Mark down April 15 for Knox pro baseball return, as CEO of Smokies at RCF meeting
He presented the club’s plans to The Rotary Club of Farragut members during their meeting in Fox Den Country Club Wednesday, Nov. 13.
Kirchhofer said the formal groundbreaking for the new stadium was June 13, 2023; but demolition of buildings on and along the property started in 2021.
‘There was mass grading in preparation for construction starting in summer of 2022,” he added. “Formal construction began in March 2023. It’s about a 24-month construction period.”
Construction is ongoing for the $114 million park, which in addition to hosting the Smokies will be the home of OneKnox soccer program, concerts and festivals, and will be able to seat up to 9,925 fans. The April 15 Smokies home opener “will be the first event on the field,” Kirchhofer said.
Surrounding the park are private development projects, such as a restaurant, retail, public plazas and a nine-story structure housing the Smokies head office and condos, which currently are available, and a five-story apartment building. There also will be community space, with views of the park, for apartment residents.
