Preview: What's to Come in 2025?
The crack of the bat in spring training means we are right around the corner of what is sure to be a thrilling baseball season. From renovated stadiums and upgraded fan experiences to brand-new team names, this season promises plenty for ballpark enthusiasts to enjoy.
At The Ballpark Review, I’m gearing up for another year of stadium visits, and I’ve got my sights set on some must-see destinations. In this preview, we’ll take a look at the biggest ballpark changes for 2025, the newest features enhancing the fan experience, and the stadiums I hope to check off my list this year.
What's New this Year?
In the MLB, two teams will temporarily be playing in new stadiums this season. The Athletics (formerly the Oakland Athletics) have officially left the city of Oakland and the Oakland Coliseum. The team will now play at Sutter Heath Park, home of the Sacramento River Cats (Triple-A affiliate of the San Fransisco Giants) until at least 2027. This comes after a fall out with the city of Oakland where the team was unwilling to sign a long term lease as they await their new stadium in Las Vegas to be built. Construction has not yet begun but is planned for April 2025. Switching to the Atlantic coast, The Tampa Bay Rays will also be changing locations temporarily after Tropicana Field was destroyed in hurricane Milton. This leaves the Ray's in a tough spot as the team has been attempting to finance a new stadium to replace Tropicana Field for years prior to the hurricane. If a new stadium were to be constructed, it likely wouldn't be completed until 2028 (and that is if everything goes smoothly). If a plan is not made soon, the team may be forced to relocate. For now, the Rays will play the 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field, ironically the spring training home of the divisional foe New York Yankees.
Turning our attention to minor league baseball, the Salt Lake Bees, Knoxville Smokies (formerly the Tennessee Smokies), and Hub City Spartanburgers (formerly the Down East Wood Ducks) have all constructed new ballparks that will debut this season.
Four teams will have new permanent identities this season. First off, as previously mentioned, the Down East Wood Ducks are relocating to Spartanburg, S.C. to become the Hub City Spartanburgers while the Tennessee Smokies are moving into a new stadium to become the Knoxville Smokies. Up north in Maryland, the Bowie Baysox have become the Chesapeake Baysox. Lastly, the Oklahoma City Dodgers renamed themselves to the Oklahoma City Baseball Club for the 2024 season while they developed a new identity. The team announced that their new name moving forward will be the Oklahoma City Comets. Both the Baysox and Comets are not relocating and will continue to play in their respective ballparks.
In other news, 2025 brings a new energy to minor league baseball. Over the offseason, many minor league teams have released 'alternative identities' that they will use this season. These alternative identities, which are meant to honor the bizarre and quirky team names that have been associated with minor league baseball, include a complete rebranding of the team's logo and jersey. Teams with alternative identities will only use them at select games (likely only 2-3 games over the entire season). My favorite is the Binghamton Bathtub Donkeys (normally known as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies), a name that pokes fun at an outdated New York state law that prohibits Donkeys sleeping in bathtubs on Sundays.
What to Expect
In 2025, I have a few ballparks in mind that I'm hoping to check off my list! On the big stage, I hope to get to the Steel City to check out PNC Park. In the minor leagues, I would like to see UPMC Park, home of the Erie SeaWolves, and Peoples Natural Gas Field, home of the Altoona Curve which features an in stadium roller coaster!
We are just a few short weeks away from opening day, so, whether you’re a seasoned ballpark traveler or planning your first trip, there’s plenty to be excited about this season! Make sure to stay tuned for all my coverage throughout the summer!
