Thursday September 21, 2023
The Best Employers in Sports Survey is Now Open!

MLB To Play First Game At Historic Negro Leagues Field in 2024

  • Event next year in Alabama extends a recent run of games held at nontraditional locations
  • MLB's attendance surge continues with strong showing over Father's Day weekend
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Front Office Sports Today

Could Promotion-Relegation work in College Football?

The proposal aims to create an exciting media product while reducing travel for non-football sports.
Listen Now
September 21, 2023 | Podcast
Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

Major League Baseball’s ongoing series of commemorative games is heading to America’s oldest professional ballpark next year.

On June 20, 2024 — a day after next year’s Juneteenth — the league will stage a game between St. Louis and San Francisco at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, a park that opened in 1910 and hosted Negro Leagues games for decades.

The event marks MLB’s first game at a historic Negro Leagues field and extends a recent run of games held at nontraditional locations, including the “Field of Dreams” movie site in Iowa, the Little League complex in Pennsylvania, Fort Liberty in North Carolina, and the College World Series site in Nebraska.

“I never thought I’d see in my lifetime an MLB game being played on the very field where I played baseball as a teenager,” said Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays.

MLB’s Rickwood Field plans are announced on the eve of a new documentary on the Negro Leagues, which will debut next month.

Attendance Surge Continues

MLB drew some of its best attendance totals in years over Father’s Day weekend. 

The league drew 1.6 million for its June 16-18 games, its best pre-July weekend total since 2017. The June 18 draw (603,303) was the best Sunday showing since 2008. MLB also posted its first consecutive weekends with at least 1.5 million fans since August 2017.

The league projects an attendance lift of 6% to 8% for the entire season as fans embrace rule changes designed to shorten and enliven games.

Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

A view of the Spurs club badge on the exterior of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Tottenham, Valued At $2.8B, Says It's Open To Stake Sale

The club's chairman says new minority investors could come on board.

England Women’s Team Resolves Pay Dispute After WWC Success

Agreement arrives a month after the end of the 2023 Women's World Cup

Royals Miss Self-Imposed Deadline To Select Stadium Site

Ongoing discussions with Jackson, Clay Counties prompt timetable shift

Adidas CEO Stands Behind Ye Nearly Year After Brand Cut Ties

Gulden's comments mark rare and surprising corporate move
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Could Promotion-Relegation work in College Football?

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

Rupert Murdoch's Exit Leaves Lasting Fox Sports Legacy

Rupert Murdoch steps down as chairman of Fox Corp. and News Corp.
Could ESPN lose events such as the NBA Finals if it sold ABC.
September 21, 2023

Selling ABC Poses Billion-Dollar Dilemma for Disney and ESPN's Future

Losing ABC would create complications as ESPN enters NBA rights negotiations.
Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) runs the ball against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks during the first half at Albertsons Stadium.
exclusive
September 20, 2023

The First Official Proposal for Promotion-Relegation In College Football

Realignment is forcing Group of 5 schools to rethink their structure.
A general view of Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Stadium.
September 20, 2023

Political Support Grows for RFK Stadium Bill

The Commanders exited RFK after the 1996 NFL season for FedEx Field.

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
Chicago Cubs
Chicago
Fanatics
New York
Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group, Inc.
USA - Multiple Locations
Teams without secured venue situations could be left out of a potential XFL-USFL merger.

XFL-USFL Merger Could Drop Teams, Change League Name

Teams without secured venues could be cut from a XFL-USFL merger.
September 20, 2023

U.S. Cricket Ambitions Get Big-Time Boost

ICC to stage major tournament in New York, Dallas, and Miami
Cristiano-Ronaldo
September 19, 2023

Saudi Pro League Has Long Way To Go Despite Spending Spree

The league's revenue still trails far behind its European counterparts.
September 19, 2023

Latest NFL-NFLPA Drama Spotlights Fake Injury Accusations

The NFL has alleged that the NFLPA told running backs to fake injuries.
The Rock’s XFL and the Fox-owned USFL are expected to combine into one spring football league.
September 19, 2023

XFL, USFL Reportedly Expected to Merge Before 2024 Season

Disney and Fox reportedly will likely split the combined league's broadcasts.
Commissioner Jessica Berman expects the NWSL to reach 16 teams in 2026 with two expansion clubs.
September 18, 2023

NWSL Reportedly Taps Boston For Expansion Team Beginning in 2026

New club set to begin play in 2026
September 18, 2023

NFL Prioritizes Minority Representation Amid Ownership Changes

The league does not have a majority team owner who is Black.
Chelsea player Guro Reiten completes pass during game
September 18, 2023

How WSL Plans to Become First $1B Women's Soccer League

England's top women's competition has ambitious goals.