Modern Woodmen Park wins Best Minor League Ballpark

Modern Woodmen Park has won the triple crown. For the third time, the minor league ballpark along the riverfront in downtown Davenport has been voted the “Best Minor League Ballpark” in USA TODAY 10Best.com’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. The home of the Quad Cities River Bandits earned that distinction last year as well as in […]

Modern Woodmen Park has won the triple crown. For the third time, the minor league ballpark along the riverfront in downtown Davenport has been voted the “Best Minor League Ballpark” in USA TODAY 10Best.com’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. The home of the Quad Cities River Bandits earned that distinction last year as well as in the publication’s inaugural rankings in 2014.

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“This award is a testament to our hard-working staff, our fantastic supporters throughout the Quad Cities and the region, to Kansas City Royals fans throughout the country, and to our wonderful partnership with the City of Davenport, which does so much to help us keep our ballpark first rate in every respect,” said Dave Heller, River Bandits owner and CEO of Main Street Baseball, LLC. Mr. Heller, along with Leah White, director of enterprise marketing and communications at Modern Woodmen of America, and Rob Cravaritis, president of the Quad-City Times, gathered at Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday morning, March 26, for a brief news conference to announce the latest honor. Mr. Heller said that being named best minor league ballpark is a huge achievement, and also thanked the many fans who voted online for Modern Woodmen Park. Nominated by a panel of the USA TODAY publication’s editors and industry experts, the Quad Cities ballpark earned the top spot over 19 of minor league baseball’s other top venues, including 16 located in Double A and Triple A markets. “Modern Woodmen Park is accented by the Centennial Bridge over the Mississippi River behind right field. The venue also uniquely features a mini amusement park with rides like a giant Ferris wheel, a kids’ roller coaster and the only double-decker carousel in the state,” according to the description of the park in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards website. At the news conference, Ms. White said Modern Woodmen of America “treasures the partnership” with the River Bandits, and looks forward to the ballpark winning the minor league ballpark award for a fourth time next year. Modern Woodmen of America President and CEO Jerry Lyphout said in a news release that the park is a “family friendly gem, and we are grateful to be associated with something that means so much to our community.” That partnership with Modern Woodmen has been in place for 18 years, and will continue for years to come, said Mr. Heller. “We are and will remain Modern Woodmen Park.” City of Davenport leaders also praised the park for receiving the honor. “Modern Woodmen Park is a valuable asset along our riverfront. The City of Davenport will continue to invest in its stadium to bring the best experience to baseball fans and support a family friendly attraction in our community,” Denise Hnytka, the city’s chief communications officer, said in a news release. Mr. Heller said he especially appreciates the accolade because too often the achievements made in the country’s middle region are ignored by people on the east and west coasts of the nation. “This is really an award for all of us in the Midwest who are so often overlooked,” he added. The “Best Minor League Ballpark”  comes just as the River Bandits’ ball team is getting ready for its new season. In fact, as the news conference was being held in the stadium’s Smart Toyota Diamond Club, a crew of workers was busy outside getting the park’s infield ready for the  home opener on Tuesday, April 8, against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Go here to see the season’s schedule. The 2025 season will mark the River Bandits’ fifth season as the High A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, and the 64th year as members of the Midwest League.