Design features for the proposed Gastonia Grizzlies (summer collegiate; Coastal Plain League) ballpark are taking shape, with the multi-use facility to offer an array of seating options and social spaces.
The proposal for a new Grizzlies ballpark calls for it to be a major amenity within the 16-acre Franklin Urban Sports and Entertainment (FUSE) District, a larger downtown redevelopment plan. Along with Grizzlies games, the facility would be used for a variety of other events, including concerts and sports like football, soccer, and more.
With discussions over the proposal continuing, the design firm Pendulum Studio recently showcased some of the ballpark’s proposed features through the use of a virtual reality tour for city officials. As envisioned, the ballpark would offer an array of seating options, including 2,500 fixed seats, and a mix of social spaces and hospitality areas. More from The Gaston Gazette:
Those entering the ballpark at Franklin and Hill, where the closed Budget Inn now stands, will walk up a set of “grand stairs” and then onto a concourse where, “the first thing you will see is the field,” [Pendulum’s Jonathan] Cole said. Concession stands will be on either side of the entrance, so those waiting in line can still see the action.
“A lot of parks say, ‘there’s not a bad seat in the house,’” Cole said. “But in this stadium that will absolutely be true. There will not be a bad seat in the house.”
The stadium will have 2,500 fixed seats but will have a total capacity of roughly 4,500 for concerts. In addition to baseball, the stadium, which will have artificial turf, will be adaptable for football, soccer, rugby and lacrosse.
Cabana suites, an enclosed banquet area, a bar overlooking the concourse and a beer garden are all built into the stadium’s design, Cole added, with lots of space for business development in “green pods” around the facility.
If the proposed Gastonia ballpark is constructed, it will replace Sims Legion Park as the home of the Grizzlies.
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