Amarillo Sod Poodles: Name Origin, HODGETOWN Capacity & Guide

Updated October 31, 2026

Few minor league teams have a name people ask about as often as the Amarillo Sod Poodles. Locals call them the "Soddies." The name started out as a head-scratcher, and it is now one of the best-known brands in Minor League Baseball. The team just won its third Texas League championship in 2026, and it plays at HODGETOWN, a $45.5 million downtown ballpark that changed how Amarillo spends its summer nights.

This guide covers the whole story: where "Sod Poodle" comes from, how the team ended up in Amarillo, what HODGETOWN holds and offers, what to eat and where to sit, what to do around the ballpark, and what is already set for the 2027 season. If you are thinking about moving to Amarillo, it also shows why the ballpark has become part of downtown living.

Sunset over a downtown minor league ballpark with families on the outfield lawn and a prairie dog peeking from its burrow in the foreground — HODGETOWN seats 6,631 in downtown Amarillo, and the team's namesake, the prairie dog or "sod poodle," is a High Plains icon.

Key Takeaways

"Sod Poodle" is old Western slang for a prairie dog. The front office found the term during a 2018 brainstorming session with branding firm Brandiose, and prairie dog researcher John Hoogland confirmed it was real.
The name won out over four other finalists: Boot Scooters, Bronc Busters, Jerky, and Long Haulers. It was unveiled on November 13, 2018.
HODGETOWN seats 6,631 and opened April 8, 2019, at 715 S. Buchanan St., across from Amarillo City Hall. It cost about $45.5 million and sits on about 9.6 acres.
The name "HODGETOWN" honors Jerry Hodge, a pharmacist, civic leader, and former Amarillo mayor who helped bring affiliated baseball back to town. The "town" part comes from prairie dog towns, where many colonies form one big community.
Three titles in seven seasons: the Soddies won the Texas League in 2019, 2023, and 2026. The 2026 title came with a 6–4 Game 3 win at Springfield on September 23, 2026.
2027 is already on the calendar. The home opener is Tuesday, April 6, 2027, vs. the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, and Banana Ball returns to HODGETOWN May 14–15, 2027.

How the Amarillo Sod Poodles Got Their Name

What is a "Sod Poodle"?

A sod poodle is a prairie dog. The black-tailed prairie dog has been common across the Texas Panhandle's shortgrass prairie for as long as anyone can remember. Prairie dogs are everywhere around Amarillo, but the nickname "sod poodle" was not. Even many longtime locals had never heard it before the team picked it.

The name-the-team contest

Once the franchise's move to Amarillo was set, the club ran a name-the-team contest that drew thousands of entries. "Prairie Dogs" and its variations were among the most common ideas. The front office wanted something more original that still clearly belonged to the High Plains.

According to a team history published by MiLB.com, then-public relations director Shane Philips found the term "Sod Poodles" by digging deep into prairie dog slang during a brainstorming session with Jason Klein and Casey White of Brandiose, the San Diego firm that designs many minor league brands. Team president and general manager Tony Ensor remembered the reaction in the room: "It all became Sod Poodles in that moment." To make sure the term was real and not invented, the club checked with prairie dog researcher John Hoogland, who has spent decades studying the animals. He confirmed that prairie dogs had occasionally been called sod poodles.

The five finalists

Finalist name	What it referenced
Boot Scooters	Western dance halls and boot culture
Bronc Busters	Ranching and rodeo heritage
Jerky	Cattle country and the beef industry
Long Haulers	I-40 and Route 66 trucking
Sod Poodles (winner)	The prairie dog: a tight-knit, family-oriented, self-sufficient High Plains animal

From eye-rolls to obsession

The name did not get a warm welcome at first. Some residents felt that outsiders were inventing a "local" term. But people were curious, and the curiosity spread quickly. By the time the name became official on November 13, 2018, Amarillo bakeries were selling Sod Poodle cookies, stores were selling unofficial merchandise, and the term had turned up in TV commercials, roadside signs, and even a church sermon title. Bootmaker and songwriter Carson Leverett wrote the "Sod Poodles Anthem," which was later recorded with a full band in Nashville and plays during the seventh inning.

The team says the prairie dog stands for sticking together, being family-oriented, and being self-sufficient, values that fit how Panhandle residents see themselves. In March 2023, subscribers of The Athletic voted the Sod Poodles the best team name in Minor League Baseball.

