It hosted sporting events including college football and Minor League Baseball.
Tate Field served as the home field for the Richmond Colts of the Virginia League, Eastern League, and Piedmont League from 1921 to 1941 and the Richmond Spiders football team of the University of Richmond from 1925 to 1928.
Island Park first opened on March 24, 1890 for a baseball game between the Richmonds and the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association.
[1] In 1926, Mayo Island Park was renamed as Tate Field in honor of Pop Tate, a Richmond native who had played Major League Baseball from 1885 to 1890.
Eddie Mooers, who owned the ball park and the Richmond Colts, estimated the damage at $25,000.