Covenant Health Park
Knoxville, TN
Review by Gary
As early as 1925, Knoxville had a Minor League team named for the Great Smoky Mountains. Having played as the Tennessee Smokies since 2007 at nearby Kodak’s quite nice Smokies Stadium, the AA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs saw fit to return to the much more populous city of Knoxville in 2025, renaming the club the Knoxville Smokies and taking up residence in this stunning, new, publicly owned ballpark.
In addition to Smokies baseball, the One Knox SC (USL1) Men’s and Women’s soccer teams play at Covenant Health Park. With seating for just over 6,300 sports fans and accommodation for 10,000 at special events, the stadium is a great place to spend a day or night. Two residential buildings overlook the Bermuda grass field, and a vintage water tower sits on the right-hand concourse, near the iconic and breathtaking Tennessee-shaped scoreboard.
A wide concourse runs around the entirety of the stands and its wood-planked ceiling is nicely illuminated. Even the lower portion of the light standards are lit with blue lights. As the sun descended beyond the horizon, the grandstand took on a very warm and unique look when lit against the dark Tennessee sky. There are many seating options all around the ballpark, with the primo seats found behind home plate. The meshed office-style seats come with never-before-seen headrests and side tables! Most impressive.
First Creek, a waterway that meanders through downtown Knoxville, was redirected with a concrete aqueduct to run right along the back of the right field wall before going subterranean at the foul pole. A sharp looking bridge allows fans to cross the creek, hang a right and visit the right field party deck in the shadow of the state-shaped scoreboard.
One negative note on the ballpark experience was parking before the game, which was a challenge. While there were a few stadium-sponsored lots that filled quickly, anyone unfamiliar with the area and/or latecomers were forced to find parking on the street or at business parking lots blocks away from the ballyard. I asked one of the Smokies’ three mascots about this issue, but they remained silent and unblinking, as mascots are wont to do.
Finally, Covenant Health Park does a great job honoring Knoxville baseball history, including the Negro League Knoxville Giants, with seven statues distributed around the park. The Giants played in Knoxville from 1920 until 1932 and these statues are some of the eleven monuments that honor Knoxville luminaries. Covenant Health Park is a delightful venue to see baseball. Just arrive early to get a good parking spot!
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2026
308
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