Cardinals tout $4M in upgrades at Hammons Field as season begins

Millions of dollars' worth of upgrades at Hammons Field will greet Springfield Cardinals fans on opening day, officials with the team say.

Hammons Field has undergone more than $4 million in upgrades since the end of the 2024 season, according to a news release. The Cardinals are scheduled to face off tonight against the Wichita Wind Surge on the first day of the Minor League Baseball season.

“We could not be more thrilled to bring an unprecedented scale of new and exciting improvements to the ballpark throughout the year,” Cardinals General Manager Dan Reiter said in the release. “Thanks to our partnership with the city of Springfield and the largest investment in stadium history, we’re further raising the bar when it comes to providing an unmatched fan experience and a premier facility for our community, while simultaneously making the stadium improvements necessary to ensure the future of Minor League Baseball at Hammons Field.”

A new audio system, said to be the same used at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, is among opening day upgrades along with revamped party decks, a modified Springnet Champions Club, a new fan experience area along the third base side of the main concourse, the Brightspeed eSports Gaming Zone in partnership with Contender eSports, new carpet in the home clubhouse and upgraded roofing and brick at buildings in the park.

The third level of Hammons Field is currently undergoing an overhaul that would add four luxury suites, and a new hybrid general admission and private rental area are among planned investments this season, according to the release.

The Springfield Cardinals are scheduled to play a 69-game regular season.

The city of Springfield in 2023 purchased Hammons Field, according to past reporting. Through the purchase agreement, the city agreed to pay $6.5 million for the ballpark and $5.5 million for two nearby parking lots, with $4 million slated for repairs to the park.