Knoxvillians weigh in on proposed baseball stadium | Featured letters, Knoxville shouldn't let second chance for a baseball stadium slip away | Opinion, Five-star forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield commits to Tennessee basketball, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. It features restaurant style seating, a full-service bar, easy access from the parking lot, and a variety of menu options. The drive from the nearest airport is a long one, too. And lest we forget: The Smokies operate in the heart of Dolly Parton country. Great Smoky Mountains National Park encompasses over 800 square miles in Tennessee and North Carolina, and one of its main entrances is in Gatlinburg. The ballpark is situated approximately 20 miles east of Knoxville, where the team has its roots. Before that, though, the separate bodies will vote on the mayors' recommended appointees to the Sports Authority at their upcoming meetings: April 20 for the city and April 26 for the county. Its like West Town Mall or Turkey Creek. Party porches bookend the suites. They may be named the Tennessee Smokies, but the Smokies are not the only Minor League team in Tennessee. Inside the park there is an abundance of wildlife, waterfalls and, of course, mountains. Tickets for this game will be purchased from the home club. Great for large company picnics, this space offers a variety of menu options and a great atmosphere. We break down how the $114 million stadium will be funded. All rights reserved. You may be asked to occasionally lift and/or move. On the concourse, a sign designates the pathway between sections 106 and 107 as Sandberg Alley. Boyd has promised that his group of private financiers could provide well over that amount. On Thursday, Knoxvillle Mayor Indya Kincannon and Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs jointly announced the appointments of seven people to the newly formed Sports Authority that would oversee the repayment of debt incurred in the stadium's construction. The Smokies name, a reference to the nearby Great Smoky Mountains, was first adopted in 1993. Each message is $10 and must be paid with a credit or debit card. Lounge in patio style seating with umbrellas and cool down with an ice cold Yee-Haw beer under the pavilion. Just about five miles down the road is Pigeon Forge with a strip of tourist destinations, as well as The Island, which is similar to a boardwalk at a beach. Options abound from foul pole to Fowl Pole, a chicken-centric concession stand in left field. THIRSTY THURSDAY: Every Thursday is Thirsty Thursday! . The official groundbreaking could happen in the next four-to-six weeks, Kirchhofer said at the board's April 25 meeting. Depending on the day, a white flag with a blue "W" may fly alongside the prerequisite state and American flags. Previously, the Tennessee Smokies were supposed to begin playing in the new stadium in 2024. CODE OF CONDUCT: Smokies Stadium management is committed to creating safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experiences for all guests. Smokies Stadium is located in the small town of Kodak, in close proximity to Sevierville and the tourist-centric towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. QUESTIONS: Questions? One worthwhile road trip agenda would be to start in Nashville with the Sounds and then visit the Chattanooga Lookouts before traveling to see the Smokies. Kodak, TN 37764. COLLECTORS CORNER: The Collectors Corner has everything you can think of when it comes to collectible trading cards! The design team is preparing construction documents, which will continue through October. For more information, click here or call us at (865) 286-2300. Minor League Baseball in Knoxville dates back to the late 19th century. It will completely transform a community.. Standard and wheelchair accessible. All alcohol sales conclude at the end of the 8th inning. However, the team's rent payment and payment in lieu of taxes were projected to cut that down to about $1.5 million if the cost remained at $74.5 million. This amount was to keep from expanding the sales tax district, as previously reported by Knox News. MERCHANDISE: Official Smokies merchandise is available at the GoTeez Locker Room. That same year, the team's geographical signifier was switched from Knoxville to Tennessee. If you're visiting Smokies Stadium, both options are readily available. Truly, it was difficult to find many negatives apart from slightly below average hot dogs. Welcome to Smokies Stadium, surrounded by natural beauty and gaudy tourist meccas in equal measure. The first aid room is located behind Section 108. It is the home of the Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League. All appearances are based on availability - please call or email Aris Theofanopoulos at least one month in advance to