Blog / Author: Joe Mock

Knowing that they were coming up on the end of their 30-year lease on Progressive Field, the Cleveland Guardians embarked on an ambitious plan to revitalize their aging ballpark. The renovations paid for with a budget of $202 million were completed in time for (barely) the 2025 season. Read all about the planning and execution of these plans in our special report.

The family that owns the Chicago Cubs has been purchasing the rooftop businesses along Waveland and Sheffield Avenues. One, though, has refused to sell, and is fighting the Cubs in court to boot. Read all about it in our exclusive look at this thorny situation in Wrigleyville.

There was a “split decision” in the voting for the 2025 BaseballParks.com Ballpark of the Year.

As in the past, we utilized a three-person panel to vote on the winner. Webmaster Joe Mock enlisted Graham Knight, founder of Baseballpilgrimages.com, and longtime broadcaster Doug Greenwald to participate in the voting. These gentlemen have visited more ballparks than 99.9% of ardent baseball fans.

As noted, this year’s vote was not unanimous. Make no mistake about it, though. Knoxville’s Covenant Health Park is a very deserving winner. What it is doing for a long-neglected part of town is truly impressive, and the architecture of the facility is stunning in every way. But in any other year, The Ballpark at America First Square, new home of the Salt Lake Bees, would’ve won, because it’s that good. But there can be only one winner, and this year’s plaque goes to the beautiful new home of the Knoxville Smokies.

Read our press release announcing the award (Covenant-Health-Park-release) for the details, and if you haven’t yet read our in-depth review of the Smokies’ gem, click here.

If you want to see a complete list of all of the ballparks that have won this award going all the way back to 2000, they are listed here.

By the way, there will be five ballparks in the running for the 2026 award: Wilson, NC; Chattanooga; Richmond; Ontario, CA and Hillsboro, OR.

It’s not hyperbole to say that there is a new contestant in the race to be considered the very best ballpark in all of Minor League Baseball. It’s that good.

We spent a couple of days in Utah to assess The Ballpark at America First Square in every way imaginable. The Larry H. Miller Company spared no expense in designing, building and staffing a facility for their Bees that is as good or better in architecture, food & beverage and view than any park below the Majors. And honestly, it tops a number of big-league parks.

We dig deep on how the location was selected — and why it fits absolutely perfectly considering Utah’s aspirations of landing an expansion team in the big leagues. The park’s surroundings are impressive and getting better by the day. And you won’t find better concessions anywhere.

The Salt Lake Bees have a real winner here, one that will stand up beautifully even if nearby Salt Lake City is successful in its MLB quest.

Now read all about The Ballpark at America First Square. And, yes, its 7,700 words and three dozen photos make it the longest review we’ve ever done for a park below the Majors, but as we say, it’s that good.

For your reading enjoyment — whether you’re a baseball fan or a devotee of NASCAR — here’s both our preview article and our post-game recap of the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic.

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.