ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — With work at McCormick Field set to begin next month, the baseball team that calls the space home is still working on a plan for its 2025 season.
The $38.5 million project will bring the facility, which opened in 1924, up to Major League Baseball Player Development League (minor league) Standards.
The Asheville Tourists, Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, Buncombe County government and city of Asheville combined to make the renovation project a reality.
Improvements will include:
- Expanding the ticketing building for new ticketing team store facilities
- Adding female locker rooms and upgraded weight spaces, restrooms, kitchen and dining areas to home team clubhouse
- Adding a video board/scoreboard on the outfield wall
- Adding an accessible ramp and expanded concourse at the main entrance
$38.5 MILLION MCCORMICK FIELD MAKEOVER ON COUNCIL AGENDA
Construction is set to begin Sept. 3, the Tuesday after Labor Day, Asheville Department of Community and Regional Entertainment Facilities Director Chris Corl said. The plan is for renovations to be completed before the 2026 baseball season begins.
That means the Tourists’ 2025 season will occur alongside construction. But no one seems to know how that will look — what parts of the stadium will be under construction while fans are there or what the capacity will be during construction.
“There are still a lot more questions than answers at this point. We intend to play the 2025 season as scheduled, but we don’t have a complete plan at this time,” Tourists General Manager Larry Hawkins said.
The improvements, which will cost $55.6 million over the life of the debt by the time you figure in interest, will also allow the facility to host non-baseball events, with flexible space to host events 12 months a year.
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