inquire about availability. In a statement . Homer the Hound may be smarter than your average bear, but he isn't a bear. It is located behind Section 108. "We could have done the groundbreaking three or four months ago if we wanted to. The Smokies have been a Cubs affiliate since 2007, following two years with the Diamondbacks and two with the Cardinals. Tennessee Smokies owner Randy Boyd on downtown Knoxville stadium plans Suite dimensions are 20' deep by 13' wide. What happens to the baseball stadium in Kodak if the Tennessee Smokies (00:27), Minor League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are the property of Minor League Baseball. September 10, 2020 The announcement advances the partnership of the city and county in the venture, and comes on the heels of a compromise proposed by Tennessee Gov. Construction will be competed in late 2024 or early 2025. The Smokies are in the greater Knoxville area, so consider visiting Knoxville. Minor League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are the property of Minor League Baseball. The Sports Authority will be tasked with studying a proposed publicly-owned sports and entertainment stadium and will finance, build and manage the stadium if it is approved by the Knoxville City Council and Knox County Commission later this year. Lees budget still has to be approved and the legislation still has to make its way through the Senate and House before Lee can sign it, though the change in funding mechanism does not require the same approval the sports authority did from the city council and county commission. This first base-side area was where fans lined up for Ryne Sandberg's autograph when he managed the Smokies in 2009. Ryan Wilusz is a downtown growth and development reporter. An abundance of ballpark staples can be obtained at the large Prospects Corner stand, but true gourmands will want to seek out a small standalone cart set up on the concourse behind home plate. The Smokies' current bear-centric branding references area wildlife -- bears are prevalent throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park -- as well as their parent club. Instead of relying on the expanded tax district, the grant provides upfront the same amount of money an expanded sales tax district was projected to generate over 30 years. Click here for more information about our promotions! Copper Cellar Clubhouse (first base) and Davey Crockett Porch (third base), each porch measures 33 feet deep by 28 feet wide (about 900 square feet) and has stadium seating for 26 people with 11 elevated patio chairs placed directly behind the two rows of regular seats. The ballpark is situated approximately 20 miles east of Knoxville, where the team has its roots. The organization veers between the South and the Midwest, with teams in South Carolina, Indiana, Tennessee and Iowa. CAMERA AND VIDEO EQUIPMENT: Cameras and video recorders are allowed at Smokies Stadium as long as they do not obstruct the view of others. I-40 East: Exit off of exit 407, take a left off of the exit. The popcorn is excellent and every concession area serves Pepsi products as well as Cheerwine, both bottled and fountain. Field level seats: 5,922. The full stadium and covered concourse space is available for rental for business functions and picnics, conferences, seminars, job fairs, and much more. an expanded tax increment financing district, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, Furniture, fixtures and equipment: $750,000, Architecture, design and engineering: $8.4 million. He has promised he could bring $142 million of private money to build 630,000 square feet of restaurants, retail shops and residences around the stadium if Knoxville, Knox County or both together pay $52 million to $65 million for a publicly owned stadium. The team has been known as the Tennessee Smokies since 2000 when the team moved to an 8,000-seat stadium in Kodak. You made it to the end of the A-Z information! Smokies Stadium offers box suites that include fully-furnished rooms, indoor and outdoor seating and a buffet. The stretch from the off-ramp to the parking area is often backed up because there are only a few entrance points. This changerepresents "thousands of square feet of scope reduction,"Kirchhofer said. Smokies Stadium Google Maps Smokies Roster Smokies Schedule 3540 Line Drive Kodak, Tennessee 37764 (865) 286-2300 Capacity: 6,412 Dimensions: left field, 330; center field, 400; right field, 320 Birmingham 9-12. Guests wishing to smoke while at Smokies Stadium can exit the front gates and find the designated smoking zone. XTREME FUN: Here at Smokies Stadium, we create memories that last a lifetime. Your group can take in the sights and sounds of "America's Friendliest Ballpark" from inside one of our fully furnished Luxury Suites, or enjoy the action from its private balcony. Party