Officials in Martinsville, VA are discussing Hooker Field upgrades, but are unsure how much they can spend on the home of the Martinsville Mustangs (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League).
Changes to Hooker Field, which opened as a rookie level Appalachian League facility in 1988, could extensively revamp fan amenities. Along with upgrades to necessities such as restrooms and concessions, the Mustangs and city officials are trying to sort what, if anything, can be done to areas such as seating.
The prospects of investing in the facility were discussed during a meeting on Thursday. While the city expressed a willingness to consider some changes to Hooker Field, covering the cost of a larger project could be an issue, according to Martinsville city manager Leon Towarnicki. More from the Martinsville Bulletin:
The Coastal Plain League has said that if the stadium can get covered seating, it would be able to host all-star games, Towarnicki said.
Lighting is good, and so is the field itself, he said, mentioning it has undergone the installation of new turf.
However, Towarnicki estimated that the stadium still needs about $1.5 million in improvements. He did not detail his estimate, but he said the city cannot afford to spend such money anytime soon.
Towarnicki surmised that the facility is “probably pretty good” overall. He said he hears more complaints about fan amenities than anything else.
The Mustangs played their first season at Hooker Field in 2005. Their current arrangement calls for the city-owned Mustangs to be managed by the Coastal Plain League through the 2019 season.