While the Quad Cities are made up of four river cities, Bettendorf and Davenport (Iowa) and Moline, and Rock Island (Illinois) minor league baseball and the QC have meant Davenport since 1931 when the team began play at Municipal Stadium. In 1971, the ballpark was renamed John O’Donnell Stadium for local sportswriter of the same name. In 2008, Modern Woodmen secured the naming rights, and the River Bandits have been with the Royals since 2021.

Whatever the nickname, the team has played in the Midwest League since 1960 and has won 8 championships with the most recent coming in 2021-coincidentally the last time I visited the QC and Modern Woodmen. Over the decades the team has been affiliated with several franchises including the rival Cubs and Cards.

My first visit to the Quad Cities was in 2006 for my first MWL All-Star game. Unfortunately, the area around the ballpark hasn’t changed much since then. In a few weeks the immediate area around the park will be somewhat livelier on weekends as a local farmer’s market shares a parking lot. Despite the lovely weather Sunday, there were only two fishermen out on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River. Like PNC in Pittsburgh, Modern Woodmen abuts a spectacular body of water and an equally spectacular bridge, the Centennial. An added bonus is the railroad track which runs past the ballpark (Kansas City Southern, at least three on Sunday).

The physical edifice belies the fact that there are only 4204 seats in the ballpark. The park has undergone several renovations over the years, but has decreased the seating capacity in the end. Everyone enters the ballpark behind home plate after climbing a long staircase. Modern is part of the company’s name and not a description of the ballpark or its amenities. Although the amusement “park” in left field is quite spectacular. Inside the ballpark, it’s cash-free, but one can still purchase tickets at the box office with cash, and you get an actual real (non-digital) ticket.

I secured a second-row seat behind home plate for $17 and was greeted by one of the owners when I reached the concourse. Since I had problems downloading a scorecard, I had to go to Guest Services where I got a skimpy sheet and okay rosters. They don’t sell or provide any kind of scorecard, program, game notes or anything to promote the team. I was able to land some pretty nifty pocket schedules, which were rife with ads and a nice cover picture of Royals top prospect and former Bandit, Jac Caglianone. They have also added a new logo, a QC with a partial bridge. Unfortunately, they haven’t incorporated it as much as they should.

From what the staff told me, the first week was a success despite the brutal weather. Suffice to say I was among the first to enter the park along with a couple from Alabama who made the trip to see their neighbor’s son play for the Bandits. Chatting with them and their friend was a highlight of the afternoon. The personal touch and ability to connect with players and their families makes the trip worth it. He didn’t suit up that day, but his dad offered up some useful fatherly advice for being a good teammate.

Even though they couldn’t take advantage of the amusements the many young families made the most of the good deals on concessions. Most everything could be had for $5 and domestic beers were only $6. Like many ballparks, Sundays are kid-friendly with pregame on-field autographs and a post-game run around the bases. I took advantage of the autograph session to snap photos of the four Bandits on the field (no screen to interfere) it also allowed me to chat with the guys unimpeded.

Bowl seating extends from the first base line all the way to the left field concourse. There is no traditional outfield bleacher seating, but there is a berm in left-center and the amusements in left field. While they boast group or premium seating that you’d notice it, there are some picnic tables in right field and along the right field line.

Fortified by an excellent breakfast at Tommy’s Cafe, a great diner in a dicey neighborhood a five-minute drive from the park, I didn’t have to leave my seat during the 2 hour and 24-minute game.