Meet Ruckus

The official mascot is Ruckus the Sod Poodle, a familiar sight on the concourse, on the dugout roofs, and at community events around the Panhandle. Kids 12 and under can join the Sod Pups Club for a season of extra perks.

How Pro Baseball Came Back to Amarillo

Amarillo has a long baseball history. The Amarillo Gold Sox played in the Texas League at Potter County Memorial Stadium, and their last season there was 1982. Independent and collegiate teams filled the gap for decades, but affiliated pro baseball did not return until 2019.

The return started as part of a downtown revival plan:

November 3, 2015: Amarillo voters approved a non-binding referendum on a downtown Multi-Purpose Event Venue (MPEV) with a ballpark. It passed about 52% to 48%, with 22,444 votes cast.
November 2016: Local leaders, including Alex Fairly and Jerry Hodge, met with Elmore Sports Group. They brought signed pledges from local businesses for 12 suites and stadium naming rights, a key moment in the deal.
June 21, 2017: Elmore Sports Group announced that its Double-A San Antonio Missions would move to Amarillo for 2019. San Antonio kept the "Missions" name for a Triple-A club that moved in from Colorado Springs.
September 2017: The city announced a 30-year lease with the team at $400,000 a year.
February 1, 2018: Groundbreaking on the ballpark.
April 8, 2019: HODGETOWN opened. The first home game drew 7,175 fans.

The Sod Poodles played their first two seasons as the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The 2020 minor league season was canceled because of the pandemic. Since 2021, they have been the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Former Soddies who reached the majors include Corbin Carroll, Jordan Lawlar, MacKenzie Gore, Luis Patiño, and Taylor Trammell. Trammell's ninth-inning grand slam in Game 5 at Tulsa clinched the 2019 title.

HODGETOWN Stadium Guide: Capacity, Size & Specs

Why it's called HODGETOWN

"HODGE" honors Jerry Hodge, an Amarillo pharmacist, businessman, philanthropist, and former mayor who led the community push to bring affiliated pro baseball back. He died in 2024, and the ballpark carries his name. "TOWN" comes from prairie dog culture, where a "town" is many colonies joined into one big community. The team says that is the point of the ballpark: one gathering place for the whole Panhandle.

HODGETOWN by the numbers

Spec	Detail
Seating capacity	6,631
Address	715 S. Buchanan St., Amarillo, TX 79101 (across from City Hall)
Groundbreaking / opening	February 1, 2018 / April 8, 2019
Approximate cost	$45.5 million
Site size	About 9.6 acres
Architect	Populous
General contractors	Western Builders of Amarillo & Hunt Construction
Field dimensions	LF line 325' · LF alley 352' · CF 405' · RC 411' · RF alley 352' · RF line 325'
Main video board ("HodgeVision")	35 ft tall × 60 ft wide, beyond the left-field wall
Ribbon board	218 ft × 6 ft along the left-field wall
Concourse	360-degree open concourse
Team dugout	Third-base side (visitors on first base)
Recognition	Ballpark Digest "Best of the Ballparks" Double-A fan vote winner, 2019

Seating and hospitality areas

HODGETOWN was designed around the fan experience. The team has noted that few ballparks have anything like its field-level dugout suites, about 30 feet behind home plate. Here are the main ways to watch a game:

Area	Group size	What to know
Dugout Suites	Up to 16	Field level about 30 ft behind home plate, catered meal, private server, club-level access
Luxury Suites	Up to 20	Climate-controlled, balcony seating, full catering
Concourse Suites	Up to 25	Open-air suites with a catered meal and private server
Party Deck	50–70	Club-level access, covered tables and lounge seating, private bar
Left Field Group Patio	20–232	Four-top tables near the left-field entrance, 90-minute catered meal
Right Field Group Patio	20–140	Views of the downtown skyline, near the Kids Zone
Outfield Overlook	36	Center field, the only group area where you can catch a home run
Lawn (berm)	General	Grass hill in right field, blankets OK, no chairs with legs, needs a Lawn ticket
Standing Room Only	General	Drink rails around the park, limited seating at Bar 352

Food at HODGETOWN

There are four main concession stands: Barnyard, Panhandle Pizza, Feed and Seed, and Route 66 Grill. Portable stands throughout the concourse add specialty hot dogs at Diggity Dog Grill, a nacho helmet from Nacho Libre, Dippin' Dots, snow cones, and hard ice cream and sundaes at Feed and Seed. To buy alcohol you need a wristband from an ID station at the rotunda or left-field entrance.

