Asheville’s HomeTrust Park Welcomes Fans After Major Renovations
The historic baseball venue in Asheville has been given a fresh identity and a modern facelift, drawing fans back in droves. The newly named HomeTrust Park, home to the Asheville Tourists, unveiled its upgrades to a packed stadium.
Among the attendees at the first game was Morris Anderson, who shared his thoughts on the venue’s transformation with BPR. “Compared to how it looked last year compared to now, definitely a huge upgrade,” Anderson noted. “I know a lot of people in the community have mixed feelings about it (HomeTrust Park), but I think the innovation is great. This place definitely needed an upgrade for sure.”
The stadium, dating back 102 years, was previously known as McCormick Field. It has undergone an $18 million renovation over 18 months, bringing several enhancements:
- An expanded team store, improved ticketing areas, and a new entry plaza
- Murals by local artists throughout the ballpark
- Upgrades to the home team clubhouse, including women’s locker rooms and improved weight rooms, restrooms, kitchen, and dining areas
- Renovated bathrooms across the stadium
- An updated sound system and a new videoboard in the outfield
These upgrades were in response to Major League Baseball’s 2021 initiatives to improve minor league facilities, according to team owner Brian DeWine. The Tourists, affiliated with the Houston Astros, faced potential relocation if the changes were not implemented.
Though the Tourists fell to the Greenville Drive 8-4 in their home opener, the team looks forward to continuing their season at the refreshed venue.
Revamping the Identity of Asheville’s Beloved Ballpark
The Asheville City Council’s April 14 meeting saw the approval of renaming McCormick Field to HomeTrust Park. Although the name change has stirred varied opinions, attendee Rebecca Strange expressed her support despite understanding the concerns. “I understand the uproar about it, to keep the history of it, but it really doesn’t bother me at the end of the day,” Strange stated. “It’s where Babe Ruth still played, where Russell Wilson still played. At the end of the day, it’s still the same ballpark, just a different name.”
The renaming followed the acquisition of a naming rights sponsor, HomeTrust Bank, based in Asheville. Details about the financial terms of this arrangement remain undisclosed due to a clause in the city’s leasing agreement. This new lease obligates the Tourists to pay an average of $470,000 annually over 20 years, a significant increase from the previous $1 yearly rent. Chris Corl, Asheville’s Community and Regional Entertainment Director, confirmed these terms.
As part of the lease, the Tourists committed to maintaining professional baseball in the city and hosting non-baseball events during the off-season. “We’re working in partnership with the team, but they have to bring 35,000 people to non-baseball events every year,” Corl explained. “If they don’t, there’s actually a financial penalty and the lease payment goes up.”
The renovation costs, amounting to $55.6 million over the life of the debt service, are shared among the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, Buncombe County Government, the Tourists Baseball Club, and the city of Asheville.
