Explore Gwinnett's Coolray Field

Welcome to Coolray Field, where Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and many others have made their final preparations before reaching the big league with the Braves. Located approximately 40 minutes north of Truist Park, this ballpark serves as the home of Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate.

Gwinnett Stripers (Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves)
Established: 2009
League: International League
Ballpark: Coolray Field (opened 2009)
Notable Alumni: Ronald Acuña, Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Freddie Freeman, Julio Teherán, Kyle Wright, Charlie Morton, Tommy Hanson

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The Braves’ Triple-A affiliate resided in Richmond, Virginia, from 1966-2008. The Richmond Braves became the Gwinnett Braves when the organization moved the club to suburban Atlanta in 2009. Since 2018, the team’s name has been the Stripers, honoring the outdoor traditions of Gwinnett County, including year-round striped bass fishing on nearby Lake Lanier. This rebrand enabled the club to differentiate itself from the nearby parent club.

With their franchise origination in 1966, the Stripers now lay claim to the longest continuous affiliation in Minor League Baseball (albeit one spread out over two separate locales).

Coolray Field

Ballpark location (via Google Maps)
Gwinnett Braves schedule
Gwinnett Braves roster

2500 Buford Dr.
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
678-277-0340

Capacity: 10,427
Dimensions: left field, 335 feet; left-center field 375 feet; center field 400 feet; right-center field 375 feet; right field 335 feet

Park factors (2021-22)
100 = league average
Runs: 93 | Homers: 74 | Hits: 102
International League environment: 4.89 runs per team per game (seventh-highest among 11 full-season leagues)

Charlie Morton threw the first pitch and Norfolk’s Matt Wieters recorded the first hit when Coolray Park opened on April 17, 2009. The first Gwinnett batter was Gregor Blanco and first G-Brave to record a home run was Barbaro Canizares.

Coolray Field has hosted numerous concerts featuring Willie Nelson (2011), Chris Young (2020) and Tedeschi Trucks Fireside Live (2021). The ballpark has also been featured in television shoots (Necessary Roughness, Brockmire, Heels) and movie shoots (Parental Guidance, The Phenom, Creed III).

The stadium attendance record was set on April 3, 2012, when the Atlanta Braves played against a Bobby Cox-managed group of prospects. Dan Uggla homered and Gwinnett County native Brian McCann doubled as the big leaguers claimed victory in front of 10,568 fans that day.

Coolray Field is located in the town of Lawrenceville, which, as the team name suggests, is part of Gwinnett County. The county is named after Button Gwinnett, a Georgia representative in the Continental Congress who signed the Declaration of Independence. Nowadays, the county is part of the sprawling Atlanta suburbs. Allow yourself plenty of time to get to the ballpark, as traffic in the region can be heavy. When you do arrive, take solace in the fact that onsite parking is plentiful.

As befits a ballpark built in 2009, Coolray Field is airy and spacious. The 360-degree concourse provides plenty of room to wander, including a large berm seating area the team refers to as “The Bank.” The Kids Zone in the left-field corner is the go-to spot for young fans who may not yet have the attention span for nine innings of International League baseball. New in 2024, the Coca-Cola Front Porch offers the best views in the ballpark while being protected from the elements.

Of course, you’ll want to sit in your seat for at least some of the ballgame. The seating bowl, which stretches roughly from foul pole to foul pole, includes three sections of close-to-the-action Dugout Seats. No matter where you are in the ballpark, expect to see ample Atlanta Braves imagery. Braves fans are Stripers fans, and vice versa.

A popular fan attraction is the Magnolia Tree that stands next to the center-field concession stand behind the batter’s eye. Planted in 2009, the tree pays homage to Minor League Baseball in Atlanta. The Atlanta Crackers became the city’s first professional team in 1924. They played at Ponce de Leon Park, which featured a large magnolia tree that stood in play, in front of the center-field fence, until the fence was moved in approximately 50 feet in 1947.

Concessions

“All The Fixins” is a stand that features “down-home Southern fare with a local flair” like BBQ plates, gourmet pimento grilled cheese, fried Vidalia onion rings, boiled peanuts and more. Signature items will also be found at the new Pontoon Brewing Boat House, including The Knucksie (named after knuckleballer Phil Niekro). This impressive sandwich contains “house smoked pulled pork, caramelized onions, house pickles and coleslaw served over skillet cornbread drizzled with house BBQ sauce.”

Mascot

Chopper the Groundhog has been around since the team moved to Gwinnett. His favorite activities include hot dog eating contests, water balloon fights and chucking wood. His favorite movie is Groundhog Day.

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 Suwanee
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Snellville-Stone Mountain
• Baymont by Wyndham Braselton
• Baymont by Wyndham Norcross Atlanta
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Braselton

Local Attractions

The Exchange at Gwinnett features Topgolf, Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, Pickle & Social and numerous restaurants. The Mall of Georgia is also located just a few miles away. The Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, Museum and Grounds is a great destination for those who want to learn more about the area and its history, including the story of county namesake Button Gwinnett.

Food and Drink

Gwinnett County is filled with hundreds of restaurants catering to every taste. The Varsity is a local fast food institution, with the Gwinnett County location situated in the nearby town of Norcross. Lawrenceville’s Foggy Bottom BBQ is a great nearby choice, as the menu is filled with creative items such as Cajun fried ribs and the melted pimento cheeseburger.

Moving on

The Atlanta Braves and two of their other affiliates -- the Rome Braves and Augusta GreenJackets -- can easily be incorporated into a road trip that includes Gwinnett. Other Minor League teams that are relatively nearby include the Birmingham Barons, Rocket City Trash Pandas and Greenville Drive. Choose a direction and go.

The Road to Atlanta

Each of the Braves’ Minor League affiliates are located within a six-hour drive of Atlanta. High-A Rome and Gwinnett are both situated within an hour of Truist Park. Just beyond the Georgia border in South Carolina, Single-A Augusta is approximately two hours from Atlanta.

Single-A: Augusta Green Jackets
High-A: Rome Emperors
Double-A: Mississippi Braves
Triple-A: Gwinnett Braves