For families

Northwest Children's Hospital Kids Corral in right field has inflatables, a speed-pitch booth, a bounce house, and a slide. All-you-can-play wristbands are $5. Rides close after the 7th inning.
A free jungle gym with two slides sits on the first-base side of the concourse.
Kids 2 and under get in free on a lap, and child tickets (12 and under) are $2 off.
Several Bark in the Park nights each season let you bring your dog.
Changing tables are in every concourse restroom, and there is a family restroom next to Panhandle Pizza.

Game-Day Tips: Before You Go

Topic	What to know
Gates	Open 1 hour 5 minutes before first pitch. Full-season members enter 30 minutes earlier at the left-field gate.
Entrances	Home Plate Rotunda (southwest corner) and the left-field corner (northwest corner)
Bags	Clear bag policy (clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC). Metal detectors at entry.
Outside food & drink	Not allowed, except one sealed 16 oz. bottle of water with the label removed
Parking	Three team-run paid lots open 90 minutes before first pitch, plus downtown street and garage parking
Payment	Cashless. Reverse ATMs behind sections 109 and 113 turn cash into a prepaid card.
Rainouts	Your ticket works as a rain check for a future regular-season game that season, subject to availability
Radio	All games are broadcast and streamed, with links on SodPoodles.com

Weather tip: Amarillo evenings cool off fast, even in summer, and spring wind is real. Bring a light jacket in April, May, and September. Sunset games are worth it, because a High Plains sunset behind the downtown skyline is half the show.

The 2026 Championship Season

The Soddies won the second-half South Division title in 2026 to make the playoffs, then won all four elimination games they faced. They beat the Frisco RoughRiders in a deciding Game 3 of the South Division Series. In the Texas League Championship Series, they lost Game 1 at home to the defending champion Springfield Cardinals, then won the next two in Springfield. Avery Owusu-Asiedu's 430-foot, go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 3 helped seal a 6–4 win on September 23, 2026.

Season	Result
2019	Texas League champions in the inaugural season (Padres affiliate)
2023	Texas League champions; also named MiLB Organization of the Year
2026	Texas League champions, beating Springfield 2–1 in the Championship Series

After the 2026 title, the team said it had more Texas League titles and more playoff wins (14) since 2019 than any other club in the league, and a 12–1 record in elimination games.

What's Next: The 2027 Season at HODGETOWN

Home opener: Tuesday, April 6, 2027, vs. the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Kansas City Royals affiliate). The season starts on the road April 2.
Home schedule: 69 home dates through September 5, 2027.
Banana Ball returns: The Texas Tailgaters play the Firefighters on May 14–15, 2027. Tickets are sold through a lottery at bananaball.com, and standard tickets start at $35. The current lottery entry window closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on October 31, 2026.
Season tickets: Members save up to 45% off gate prices and get priority seating.

HODGETOWN is a multi-purpose venue, so the calendar also includes high school and college games, concerts, holiday events, weddings, and corporate gatherings outside the baseball season.

Things to Do Near HODGETOWN (Before or After the Game)

Attraction	Distance from HODGETOWN	Why go
Polk Street (downtown)	Walkable	Restaurants, bars, and live music in the historic core
Amarillo Civic Center Complex	Walkable	Concerts, Amarillo Wranglers hockey, and conventions
Route 66 Historic District (SW 6th Ave.)	About 2 miles	Antique shops, galleries, cafés, and live music on the Mother Road
American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum	About 2 miles	Western and ranching history on I-40
The Big Texan Steak Ranch	About 7 miles	Home of the famous 72-oz. steak challenge
Cadillac Ranch	About 10 miles west	Ten Cadillacs buried nose-down since 1974. Bring spray paint.
Wonderland Park & Amarillo Zoo	About 4 miles north	Family amusement park and zoo in Thompson Park
Palo Duro Canyon State Park	About 27 miles southeast	Second-largest canyon in the U.S., with hiking, biking, and the summer TEXAS Outdoor Musical

Distances are approximate driving distances from downtown.

