Brother of man who brought Smokies to Kodak left with mixed emotions in final season

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) There are season ticket holders, and then there is Brent Atchley.

Brent’s brother is former Sevierville Mayor Bryan Atchley, The man credited with helping to bring minor league baseball to Sevier County in 2000. That’s why, for Brent, news of Smokies baseball returning to Knoxville for the 2025 season brings mixed emotions.

“I hate it,” said Atchley. “I’ll miss coming out here. It’s a great ballpark. A great place for baseball and it’s been fun. I’ve been coming here since opening day 2000.”

And this season, the team’s last in Kodak, Brent has made it his mission to make sure he’s in the crowd for every home game. Something his brother, the late mayor, did 25 years ago.

“He attended every game that first season,” Atchley tells 6 News. “He passed away in 2018, So I figured I would finish it out and go to every game this season.”

Atchley said he loves supporting Smokies baseball and loves watching them in the ballpark his brother played an important role in securing for the local community, but that’s not all.

“I like it when they call it a 9-inning vacation because that’s what it feels like. Just come out here and sit,” Atchley said.

And that’s what he will be doing as the Smokies close out their history in Sevier County. A history that he and others hope will end with one more Championship to celebrate.

The Smokies will begin post season play on Tuesday, September 17th, when they take on Birmingham in Kodak.

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