Construction work at Toyota Field is winding down, as the new ballpark takes shape months before the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Class AA; Southern League) debut in April.
Following the 2019 season, the former Mobile BayBears relocated to Madison, AL, where they will open the $46-million Toyota Field as the Trash Pandas. Ground was broken on the ballpark in June 2018 in anticipation of it being completed in time for the 2020 season, and construction crews are now putting some of the facility’s finishing touches in place.
According to the Trash Pandas, the ballpark should reach substantial completion in the coming weeks, putting the project in good shape as the team’s April 15 home opener against the Mississippi Braves approaches. More from WAFF.com:
“People are recognizing what we’ve said all along, we’re going to try and run a major league team in a minor league setting,” said Ralph Nelson, the CEO of the Trash Pandas.
He said everything is coming together for Toyota Field.
“We’re two weeks away from substantial completion, which basically means the contractor is ready to say the stadium is done,” Nelson said.
So many parts of the stadium are already finished. The field, seats and locker rooms are ready to go.
Toyota Field is located in Town Madison, a mixed-use development situated along I-565. The arrival of the Trash Pandas and opening of Toyota Field will represent a return of Minor League Baseball to the Huntsville Metropolitan Area, which has been without a team since the Huntsville Stars (Class AA; Southern League) played their final full season at Joe Davis Stadium in 2014.
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