Hops, city make stadium deal official, announce groundbreaking

It’s official.

Following a process that spanned roughly four years, the city council of Hillsboro unanimously passed a vote Tuesday night, July 16, to approve a 40-year lease between the city and the Hops baseball franchise, paving the way for the construction of a new ballpark.

In the wake of the vote, the team announced a groundbreaking scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on August 8, at the site of the new facility at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex.

Hops President and General Manager K.L. Wombacher spoke to the work necessary over the past handful of years to get the project across the line, and the value of the partnership with the city, state and surrounding communities to do just that.

“It has taken a tremendous amount of perseverance by many people to get to this exciting day,” Wombacher said in a press release from the team. “In true spirit of a public-private partnership, we have shown that teamwork wins the day. Our community will benefit from this shared vision of building one of the best entertainment venues in the entire country.”

The project is a direct result of Major League Baseball’s new facility standards imposed in 2020 when the league took over and consolidated the minor league system. Hillsboro Ballpark — formerly Ron Tonkin Field — failed to meet those standards, lacking adequate clubhouse, weight room and locker facilities.

The Hops’ initial plan to upgrade the existing stadium was shelved due to construction complications that made a renovation more expensive than a new build.

The cost of the new facility is said to be roughly $125 million, with $82 million of that coming from existing ownership, $18 million from the city of Hillsboro, $15 million from the state of Oregon, $8 million from Washington County, and $2 million from Explore Tualatin Valley.

Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway said the project will ensure the Hops existence in the city for decades to come, and thanked all constituents involved for making the project happen.

“We’re so excited to secure the Hops as a regional treasure in Hillsboro for the next 40 years,” the Mayor said. “Thank you to all the community partners, supporters, legislators, and staff who made this possible. We look forward to the wonderful memories that will be made at the new ballpark for many years to come.”

Hillsboro Ballpark has a capacity of 4,500 people, while the new facility will hold 6,000 people for baseball games, and upwards of 7,000 for concerts and other community events.

The new facility is expected to be available for Hops opening day in the spring of 2025.