McCormick Field Centennial Restoration and Capital Improvements

Overview

Bird’s eye view design rendering of McCormick Field capital improvements:

Happening Now

Construction began in September 2024 and will last through spring 2026. The 2025 baseball season will occur at McCormick Field amid construction. The project will be complete in time for the 2026 baseball season.

Background

In partnership with the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, Buncombe County Government and the Asheville Tourists Baseball Club, the City of Asheville is spearheading a significant renovation project of McCormick Field. The results of the restoration project will include bringing the facility up to current Major League Baseball Player Development League (minor leagues) Standards. Additionally the improvements will allow the facility to host non-baseball events, with flexible space to host events 12 months a year allowing greater access to all members of our community. Components of the project include:

Expansion of the existing ticketing building for new ticketing team store facilities
Home team clubhouse improvements, including new female locker rooms and upgraded weight spaces, restrooms, kitchen and dining areas
Video board/scoreboard on the outfield wall
Accessible ramp and expanded concourse at the main entrance

Through neighborhood feedback, the City understands that traffic and parking around events at both McCormick Field and Memorial Stadium are the greatest concern moving forward with this project. As part of the conditional zoning approval, a Traffic & Parking Plan was created and approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission. City and Asheville Tourists staff created this parking plan after meeting with neighborhood groups and collecting feedback through an online survey in October 2023.

Check out the What’s Up Asheville episode recorded on August 14, 2024. Host Sam Parada interviews President of the Asheville Tourists Brian DeWine and City of Asheville Capital Management Director Jade Dundas as the project team prepares to break ground on McCormick Field.

Funding Sources

In total, the project is estimated to cost $38.5 Million, with a total expense over the life of the debt service of $55.6 Million. The City of Asheville’s share of this expense is $18.5M over 20 years.

Funding for this project from each of the partner organizations is utilized via a Debt Service Model and detailed below.

Partner	Amount
Team	$468,750/year, 20 years (average), plus $1 million for purchase of new video board
County	$250,000/year, 20 years
TDA	$1.95 million Upfront Grant
TDA	$1.4 million/year, 15 years
City	$1 million Fund Balance Allocation $875,000/year, 20 years

Timeline

2023

March 14: City Council adopted a resolution at their regular meeting to commit to bringing McCormick Field into compliance with Major League Baseball facility standards (meeting minutes)
October 10: Traffic & Parking Plan feedback survey closed
October 24: Conditional zoning and contract with selected Construction Manager at Risk both approved by Asheville City Council at their regular meeting (meeting minutes)

2024

May 21 & June 13: Public meetings with surrounding neighbors to present the final design and provide updates
- June 4, 2024: neighborhood meeting recap
Summer: City Council will consider the construction contract at a regular meeting
September: Construction kick off
- September 13, 2024 construction kick off email update

2025