Those who see knocking down Engel Stadium as “progress” do not understand the power of baseball.
In 2024, after a $5 million renovation, Birmingham hosted a Major League Baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals at Rickwood Field, the first Major League game in Alabama history as part of the continuing “Field Of Dreams” series. The value of the exposure for Birmingham far exceeded its investment in the renovation.
Were Chattanooga to have the foresight to do the same thing with Engel Stadium, there is little doubt we too would qualify for a Major League game before too long. That one single game would be worth far more economic value to the community than a soccer stadium or health care facility, which could be built in countless other places.
Once renovated, many more uses would be found for it: concerts, civic events or even soccer games. Alternatively, it could be the impetus for UTC to bring back college baseball, which has become infinitely more popular than it was when it disbanded the program years ago. Look only north of us (to the main Tennessee campus in Knoxville) to see what can happen.
Let’s wake up, folks, rather than get caught up in a “bright and shiny” moment. There is only one Engel Stadium — an unearthed gem that, with a relatively small amount of community leadership/investment, will become a source of pride to the community.
Clay Grant
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