The Barons and the City of Birmingham hosted a special groundbreaking ceremony on February 2, to commemorate the start of construction on a new downtown ballpark in Birmingham, Ala. Officials announced that Regions Financial Corp. will be the title sponsor, naming the 8,500-seat stadium Regions Field.
The ballpark is part of a comprehensive plan to revitalize downtown Birmingham in tandem with Railroad Park and other area developments. The Barons will call downtown Birmingham home for the first time since 1987.
HKS Sports & Entertainment Group in association with Hoskins Architecture and Giattina Aycock Architecture Studio designed the ballpark.
“When designing the ballpark, we considered the unique heritage of Birmingham, from steel manufacturing to the civil rights movement to the city’s rich baseball heritage,” said Byron Chambers, director of sports design, HKS Sports & Entertainment Group. “We designed a ballpark that is distinctly Birmingham. It is not replicated in any other city around the world. The seating bowl is sited to enhance the fan experience and provide dramatic views to downtown and Railroad Park. The ballpark offers fans a major league experience including suites, club seating, berm seating, picnic areas, a banquet hall, a left-field home run porch and a 360 degree concourse.”
For the past 24 seasons, the Barons have played at Regions Park (Formerly Hoover Metropolitan Stadium) in Hoover, Ala. Since 1996, the team has played one game a year in downtown Birmingham at Rickwood Field as part of the annual Rickwood Classic.
“The Barons family is excited to be a part of the revitalization of downtown Birmingham,” said Stan Logan, owner, Birmingham Barons, LLC. “Our family has been a part of the Birmingham community for over 40 years, and we are proud to be a part of this new chapter in the city’s history.”
Corporate Realty Development, LLC, Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC and Robins & Morton have teamed together as co-developers on the new Parkside Baseball Park. The development team will oversee the design and construction of the 8,500-seat stadium and the surrounding family fun park and picnic area. The ballpark will have a significant impact on revitalizing downtown Birmingham by supporting local businesses, creating new jobs and offering exciting entertainment options in the city. Robins & Morton and joint venture partner A. G. Gaston Construction Company, Inc. will serve as the general contractor on the project.
"We are proud to see the dreams of so many coming together to shape a project that will really transform the city of Birmingham," said Robert Simon, President, Corporate Realty Development, LLC.
The construction process is expected to take 12 to 14 months, with the ballpark opening day scheduled in April 2013.
The HKS Sports & Entertainment Group, ranked as one of the top sports and entertainment designers by BD World Architecture, has ushered in a new generation of multi-revenue-generating, world-class facilities. The group’s portfolio includes Metrodome Next Venue, Liverpool FC Stadium, Cowboys Stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium, Miller Park and major renovations and additions for U.S. Cellular Field and Dodger Stadium. These venues are known for enhancing and leveraging team brand, delivering an enhanced fan experience, and serving as destination environments. HKS is ranked among the top five architectural/engineering firms, according to Building Design+Construction magazine, and operates from 29 U.S. and worldwide offices. For more information, visit www.hksinc.com.