Dunn Field ( Elmira ) Dunn Field is a stadium in Elmira , New York primarily used for baseball . Located on the banks of the Chemung River at the end of Luce St , it has been the home of various incarnations of the Elmira Pioneers since its opening in 1939 . History . The first stadium at the site was known as the Maple Avenue Driving Park . On Nov . 21 , 1902 , the stadium was the site of the first ever professional football night game . The Philadelphia Athletics football team , of the first National Football League , defeated the Kanaweola Athletic Club , 39 - 0 , on Friday November 21 , 1902 . The stadium also served as an alternate home for baseball ' s National League Buffalo Bisons in the late 19th century . The Maple Avenue Driving Park was replaced by Recreation Park , which burned down in 1938 . A new stadium built to replace it was named after a local businessman , Edward Joseph Dunn , who donated some land for the stadium to the city . Besides being the home field of the Elmira Pioneers baseball team , a variety of events have taken place in the stadium over the years such as wrestling & boxing matches , high school sports , and music concerts ( The Beach Boys played there in 1984 ) . Dunn Field served as the home field for both Elmira Free Academy and Southside High School football teams for many years until each team built their own stadiums . The Erie Bell game was often a special occasion at Dunn Field since both Elmira Free Academy and Southside High School played their home games at Dunn Field . Many great baseball players played their home games on this field during part of their minor league years , including Wade Boggs , Curt Schilling , and Jim Palmer . Former player and MLB manager Don Zimmer was even married on Dunn Field in 1951 ( Pictured in Sports Illustrated magazine , and his autobiography ) . Renovations 2012 . Dunn Field workers prepare to unveil a whole new look to the public in June 2012 . What was supposed to be $ 12 , 000 quickly climbed to almost $ 40 , 000 in renovations . The work is being paid for by the City of Elmira . Who owns the 73 year old stadium . From the entrance way , all the way to some of the seating being done and repainted Bathrooms without tile will be a thing of the past . Most notable is a section of stadium seating . . . ripped out . " The structure where the seating is actually attached to was starting to rot away and deteriorate from old age , ” Lewis said . Workers are now working to fill in that hole with new steel . Other sections of the stadium will also need the same repair . While fans also enjoy a new beer garden just behind 3rd base , with live entertainment during games , the players won ’ t be forgotten . There were posters hanging in the locker room . You take down a poster and there was either a bat hole or ball hole . We put 10 new sheets of sheet rock up , ” Lewis said . The new locker room and other events are in hopes Dunn Field will return to its once famed reputation for Elmira . " We want to open it the right way . Have a great impact to the city , ” Lewis said . http : / / www . wetmtv . com / news / local / story / First - Look - At - Dunn - Field - Renovations / MRcBffN6yE6lmuH352cmSQ . cspx The Numbers . Dunn Field has a capacity of 4 , 020 people , including 312 box seats . Its field dimensions are :