CaroMont Health Park

CaroMont Health Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Gastonia, North Carolina which opened in 2021.^[7] It is part of a 16-acre (6.5 ha) downtown redevelopment plan known as the Franklin Urban Sports and Entertainment (FUSE) District.^[11]

CaroMont Health Park

CaroMont Park in 2021
CaroMont Health Park Location within North Carolina Show map of North Carolina CaroMont Health Park CaroMont Health Park (the United States) Show map of the United States
Former names	FUSE District Stadium (planning stages)[1]
Address	South Hill Street and West Franklin Boulevard[2][3] Gastonia, North Carolina
Coordinates	35.26238°N 81.19503°W / 35.26238; -81.19503
Owner	City of Gastonia
Operator	Velocity Companies[4]
Capacity	5,000[3][5]
Field size	Left Field: 315 feet (96 m) Left Center: 361 feet (110 m) Center Field: 400 feet (120 m) Right Center: 367 feet (112 m) Right Field: 325 feet (99 m) [6]
Surface	Artificial turf[2]
Construction
Broke ground	October 2019[5]
Opened	May 23, 2021 (2021-05-23)[7]
Construction cost	$28.8 million[8][9]
Architect	Pendulum[10]
Builder	Rodgers Builders[2]
Tenants
Gastonia Honey Hunters (ALPB) 2021–2023 Gaston Rhinos (2022) Gastonia Baseball Club (ALPB) 2024–present

The new ballpark was designed to accommodate a variety of other events, including concerts, soccer, lacrosse, and football^[11] with an artificial turf surface^[2] and a capacity of 5,000.^[3]

From 2021 to 2023, the ballpark was the home of the Gastonia Honey Hunters in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball.^[7] In May 2021, the Honey Hunters announced that the stadium would be renamed CaroMont Health Park following a ten-year naming rights deal with CaroMont Health, a regional healthcare provider that operates the CaroMont Regional Medical Center and other medical facilities.^[12][13][14] The stadium's first event was an exhibition baseball game on May 23, 2021,^[7] followed by the regular season opening day game on May 25.^[15]

In November 2023, the Atlantic League terminated the Gastonia Honey Hunters' membership and announced the league's intent to field a new team in Gastonia in 2024.^[16] In December 2023, the Honey Hunters filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.^[17] New owners were announced in February 2024 of a yet-to-be-named Atlantic League team to begin play at CaroMont Health Park in April.^[18] The Gastonia Baseball Club played at CaroMont Health Park on April 25, 2024, in their first game, a 3-2 loss to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.^[19]

The Gaston College Rhinos baseball team used this stadium in early 2022 while Sims Legion Park was undergoing a renovation.^[20]

FUSE District CaroMont Park in Gastonia, NC August 29, 2021

See also

• Sims Legion Park
• List of sports venues in North Carolina

References

1. Hughes, Joe (October 22, 2020). "'The roar is gone': Grizzlies bolt south for new name, fresh start". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
2. Poteat, Bill (December 16, 2019). "City provides FUSE preview". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
3. Reichard, Kevin (December 3, 2019). "Downtown Gastonia Ballpark Project Underway". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
4. Eversley, Jordan (September 8, 2020). "Entrepreneur Brandon Bellamy Becomes 1st Black Majority Owner In Pro Baseball". The Source. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
5. Barrett, Michael (February 29, 2020). "FUSE stadium rising, despite recent rain". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
6. Mock, Joe. "CaroMont Health Park". BaseballParks.com. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
7. Hughes II, Joe L. (May 25, 2021). "Diggin' in: Gastonia's new professional baseball team, stadium set for grand debut". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
8. Barrett, Michael (August 6, 2019). "Projected FUSE stadium cost jumps past $26.2 million". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
9. Barrett, Michael (September 8, 2019). "Gastonia approves new $205,000 contract for FUSE inspections". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
10. Wright, Jarah (January 13, 2021). "New downtown Gastonia FUSE project designed to please fans, spur investment". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
11. Spedden, Zach (December 17, 2019). "Work on New Downtown Gastonia Ballpark Continues". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
12. Ellis, Kevin (May 17, 2021). "Welcome to CaroMont Health Park, home of Gastonia's Honey Hunters". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
13. Limehouse, Jonathan (May 17, 2021). "Gastonia Honey Hunters' ballpark renamed for CaroMont Health". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
14. Gastonia Honey Hunters [@gohoneyhunters] (May 17, 2021). "Today, the Honey Hunters announced a multi-year naming rights agreement with CaroMont Health, a regional health system that provides innovative medical and wellness services. Join us in welcoming CaroMont Health to our Honey Hunters family" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
15. Ellis, Kevin (May 27, 2021). "Opening Day arrives for Gastonia Honey Hunters, and it was beautiful". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
16. Fohner, Kara (November 22, 2023). "More trouble for Gastonia's Honey Hunters". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
17. Ablon, Matthew (March 25, 2024). "Company that owns Gastonia Honey Hunters files for bankruptcy". WCNC-TV. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
18. Calkins, Mary (February 7, 2024). "Gastonia leaders reveal new pro baseball team amid Honey Hunters legal battle". WBTV. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
19. "Gastonia Drops Season Opener 3-2". Gastonia Baseball Club. April 26, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
20. Ellis, Kevin (2021). "2021-2022 Gaston Rhinos Baseball Schedule". Gaston College. Retrieved February 10, 2023.

External links

• "FUSE". fusegastonianc.com. City of Gastonia Economic Development. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
• "Ballpark Highlights". gastoniaprobaseball.com. Gastonia Honey Hunters Baseball. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021.