For North Carolina families and baseball fans, summer just wouldn't be complete without a trip to the ballpark. In Kannapolis, that means rooting for the hometown Cannon Ballers during a fun-filled visit to Atrium Health Ballpark, just a quick 15-minute drive up U.S. 29.
After previous iterations as the Boll Weevils and the Dale Earnhardt-inspired Intimidators, the beloved local Carolina League team became the Cannon Ballers in 2019 when Temerity Baseball took ownership of the franchise. The $52 million state-of-the-art Atrium Health Ballpark facility opened the following year.
“People from all walks of life love this game,” says Mark Wingerter, Temerity Baseball’s Director of Marketing. “And thanks to a deep history of baseball in this region and North Carolina as a whole, the sport holds even more significance here.”
As the minor-league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, the Cannon Ballers always put on a highly entertaining show within the contemporary confines of the 4,900-plus seat stadium. The nostalgic opportunity to enjoy America’s favorite pastime is, of course, the main attraction that takes most folks out to Atrium Health Ballpark. On a sunny summer day or evening, there’s nothing quite like the shared experience of hot dogs and Cracker Jack amid the crack of the bat and the cheer of the crowd.
“This is a really vibrant ballpark with a lot of energy,” Wingerter says. “Baseball Digest even named Atrium Health its 2022 Ballpark of the Year.”
However, baseball is only one reason to make a trip to the Kannapolis landmark. Thanks to an agreement with the city, the grounds remain accessible to the public from sunrise to sunset any day there’s not a game going on. Even when the Cannon Ballers’ 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ballpark was still open for free, safe and socially distanced use.
“Anyone is welcome to come in and walk on the track through the concourse for exercise; there’s also a children’s playground and summer splash pad,” Wingerter says. “This ballpark is really a community hub that goes above and beyond baseball to bring people together.”
The 6,000-square-foot Kinetic Club banquet space on-site serves as a hospitality suite during games, and can be rented out for private parties and weddings year-round. The ballpark also hosts occasional concerts, festivals and other large-scale local events.
If you haven’t yet made it out to Atrium Health Ballpark this summer, it’s not too late to catch a game before the Cannon Ballers’ season wraps up on Sept. 3. Special promotions like $2 Tuesdays and Thirsty Thursdays for discounted food and drinks, plus the Cannon Baller’s 5k benefitting the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation on