Stadium takes shape in 2024
Local media got an on-scene look in late February at the ongoing work for Knoxville’s new multi-use stadium, which is halfway through the construction project and on-schedule to host the Tennessee Smokies baseball season starting in spring 2025.
“They’re progressing. They’re on schedule,” said Alvin Nance, chair of the Knoxville-Knox County Sports Authority. Those are two sentences that baseball and stadium fans want to hear one year out from Opening Day 2025 for the Smokies, the Double-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Chicago Cubs.
Steel framing is in place, concrete is being poured and identifiable elements of a stadium, such as dugouts, concourse levels and the roof all can be seen, as well as residential construction on the perimeter of the stadium site.
Knoxville News Sentinel photographer Brianna Paciorka posted a gallery showing the latest developments that can be viewed HERE.
“The two major concession buildings on the concourse level of the stadium are in place,” said Barry Brooke, executive vice president of LawlerWood, LLC, and the Sports Authority’s construction adviser, in THIS story by WATE. “One has a roof on and is being waterproofed for the right roofing material. The other one has structure going on it.
“Those are major milestones because where they’re located, there’s a lot of build-out work to go inside. So you want to get those structures up, so you could get them dry and finish them out.”
WVLT also had a reporter on-scene with a video of the progress that can be watched HERE.
Wild Pitches, the official podcast of Smokies baseball with broadcaster Mick Gillispie and Aris Theofanopoulos, assistant general manager for marketing and entertainment, also took a behind-the-scenes tour that can be watched below.
It won’t be too much longer before shouts of “play ball” ring out in Knoxville.
Maria Cornelius, a senior writer/editor for MoxCar Marketing + Communications, is a lifelong baseball fan and longtime Smokies season ticket holder.