Sample Sod Poodles weekend

Friday: Dinner on Polk Street, a Soddies game, and fireworks if it's a fireworks night.
Saturday: Morning hike at Palo Duro Canyon, lunch in Canyon, an afternoon on Route 66's 6th Avenue, and a night game from the lawn.
Sunday: Photos at Cadillac Ranch, then brunch before heading home.

Fun Facts About the Sod Poodles

The franchise used to be the Double-A San Antonio Missions. It moved as part of a three-team shuffle under the same owner, Elmore Sports Group.
The team took the Texas League title in its very first season (2019).
Before the full name was announced, prairie dog experts were consulted to confirm "sod poodle" was a real term.
The "Sod Poodles Anthem" was recorded in Nashville and plays during the 7th inning.
The ballpark's main video board is named HodgeVision.
Right-center field is the deepest part of the park at 411 feet, farther than straightaway center (405').
Amarillo's nickname, the "Yellow City," shows up all over team marketing and merchandise.

Living Near the Ballpark: Why HODGETOWN Matters to Amarillo Homebuyers

HODGETOWN was a centerpiece of Amarillo's downtown revival plan, along with a downtown convention hotel and a parking garage. For people moving to Amarillo, that means:

A real downtown night scene from April through September, with about 70 home games a season plus events.
Close-in neighborhoods such as Wolflin, the historic districts near Route 66, and downtown lofts that put you minutes from the ballpark.
Affordable family fun. Lawn seats, $5 Kids Corral wristbands, and promotion nights make a game one of the region's easiest outings.
Community identity. Three championships in seven seasons have given Amarillo something to rally around. Relocating families often say the Soddies help them feel at home quickly.

Whether you want a historic home near downtown or newer construction in southwest Amarillo, you will rarely be more than 15–20 minutes from first pitch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are they called the Sod Poodles?

"Sod poodle" is old slang for a prairie dog, an animal common across the Texas Panhandle. The name came out of a 2018 name-the-team contest and was chosen over Boot Scooters, Bronc Busters, Jerky, and Long Haulers. It stands for sticking together, family, and self-sufficiency.

How many people does HODGETOWN hold?

HODGETOWN's listed seating capacity is 6,631. With lawn and standing-room areas, attendance can go higher. The first home opener in 2019 drew 7,175 fans.

Who is HODGETOWN named after?

Jerry Hodge, an Amarillo pharmacist, businessman, philanthropist, and former mayor who helped lead the effort to bring affiliated pro baseball back to Amarillo. The "town" refers to a prairie dog town.

What MLB team are the Sod Poodles affiliated with?

The Arizona Diamondbacks. They have been the D-backs' Double-A affiliate since 2021, after starting as a San Diego Padres affiliate in 2019.

How many championships have the Sod Poodles won?

Three Texas League titles: 2019, 2023, and 2026.

Where is HODGETOWN, and where do I park?

715 S. Buchanan St. in downtown Amarillo, across from City Hall. The team runs three paid lots that open 90 minutes before first pitch, and there is also downtown street and garage parking.

Can I bring a bag or outside food?

Only clear bags are allowed. Outside food and drinks are not, except one sealed 16 oz. bottle of water with the label removed.

When does the 2027 season start?

The Sod Poodles open at home on Tuesday, April 6, 2027, vs. the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The home schedule runs through September 5.

Is Banana Ball coming back to Amarillo?

Yes. The Texas Tailgaters and Firefighters play at HODGETOWN on May 14–15, 2027. Tickets are sold through the Banana Ball ticket lottery.

What is the mascot's name?

Ruckus the Sod Poodle.

Sources

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only. OnDemand Realty is not affiliated with the Amarillo Sod Poodles, HODGETOWN, Minor League Baseball, or the Arizona Diamondbacks. Schedules, policies, prices, seating options, and promotions are set by the team and venue and can change at any time. Distances are approximate. Confirm details with the team at SodPoodles.com before you go. Nothing here is legal, financial, or real estate advice.

Make Amarillo Your Home Field

Want to live where summer means Soddies games, Route 66 diners, and Palo Duro sunsets? OnDemand Realty helps buyers and sellers across Amarillo, Canyon, and the Texas Panhandle. Visit www.ondemandamarillo.com to search homes near downtown and HODGETOWN, explore neighborhoods across the city, or get a free home value estimate.

OnDemand Realty Amarillo October 31, 2026

Amarillo Sod Poodles: How They Got Their Name, HODGETOWN Stadium Guide & Game-Day Tips (2026)