While Minor League Baseball’s announcement that there will be no 2020 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers season is a disappointment, it is not a surprise.
“Unfortunately, this was the news we expected. The pandemic continues to negatively impact our state and nation. It would be unsafe for our community and the team to play baseball this year. While we wish there could have been a season, we look forward to a great inaugural Cannon Ballers season in 2021,” commented Kannapolis City Manager Mike Legg.
In the meantime, the public is welcome to visit the newly constructed Atrium Health Ballpark. Located on West Avenue in downtown Kannapolis, the venue was specifically designed as a public park. Believed to be the only minor league baseball venue designed this way – the park is open every day for you to enjoy. You can walk, run, do exercises, read a book, spend time with family and friends or just enjoy the unique experience of being in a ballpark setting (while social distancing of course). Although the baseball field is off-limits there is plenty to do and see.
“While it is very disappointing to not have the Cannon Ballers play this season, the health of our fans is our top priority. From the beginning we wanted the ballpark to be a ‘public park’ and used every day. We are glad people are out enjoying it. Seeing so many people using the stadium to walk around, safely meet up with friends and even grab an affordable hot dog has been gratifying. It’s not exactly what we envisioned but the result – an active, thriving downtown – is the same. We look forward to having smaller scale activities this year and we cannot wait for the Cannon Ballers 2021 season,” said Kannapolis Mayor Darrell Hinnant
The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers have opened Boomer’s Bistro, one of the concession venues in the ballpark. Drop in daily from noon to 7 p.m. and sample the best ballpark food offerings around such as hotdogs, burgers, taco salads, ice cream, nachos, chicken wraps, and much more.
“We were ready to play ball, but the virus would not cooperate. So many people have worked long hours for the last three years to construct Atrium Health Ballpark and have it ready to showcase our Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. We would like to thank each of our partners and the team for their efforts. We have an incredible ballpark and we hope that the public will visit, take a walk around the concourse, and enjoy Boomer’s Bistro. We will be ready to celebrate baseball more than ever in 2021,” stated Eddie Smith, Kannapolis Deputy City Manager and Ballpark Project Manager.
The ballpark is a state-of-the-art venue designed to give fans a great experience while watching baseball games with friends and family. The venue will also host concerts and other entertainment events. During ticketed ballgames and special events, it will be closed for public use, otherwise the park is open seven days a week. Public restrooms are available for your use.
It has a seating capacity of 4,930 with 3,218 of those being fixed seats. Other seating options include outdoor loge suites, luxury suites, a party deck, berm seating, premium dugout box seats, a picnic terrace, an outfield bar, and right field boxes.
The venue has 5,500 square feet of banquet and meeting space that you can rent for conferences, meetings, birthdays and special events. There is also a water play area and impressive children’s playground which will be open once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
We hope you enjoy walking the concourse daily as part of the City’s Discover a Healthy Life Loop the Loop initiative and the Atrium Health Walking Trail.
For the Official Statement from the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, click here.
For the Official Statement from Minor League Baseball, click here.