porches bookend the suites. Rising costs of materials and supply chain issues have altered the projected cost of the stadium. Sandberg's Alley is one of many examples of Cubs-themed decor in and around the park. YEE-HAW AT THE YARD: Yee-Haw at the Yard is one of the most enjoyable areas to catch a Smokies game. In addition to being a National Park gateway, Gatlinburg is filled with tourist attractions. SPECIAL EVENTS: Smokies Stadium is available to host banquets, corporate events, meetings and so much more! Of course, the cheaper and likely more memorable option is to go camping. This includes the Gatlinburg Space Needle, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and, perhaps most intriguingly, the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum. FIRST AID: First aid is available at Smokies Stadium. Players in the Chicago Cubs' systems, like their fans, travel well. The Tennessee Smokies are, of course, located in Tennessee. The country music icon grew up in Sevierville, whose quaint downtown now features a Dolly Parton statue on the courthouse lawn. There is a very nice fan shop with a good selection of Smokies and Cubs gear as well. Knoxville and Knox County have pledged to pay up to $65million, and the state has kicked in $13.5 million. Downtown Knoxville:Five storylines to watch, from stadium land grabs to rising rent, Downtown mailbag:Planes grounded at Island Home; Gay Street bar returning. The team will remain the Tennessee Smokies until their move into the new. This includes the Gatlinburg Space Needle, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies and, perhaps most intriguingly, the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum. The Tennessee Smokies Performance Center is the perfect place for both! The main concourse level is packed with vendor carts, concession queues and even a sit-down area beyond the left outfield. There are also plaques throughout the park commemorating the player who made it to The Show that passed through Kodak on the way. New Knoxville ballpark receives final city approval They may be named the Tennessee Smokies, but the Smokies are not the only Minor League team in Tennessee. The tour revealed some proposed"character pieces," including a Tennessee-shaped scoreboard. If there is a problem, please find the nearest usher to assist you. PROHIBITED ITEMS: Food, beverages, weapons of any kind (even with a concealed weapons permit), containers such as coolers or thermoses, lawn chairs, helium balloons, banners or signs that are not in the spirit of the event or that obstruct the view of others, animals other than service animals, and compressed air horns are all prohibited at Smokies Stadium. Smokies Stadium opened in 2000, and was last renovated in 2015. On a 5-1 vote the Council last. It was officially announced after being rumored that the Smokies would be moving closer to Knoxville, with their current living situation residing in Kodak, Tennessee about a 30 minute drive from the scruffy city. Messages must be purchased by the end of the first inning. Smokies Stadium opened in 2000, and was last renovated in 2015. Children are not allowed to wear flip flops. Despite recent setbacks, Smokies optimistic about move back to The Smokies will begin playing baseball in the stadium April 2025. Children ages three and above will require a ticket. The Garza Law Terrace at Smokies Stadium offers a unique and extensive beverage assortment, flat screen TVs, and multiple seating options throughout the area. Bidding and the generation of a maximum price contract will go from Novemberto mid-January. The Boomstick: A 12-inch sausage and a whole lot of toppings. ELEVATOR: The elevator inside Smokies Stadium is located behind Section 109. One worthwhile road trip agenda would be to start in Nashville with the Sounds and then visit the Chattanooga Lookouts before traveling to see the Smokies. The stadium is estimatedto bring in$480,000 annually in sales tax revenues, which will be split by the city and county. BUSINESS OFFICE: Smokies Stadiums administrative office is located on-site at Smokies Stadium and is open Monday-Friday from 10:00am until 5:00pm. Stadium Ground Rules Compass Tennessee Smokies (Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs since 2007)Established: 1972 (as the Knoxville Sox)Ballpark: Smokies Stadium (opened in 2000)League: Southern LeagueNotable Alumni: Roy Halladay, Jeff Kent, Yadier Molina, Cecil Fielder, Fred McGriff, Ballpark Guides for EVERY Minor League team . If you're a customer at a business that is paying property taxes, same thing: Businesses are paying the tax no matter what and already building it into prices. Children must be between the ages of 4-12. Near the front entrance is a sign pointing to the rest of the stadiums of the Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates.