A number of upgrades are coming to Whataburger Field in 2020, as the Corpus Christi Hooks (Class AA; Texas League) will benefit from capital improvements to the ballpark. The $3 million in renovations are the result of an agreement the Corpus Christi City Council unanimously approved today.
The funding allows the Hooks to move forward with proposed projects including new, extended ballpark safety netting, a state-of-the-art outfield LED video wall, corrosive I-beam and steel repairs, new wall padding, upgrades to player training and clubhouse areas, and enhancements and refurbishments of hospitality areas.
“We worked diligently with city officials to reach an agreement that ensures Whataburger Field will continue to serve as one of the top-tier venues in the country for baseball of all levels and year-round community events,” Hooks General Manager Wes Weigle said. “We’re grateful for the city’s commitment to Hooks Baseball and Whataburger Field as a premier location for affordable, family-friendly entertainment in Corpus Christi. We cannot wait to get to work modernizing the ballpark for all of Corpus Christi and our visitors to enjoy.”
Under this amended lease agreement, the city will appropriate $2 million from the city’s Business and Job Development Fund to match a $1 million allocation by the Hooks deemed Type A Fund investments. The combined infusion of $3 million into Whataburger Field from the City of Corpus Christi and the Hooks will continue to drive economic growth benefiting local businesses and all patrons that visit the stadium annually for baseball, community events and fun.
The current protective netting will be replaced with knot-less material – the same used in Houston’s Minute Maid Park – that expands further down the left and right field lines. Among the planned player development improvements is enclosing the batting cages and expanding the home weight room and clubhouse.
The Hooks’ current stadium lease with the City of Corpus Christi runs through 2035. Completed in 2005 at a cost of $25 million, the Astros have invested more than $3.2 million in ballpark improvements over the last six years. Projects ranged from installing a Daktronics LED video display, which tripled the size of the original board, to redesigning and expanding the suite-level CITGO Cotton Club.
Photo by Olivia Rook/Corpus Christi Hooks.