Under new ownership, the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Low A; Midwest League) are planning to make several improvements to Bowling Green Ballpark.
Earlier this fall, it was announced that Jack Blackstock–a New York businessman and previously a minority owner of the Hot Rods–had completed his purchase of the club from Jerry Katzoff. With Blackstock at the helm in ownership, the Hot Rods are working with local officials on a public-private initiative to upgrade Bowling Green Ballpark.
Among some of the renovations in the works include a new concourse around the outfield, Rhinehart Club upgrades, and more. The Warren County Downtown Economic Development Authority, the authority tasked with overseeing the ballpark, voted Friday to apply for a $2 million loan for the upgrades, while Blackstock says that he will contribute funding as well. More from the Bowling Green Daily News:
The planned upgrades include a new LED video scoreboard, a walkway around the outfield linking the entire park, Reinhart Club renovations and a new splashground water feature for children to be built in the outfield.
Already underway is a $260,000 replacement of the park’s original playing field, which had deteriorated to the point that the Hot Rods had to cancel a game last season because of poor field conditions.
In a phone interview Friday, Blackstock told the Daily News he plans a broad range of improvements at the ballpark, further details of which will be announced soon.
Warren County Fiscal Court on Friday also signed off on the loan for the ballpark improvements.
Blackstock has pledged to fund some ballpark improvements himself, calling the projects “a combined public-private effort.”
Bowling Green Ballpark originally opened in 2009, the franchise’s first season in Bowling Green, KY after it relocated from Columbus, GA.
RELATED STORIES: Bowling Green Hot Rods Sale Official; Sale of Bowling Green Hot Rods Approved