Spartanburg, South Carolina calls itself “Hub City,” which is a nod to the incredible railroad history there. After a 31-year absence, affiliated Minor League Baseball is back in town, with a brand-new facility called Fifth Third Park. Check out our in-depth review for all of the background, design and gameday experience at the newest stadium in the Sally League.
Blog / Month: May 2025
To Kodak and back
A quarter century ago, the Smokies moved from a run-down ballpark in Knoxville to a brand-new park 20 miles to the east. Smokies Park, later called Smokies Stadium, was in Kodak, Tennessee, near the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains. They had tremendous success there, and were always among the leaders in Southern League attendance.
When their lease was up, they moved back to Knoxville less than a mile from the spot they’d left in 2000. Why would they turn their backs on such a successful run in Kodak?
Read our in-depth review of brand-new Covenant Health Park to learn why.