On March 30, 2009, ground was broken for a $12 million multi-purpose stadium adjacent to Heartland Community College on Raab Road. The CornBelters will share the facility with Heartland’s baseball, softball, and soccer programs. The facility was completed in time for the CornBelters' inaugural 2010 season. On October 20, 2009, it was announced that the stadium would be known as The Corn Crib. The name was the result of a naming rights partnership with the Illinois Corn Marketing Board. The naming rights agreement lasts for two years with an "automatic renewal". Both team and ICMB officials declined to disclose the financial terms of the partnership.
History
Name-the-team contest and surrounding controversy
The CornBelters were named after a fan vote to determine the name. A publicity stunt occurred after the four finalists were unveiled:
Normal Nutz; an homage to the Beer Nuts brand based in nearby Bloomington
Normal NightHawks; a popular alliterative nickname.
Normal CornBelters; a reference to Illinois' location in the Corn Belt. "Belt" is also a slang term meaning to hit the ball hard.
Normal Fellers; an homage to Jesse W. Fell, the founder of Illinois State University, as well as the term "Feller" referring to "regular guy".
Normal CamelBacks; an homage to Camelback Bridge, built to allow steam locomotives to pass underneath and currently arching over Constitution Trail. It is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
2010 season
was announced as the team's first manager on October 7, 2009. Lanier managed the Houston Astros to a division title in 1986 and is a former Major League player and coach as well. Over 21 seasons as a major, minor and independent league manager, Lanier has compiled a record of 1,338-1,033. The Normal CornBelters' inaugural season schedule was released on October 16, 2009. The CornBelters' season opened at the Evansville Otters on May 21, 2010. The home opener, the first in team history, was played at 7 p.m. on June 1, 2010 against the Windy City ThunderBolts. The team had 51 home games in 2010 and their season ended on September 5, 2010. The team finished with a 44-52 record. Two CornBelters were named 2010 All-Stars and played in the All-Star Game: RHP Tyler Lavigne and 3B Daniel Cox.
