Visit the Hudson Valley's Heritage Financial Park
Welcome to Heritage Financial Park, home of the Hudson Valley Renegades. Hike the hills of New York City’s backyard or stroll through the galleries of a world-class museum before settling in at a bucolic ballpark nestled among the trees. Once there, visit the Scouts Hall of Fame or enjoy local wine while taking in the ballgame.
Hudson Valley Renegades (High-A affiliate of the New York Yankees since 2021)
Established: 1994
Ballpark: Heritage Financial Park (opened 1994)
League: South Atlantic League
Notable Alumni: Jorge Cantu, Wade Davis, Ryan Dempster, Josh Hamilton, Evan Longoria, Scott Podsednik
Championships: 1999, 2012, 2017 (all in New York-Penn League)
The Renegades arrived in the Hudson Valley in 1994, when the Erie Sailors of the Class A Short-Season New York-Penn League moved 400 miles east. They were a Texas Rangers affiliate at the time of the move until 1996, when they linked up with the Tampa Bay (then-Devil) Rays, two years before the Major League club would debut. After 24 seasons affiliated with the Rays, Hudson Valley teamed up with the Yankees beginning in 2021. This was also their first season in what is now the South Atlantic League.
Heritage Financial Park
Google Maps
Hudson Valley Renegades roster
Hudson Valley Renegades schedule
1500 Rt 9D
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
845-838-0094
Capacity: 4,500
Dimensions: left field, 325 feet; center field, 400 feet; right field, 325 feet
Park Factors (2021-22)
100 = league average
Runs: 101 | Homers: 102 | Hits: 101
South Atlantic League environment: 5.00 runs per team per game (fifth-highest among 11 full-season leagues)
The drive up to Heritage Financial Park from New York is serene and scenic, a soothing escape from the traffic and congestion of the city – any city, really – especially if you follow the 9s, taking U.S. 9 and New York Route 9D, which hug the Hudson River all the way from the George Washington Bridge right to the ballpark.
The stadium itself is listed in Wappingers Falls, a village of about 5,500, because that’s where the post office is. But it’s situated just north of I-84 within the town of Fishkill (pop. 22,000), and the closest downtown is the city of Beacon (pop. 15,500), which itself is surrounded by Fishkill. Got all that?
Features
If you want the feeling of small-town, mid-century Minor League baseball, Heritage Financial Park is for you. Built in just three months(!) in 1994 but looking like a well-preserved park from the ’50s, it features a brick façade and a low-profile green roof. It was known as Dutchess Stadium for the majority of its existence, switching to its current moniker prior to the 2023 season.
Fans entering from the main gate behind home plate can scan the plaques of the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame or, next to the team shop entrance, two markers commemorating Hudson Valley natives and Hall of Famers Eddie Collins and Dan Brouthers.
Seating stretches from roughly the edge of the outfield grass down one baseline around to the edge of the grass on the other baseline. The upper sections on the far ends are general-admission bleachers, with the other sections containing standard fold-down seats. There are group areas beyond the bleachers in both right and left fields, along with the Sloop Brewing Beer Balcony in right field, but all of this is contained within the foul poles. There is no seating beyond the outfield fence.
An extensive two-phase renovation of the ballpark is slated to be completed by the beginning of the 2024 season. Fan-forward additions include a variety of seating areas along the left-field line, including a rooftop party deck, drink rail seating and a new section of traditional seats. This will increase Heritage Financial Park's capacity by approximately 1,000.
Concessions
All concessions are under the grandstand, with the exception of the bar at the Sloop Brewing Beer Balcony. High-top tables and a ledge overlooking the field are reserved for the group that has reserved the space for the game, but all fans (of age, of course) can order local drafts from the bar.
Down on the concourse, two main concession stands serving standard ballpark fare can be found on either side of home plate, with a Dippin’ Dots kiosk across from the stand on the third-base side. Benmarl Winery, headquartered across the Hudson in Marlboro, has a rustic wine bar near the entrance to the third-base seating area. For a little more variety on your plate, the Mill House Bistro on the first-base side offers pastrami sandwiches, sausage and peppers, a chicken sandwich and half-pound burgers. Canned beer from Poughkeepsie’s Mill House Brewing is also available. Opposite the Bistro is the Dutch Beer Garden, with more regional (Cooperstown Brewing Co.) and national (Sam Adams, Goose Island) brews on draft.
Prior to the 2023 season, the Renegades unveiled their Cider Donuts alternate identity. Cider donuts -- a local specialty -- are available at every game from a kiosk located on the first-base side of the ballpark.
Mascots
Racoons are nocturnal, so Rascal must love night games. Spot him on the concourse or in the stands and approach carefully before hugging. During the 2023 season Rascal started dating Rosie the Skunk, resulting in one of the mascot world's most interesting inter-species love affairs.
Where to Stay
Headed to the stadium and looking for a hotel nearby? Your Wyndham is waiting. As the Official Hotel of Minor League Baseball, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts welcomes baseball fans with a portfolio of 24 trusted brands. Find Hotels by Wyndham closest to the ballpark below and book now at wyndhamhotels.com.
• Super 8 by Wyndham Montgomery Maybrook
• Days Inn by Wyndham Middletown
• Wingate by Wyndham Fishkill
• Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Middletown
Local Attractions
Beacon lies two miles down Route 9D from the ballpark. The three-quarter-mile-long Main St. is eminently walkable with plenty of restaurants, bars and shops to while away an afternoon. Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park and Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park jut out into the Hudson River next to the Metro-North train station. Dia:Beacon, the Dia Art Foundation’s eastern flagship, features modern and contemporary pieces by neon artist Dan Flavin, minimalist Sol LeWitt and pop artist Andy Warhol as part of its permanent collection.
For more active summer recreation, explore the hiking trails and hills of the Hudson Valley, or head over to Fishkill and beat the heat at SplashDown Beach, “America’s Biggest Little Water Park.”
Food and Drink
If you have a favorite cuisine, Beacon’s Main St. probably has it. Meyer’s Olde Dutch Food and Such serves juicy burgers and hand-cut fries. Homespun Foods sells salads and sandwiches out of its popular Main St. location and also handles the café at Dia:Beacon. Ziatun, Homespun’s Main St. neighbor, offers vegan and vegetarian Middle Eastern cuisine. Craft beer fans can try brews from Two Way Brewing on W. Main St. near the river or Hudson Valley Brewery on E. Main near Fishkill Creek. Your sweet tooth can be satisfied with ice cream from Beacon Creamery, donuts from Glazed Over Donuts and handmade and -dipped chocolate (potato chips! Devil Dogs! Twinkies!) from Alps Sweet Shop. You can even enjoy your coffee with a new feline friend at Beans Cat Café.
Moving On
While New York State is home to six affiliated Minor League teams, they’re spread out across the breadth of the East Coast’s largest state north of Georgia – in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton and Brooklyn. The MLB-partner Frontier League has teams near the New Jersey border in Pomona (the Rockland Boulders) and outside Albany (the Tri-City Valley Cats). Two former New York-Penn League members, the Batavia Muckdogs and Auburn Doubledays, are now part of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. And, of course, any baseball road trip across New York State should include a stop at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
The Road to New York
The Yankees’ top three affiliates are all within 2½ hours of The Bronx, making it easy to see each one – as well as the Bombers themselves – over a few days when the schedules allow.
Single-A: Tampa Tarpons (Tampa, Florida)
High-A: Hudson Valley Renegades (Wappingers Falls, New York)
Double-A: Somerset Patriots (Bridgewater, New Jersey)
Triple-A: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Moosic, Pennsylvania)
