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Still in the ballpark: Developers say Lookouts stadium will meet economic projections in time

Staff File Photo / Chattanooga Lookouts owner Jason Freier speaks during an event at Erlanger Park. Freier said it's too early to declare the development of Erlanger Park and the area around it a success or failure.
Staff File Photo / Chattanooga Lookouts owner Jason Freier speaks during an event at Erlanger Park. Freier said it's too early to declare the development of Erlanger Park and the area around it a success or failure. Staff File Photo / Chattanooga Lookouts owner Jason Freier speaks during an event at Erlanger Park. Freier said it's too early to declare the development of Erlanger Park and the area around it a success or failure.

By Daniel Dassow 14 min read

As the Chattanooga Lookouts prepare to celebrate the opening of Erlanger Park, a study that made predictions for the scope and speed of development around the minor league baseball stadium beginning in 2026 appears optimistic, although officials continue to assert it was conservative.

The study by the Jackson, Tennessee-based marketing research firm Younger Associates predicted 10% of $873 million of private development would be complete and taxable around the stadium this year and 35% complete and taxable in 2027.

Developers have yet to receive a building permit for the $100 million first phase of development next to the stadium.

Was Lookouts stadium study ‘conservative’ with $2.3B claim? Officials disagree

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Andrew Zito, vice president of the Lookouts, looks out over the field from the second floor of the Powerhouse during a tour of Erlanger Park. The venue will be called the EPB Powerhouse.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Andrew Zito, vice president of the Lookouts, looks out over the field from the second floor of the Powerhouse during a tour of Erlanger Park. The venue will be called the EPB Powerhouse.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II/A construction worker stands on scaffolding behind the future scoreboard at Erlanger Park on Friday, March 20, 2026.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II/A construction worker stands on scaffolding behind the future scoreboard at Erlanger Park on Friday, March 20, 2026.
Staff file photo by Larry Sullivan II / The view from the Dugout Reserved section (section 112) at Erlanger Park is pictured.
Staff file photo by Larry Sullivan II / The view from the Dugout Reserved section (section 112) at Erlanger Park is pictured.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Chattanooga City Council members Dennis Clark (left) and Jenny Hill listen to Jason Freier, managing owner of the Chattanooga Lookouts, during a tour of Erlanger Park.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Chattanooga City Council members Dennis Clark (left) and Jenny Hill listen to Jason Freier, managing owner of the Chattanooga Lookouts, during a tour of Erlanger Park.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Jason Freier, managing owner of the Chattanooga Lookouts, talks during a tour of Erlanger Park.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Jason Freier, managing owner of the Chattanooga Lookouts, talks during a tour of Erlanger Park.
Contributed Photo / Developers showed a rendering of the proposed Chattanooga Lookouts stadium and surrounding development in the South Broad District to elected officials before they approved a tax financing deal for the $115 million venue.
Contributed Photo / Developers showed a rendering of the proposed Chattanooga Lookouts stadium and surrounding development in the South Broad District to elected officials before they approved a tax financing deal for the $115 million venue.
Contributed Photo / Developers showed a rendering of the proposed Chattanooga Lookouts stadium and surrounding development in the South Broad District to elected officials before they approved a tax financing deal for the $115 million venue.
Contributed Photo / Developers showed a rendering of the proposed Chattanooga Lookouts stadium and surrounding development in the South Broad District to elected officials before they approved a tax financing deal for the $115 million venue.
Contributed Photo / Developers showed a rendering of the proposed Chattanooga Lookouts stadium and surrounding development in the South Broad District to elected officials before they approved a tax financing deal for the $115 million venue.
Contributed Photo / Developers showed a rendering of the proposed Chattanooga Lookouts stadium and surrounding development in the South Broad District to elected officials before they approved a tax financing deal for the $115 million venue.
Contributed Photo / Developers showed a rendering of the proposed Chattanooga Lookouts stadium and surrounding development in the South Broad District to elected officials before they approved a tax financing deal for the $115 million venue.
Contributed Photo / Developers showed a rendering of the proposed Chattanooga Lookouts stadium and surrounding development in the South Broad District to elected officials before they approved a tax financing deal for the $115 million venue.
Staff File Photo / Chattanooga Lookouts owner Jason Freier speaks during an event at Erlanger Park. Freier said it's too early to declare the development of Erlanger Park and the area around it a success or failure.
Staff File Photo / Chattanooga Lookouts owner Jason Freier speaks during an event at Erlanger Park. Freier said it’s too early to declare the development of Erlanger Park and the area around it a success or failure.

Development is a year behind the schedule in the 2024 study because the study assumed the stadium would open in 2025, said Andy Stone, a partner at Perimeter Properties, the group that owns the former U.S. Pipe/Wheland Foundry site and donated land and buildings for the ballpark.

“If you put one year forward on the Younger report, I think the report is actually accurate,” Stone said in a video interview. “Because of the delays getting the deal across the finish line, we are delayed a year.”