UTICA, Mich. – It's time to "play ball"...well, almost.
Local 4's Lauren Podell took a tour of the Jimmy John's Field being built in downtown Utica to see how it's coming along. Owner Andy Appleby says construction is right on schedule.
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"Minor league baseball is a national phenomenon every where else in America and a few years ago, I thought let's bring it to metro Detroit," said Appleby, President & CEO of General Sports & Entertainment, the company that founded The United Shore Professional Baseball League. "We're such a great baseball town and this is really going to be an affordable alternative for families but still be 'Disney' like for the fans."
The $15 million project, that's been in the works for years, will be ready for the start of the inaugural United Shore Professional Baseball League season that kicks off May 30. Three teams are lined up and ready to play in the first season: The Utica Unicorns, Eastside Diamond Hoppers and Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers.
"We hope to have as many as 6 teams to start the second year," Appleby said. "The nice part about creating your own league, we've created a schedule that allows us to play every weekend, the schedule will be roughly every Thursday - Sunday, which is the holy grail for sports entertainment."
College players who were not drafted or signed by major league organizations will make up the rosters of the three teams that will play out of the new ballpark.
The first thing you notice about the on going construction, the grandstands and the new seats, just installed this week.
"The field will have 2,000 permanent seats for fans, which is a lot smaller than the Toledo Mud Hens," Appleby said. "We wanted to create something so intimate the games would sell out every night and make every seat a great seat."
Appleby wants to make it very clear, Jimmy John's Field offers much more than baseball.
"In addition to the 2,000 seats in the grandstands we're going to offer another 2,000 seats in picnic areas. There's also a lawn area where tickets sell for just $6," Appleby said. "We're also building a state of the art playground and a wiffle ball court."
Food vendors on board include Budweiser, Pepsi and Dearborn Brand. The clubhouse will also have their own kitchen and chefs.
Appleby says the stadium offers 24 suites and there are only 5 left for purchase.
Field features:
• Five dugout suites
• Five penthouse suites
• Twelve private patio suites
• Four picnic areas.
• Nearly 16-acre development site
• Parking for 500 vehicles
• A hike-and-bike trail along the Clinton River
• And the facility will also be used for other community activities such as firework displays, graduation ceremonies, concerts, an ice skating rink and soccer.
For the full schedule, ticket information, how to purchase a suit -- visit their website.