After a successful 2016 season that saw record attendance fueled by TVA Credit Union Ballpark upgrades, the Johnson City Cardinals (rookie; Appalachian League) front office is promising even more facility changes this year and beyond.
Upon taking control of the Cardinals, Boyd Sports — owner of the Tennessee Smokies (Class AA; Southern League) — made ballpark improvements a key part of their business plan moving forward. The biggest project was construction of The Perch. Doubling as a beer garden and group space, the 250-seat, two-tiered area was constructed down the leftfield line. Completed at a cost of about $250,000, The Perch was an amenity that the Cardinals believed would allow TVA Credit Union Ballpark to adapt to more modern trends. We recognized it in our 2016 Ballpark Digest Awards.
On the way: more improvements a la The Perch, according to Johnson City Cardinals GM Tyler Parsons, per the Johnson City Press:
By September, chances are good that Boyd Sports will have finalized a plan with the city to install new lights and light poles. The three-year plan also calls for more renovations to the stadium in the same vein as The Perch.
“The Perch exceeded expectations in the sense that we didn’t know it was going to be that popular for all of our fans,” Parsons said. “It’s really helped us identify the blueprint moving forward for what we want to do with this ballpark. We’re going to shy away from adding more seats and renovating seats. We’re going to put more hospitality areas, more group areas, more bar areas, spots where people can come hang out and socialize.”
Another reason why these ballpark upgrades are good for all: downtown revitalization continues in Johnson City, and as that revitalization moves toward TVA Credit Union Ballpark, the city and the team are poised for even more growth.
Image courtesy Johnson City Cardinals.