CaroMont Health Park - Gastonia, NC
Gastonia, North Carolina. Home of the Gastonia Ghost Peppers of the Atlantic League and anchor tenant of the FUSE district, which the City of Gastonia is leading as its own municipal developer. Opened 27 May 2021.
The 9.4 acre site was assembled from four industrial and commercial parcels, including a decommissioned Sears and the surface parking around it. Most sports facilities take all the land they are given.
This one was compressed instead. Holding the ballpark envelope tight preserved development parcels with views into the field, and the bowl was held to seven rows rather than the usual twelve to fifteen, extended asymmetrically down the first base line. A banquet level sits fourteen feet above the concourse with a 300 person lounge, a 250 person banquet, a catering kitchen and professional AV.
The parcels the ballpark chose not to take became Phase 2, the FUSE District Master Plan. Joe Mock of BaseballParks.com: Architect Cole has broken the code for creating 5,000 seat ballparks for half the budget of other such facilities.
S.C.O.R.E. Revenue Innovation. Site Integration. Operational Efficiency.
In the press: CaroMont Health Park in USA TODAY Sports Weekly: breaking the code for 5,000 seat ballparks at half the budget.
