Battle of Honey Springs

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CaroMont Health Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Gastonia, North Carolina which opened in 2021.[10] It is part of a 16-acre (6.5 ha) downtown redevelopment plan known as the Franklin Urban Sports and Entertainment (FUSE) District.[11]

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.[10] 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,[10] 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 an Atlantic League team yet to be named which will begin play at CaroMont Health Park on April 25, 2024.[18]

The Gaston College Rhinos baseball team used this stadium in early 2022 while Sims Legion Park was undergoing a renovation.[19]

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

See also

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. ^ a b c d Poteat, Bill (December 16, 2019). "City provides FUSE preview". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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. ^ Barrett, Michael (August 6, 2019). "Projected FUSE stadium cost jumps past $26.2 million". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  8. ^ Barrett, Michael (September 8, 2019). "Gastonia approves new $205,000 contract for FUSE inspections". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  9. ^ Wright, Jarah (January 13, 2021). "New downtown Gastonia FUSE project designed to please fans, spur investment". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d 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.
  11. ^ a b 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. ^ 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.


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CaroMont_Health_Park