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UTC envisions intramural sports complex at historic Engel Stadium
Historic ballparks enrich the American landscape from coast to coast, and Chattanooga boasts its own gem in Engel Stadium. Chattanoogans and people who admire old ballparks have long known and appreciated the ballpark's history, and its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009 has made it a national treasure.
Recent news that Engel Stadium could be reinvigorated as an intramural sports complex for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is worth celebrating. Ballparks that pre-date World War II often fall into disrepair rapidly without a defined strategy for upkeep and use, just as Engel Stadium experienced before the Engel Foundation's indefatigable work restored some of the ballpark's luster over the past few years.
As wonderful as it is to see Engel Stadium alive as a museum hosting occasional, special events, it is even more encouraging when there are discussions about ongoing use by the surrounding community.
Places like Engel Stadium once played important roles for socialization and entertainment in American cities and towns, back when interaction was more personal and less digital. Bringing these landmarks back to life visually and functionally means embracing that rich baseball and cultural history and providing a platform for modern use.
This commitment should not be overlooked. Because of the hard work by local leaders, volunteers and university officials, Engel Stadium has the opportunity to become a relevant facility today while it celebrates its remarkable past.
Opened in 1930, Engel Stadium long served as home of the beloved Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League, and wheeling and dealing team owner Joe Engel was a tremendous promoter who brought in baseball icons that now define the ballpark's history. He was responsible for the 1931 New York Yankees' exhibition game appearance, featuring Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, in which local schoolgirl Jackie Mitchell struck out both men.
Following decades of deterioration and eventual abandonment, the Engel Foundation rescued "The Joe" and raised funds for a major renovation that led to the field's starring role in the Jackie Robinson biopic, "42."
Just before the field went fallow, I spent several spring nights in Engel Stadium's grandstand and immediately was struck by its character -- the gradual rise of the left-field terrace and the gritty appeal of the railroad tracks stretching beyond right field. I have monitored its evolution ever since.
With this next step involving the university's management of the property, Engel Stadium's future is promising, even though it is undefined specifically.
What an opportunity for UTC's well-regarded club baseball team to use Engel Stadium as its home field. If additional funds and administrative logistics come together, could a refurbished Engel Stadium drive a decision to make baseball a varsity sport for the Mocs?
Is there an opportunity for mixed-use development on those 27 acres? Bush Stadium in Indianapolis, for example, opened as a minor league park in 1931, played a role in the baseball movie "Eight Men Out," fell apart when abandoned and recently had its grandstand redesigned into loft apartments overlooking the baseball diamond.
Whatever the future holds, every sign points toward decisions that maintain the ballpark's integrity and pay homage to its history, which is a testament to everyone involved, including local residents.
Chattanooga celebrates itself as a baseball-loving city when it hosts a Double A team in a modern ballpark while showcasing its remarkable roots with a rejuvenated Engel Stadium that is used actively.
Douglas S. Malan is a Connecticut-based writer and author whose works include "Muzzy Field: Tales from a Forgotten Ballpark" about one of America's oldest ballparks, located in Bristol, Conn.