Asheville's $38.5M McCormick Field renovations will break ground Aug. 28

ASHEVILLE - The $38.5 million McCormick Field renovation will break ground Aug. 28.

Starting at 11:15 a.m., the ceremony has a lineup of speakers that includes Asheville Tourists owner Brian DeWine, Mayor Esther Manheimer, Major League Baseball's Peter Woodfork, and Tourism Development Authority CEO Vic Isley, according to Assistant City Manager Rachel Wood. The event was discussed briefly during an Aug. 22 briefing to Asheville City Council.

For several months, the future of minor league baseball in Asheville was a looming unknown, one that carried a hefty price tag. Major League Baseball dictated a series of needed renovations to bring the field into compliance with new league facility standards.

DeWine warned in late 2022 that without a formal funding plan, Asheville could be looking at its final season.

But with a March 2023 funding commitment from City Council, and other funding promises made by the Tourism Development Authority, the baseball club and Buncombe County in subsequent months, plus a conditional zoning approval from the city, the future of the stadium was secured.

Built in 1924, the stadium last saw renovations in 1992. Owned by the city, it's the third-oldest minor league baseball stadium in the country. The project in its entirety carries a $38.5 million price tag, $30 million of which represents construction costs.

Renovations are set to begin immediately following the end of this season in September. Construction will continue throughout the off-season and run through the 2025 baseball season, wrapping up during the 2025-26 off-season, according to prior reporting.

The renovations are intended to bring the facility up to new requirements set by MLB, which is calling the shots on facility upgrades for 120 affiliated minor league ballclubs nationwide. This includes a number of player-facing changes, like new LED lighting, a new home and visitor's clubhouse, facilities for female coaches and umpires, and a new playing surface.

Improvements will also allow the facility to host non-baseball events year-round.

The project is planned for completion, ready for opening day, in April 2026, the Citizen Times previously reported .

Gates for the Aug. 28 event will open at 10 a.m. Refreshments and lunch will be provided after the ceremony.

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Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on X, formerly Twitter, at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times .

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville's $38.5M McCormick Field renovations will break ground Aug. 28