Spartanburg's new downtown stadium: Ground breaks on 'biggest project in city history'

Bob Montgomery, Spartanburg Herald-Journal
Updated ·5 min read

Ground was broken Wednesday for Spartanburg's new Minor League baseball stadium, to be called Fifth Third Park after its naming rights sponsor, Fifth Third Bank.

"Fifth Third Park is going to be the most engaging, most exciting and the most entertaining baseball experience you can get," said Tyson Jeffers, general manager of the new Spartanburg team. "Let's make Fifth Third Park the new hub of Hub City."

Hundreds of fans and public officials attended the festive ceremony that had a baseball game feel to it. The site of the future 3,500-stadium stadium is behind the A.C. Hotel at West Main Street and Daniel Morgan Avenue. It is estimated be open by April 2025.

The National Anthem was sung by Emma Brooke Alley of Converse University, speakers were introduced as batters up, vendors tossed bags of peanuts to attendees and T-shirts were thrown as souvenirs into the crowd.

"This is the biggest project in Spartanburg's history," said Spartanburg Mayor Jerome Rice. "A couple years ago we were just talking about a baseball team coming. But now, look at what will happen on this site here."

The new Spartanburg team is a Class A affiliate of the Texas Rangers Major League organization. It is owned by Diamond Baseball Holdings.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the baseball stadium in downtown Spartanburg on Nov. 1, 2023. The public was invited to collect soil in jars as keepsakes from the event.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the baseball stadium in downtown Spartanburg on Nov. 1, 2023. The public was invited to collect soil in jars as keepsakes from the event.

Peter Freund, CEO of Diamond Baseball Holdings, said Wednesday's groundbreaking date was chosen in advance with hopes of coinciding with a World Series victory by the Texas Rangers.

The Rangers were up 3 games to 1 over the Arizona Diamondbacks ahead of Wednesday night's World Series Game 5. The Rangers won in Phoenix, 11-7, and claimed their first championship in franchise history.

"If you're superstitious and baseball fan like myself, the fact that they could bring it home tonight is all because of us being here on Nov. 1," Freund said. "We are thrilled to have the Texas Rangers as our partners and hopefully later this evening the World Champion Texas Rangers."

The team's current name is temporary, Spartanburg Professional Baseball Club. A permanent club name, logo and mascot will be revealed sometime in the coming year.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the baseball stadium in downtown Spartanburg on Nov. 1, 2023. Here, the official party breaks ground at the event.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the baseball stadium in downtown Spartanburg on Nov. 1, 2023. Here, the official party breaks ground at the event.

Project seen as boost to Spartanburg's western gateway

In May, a group of public and private partners led by The Johnson Group in Spartanburg announced that a new stadium will be built next to the A.C. Hotel and host a Minor League Texas Rangers affiliate, which was then playing as the Down East Wood Ducks in Kinston, North Carolina.

The City of Spartanburg will own the 3,500-seat stadium, and it will be developed by The Johnson Group of Spartanburg.

The stadium is part of a $425 million development project with multifamily housing, office space and entertainment options at the 16-acre mixed-use site in the area known as the Grain District on Daniel Morgan Avenue and just off West Main Street.

Besides the stadium, the project will include a 150-room hotel, more than 375 luxury apartments, a 150-room hotel, and 200,000 square feet of office space. The space also has parking for at least 1,500 vehicles and a public plaza.

At Wednesday's event, Geordy Johnson, CEO of The Johnson Group, said the project will breathe new life into downtown Spartanburg's western gateway.

"It will be a hub, a meeting spot, a social venue, a destination," Johnson said. "I believe that Fifth Third Park has the opportunity to become Spartanburg's front porch. Fifth Third Park will be a lasting landmark for generations to come."

The project is a result of a partnership between the City of Spartanburg, Spartanburg County, the State of South Carolina, OneSpartanburg, Inc., The Johnson Group and Diamond Baseball Holdings.

Robbis & Morton of Birmingham, Ala., will be general contractor for construction of the stadium. In addition to 3,500 fixed seats, there will be 12 corporate boxes, a 5,000-square-foot club lounge, a children's area, a grass seating berm, and concession facilities. The stadium will serve as a year-round venue for public and private events.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the baseball stadium in downtown Spartanburg on Nov. 1, 2023. Bennett Boles of the 6 and under Hillbrook Vikings baseball collects his soil as a souvenir at the groundbreaking.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the baseball stadium in downtown Spartanburg on Nov. 1, 2023. Bennett Boles of the 6 and under Hillbrook Vikings baseball collects his soil as a souvenir at the groundbreaking.

'Biggest project in the city's history'

City Manager Chris Story has called it the biggest project in the city's history, both in scale and in the amount of capital behind it.

"What we're talking about today is a $425 million undertaking, $305 million of private investment in about a four-block area," Story said at a recent City Council meeting. "We believe it will transition Spartanburg to a whole new (level) of economic activity and opportunity. It is really a once-in-a-generation opportunity."

A breakdown of the main funding sources:

➤ The state Legislature provided $54 million.

➤ Spartanburg County will provide $1,873,000.

➤The Downtown Partnership Committee will provide $3,610,319.

➤ City of Spartanburg will be providing a funding source to cover the estimated $58.6 million cost of the stadium and associated public infrastructure, which will include revenue from the city's local accommodations tax and Downtown Development District fund and revenue from the baseball stadium itself, once it is open.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the baseball stadium in downtown Spartanburg on Nov. 1, 2023. Spartanburg City Council members Rob Rain District 2, left, and Mayor Jerome Rice greet each other after the event.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the baseball stadium in downtown Spartanburg on Nov. 1, 2023. Spartanburg City Council members Rob Rain District 2, left, and Mayor Jerome Rice greet each other after the event.

Baseball: A Spartanburg tradition for nearly a century

Professional baseball has long been a tradition in Spartanburg. It will be the first time in 31 years that a Minor League Baseball team has played in Spartanburg.

The Spartanburg Sluggers, a Negro League team, called Duncan Park home from 1926 to the early 1950s.From 1963-1980, and again from 1986-1994, Spartanburg's historic Duncan Park was the home of the Spartanburg Phillies, a South Atlantic League minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia big-league team of the same name.

The Greenville Drive, which play in the High-A South Atlantic League, are currently the closest Minor League team to the Hub City.

Spartanburg leaders have said they believe the Upstate can support two Minor League baseball teams.

Those interested in seeking employment or season tickets can go here:

Staff writer Samantha Swann contributed to this story. Contact her atsswann@shj.com or on Instagram at @sam_on_spartanburg.

Bob Montgomery covers Spartanburg County politics and growth & development. Reach him via email at bob.montgomery@shj.com.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg Minor League Baseball: Groundbreaking held for new ballpark