and are now planning a further expansion of the still-new stadium to bring additional GD fans to GD field.

Not since the heady days of 2011-2013, when the Knights were both a consistent championship contender and the winners of the Planetary Extreme Championship, have so many fans passed through the turnstiles in Tempe. The club drew 2.69 million fans to the grounds in Gisolo-Duppa’s inaugural season and (surprisingly, given the results) 2.81 million fans in 2034. The demand for tickets has been so unexpectedly high that Knights ownership added 3,000 seats to the third base grandstand after the 2033 campaign and spent the recently concluded 2034 season working with engineers to design a further enlargement to the centerfield plaza and seating area. The final product: another 5,000 seats which will be added to the stadium in anticipation of record demand in 2035.

Building on the popularity of the GD theme, the new and improved centerfield grandstand will include a “GD beer Garden” which overlooks the stadium’s centerpiece: the Apollo fountain and marble entrance plaza. The team is also planning the opening of several GD-themed concessions at the new grandstands section, to include “GD Pretzels”, “GD Good Eats”, and a miniaturized version of the recently opened brewery along Mill Street in downtown Tempe, “GD Distillery”.

In all, the club hopes to be in a position to break previous Tempe attendance records as soon as this season, but GD field figures to remain the focal point of the GD franchise until the on-field product improves.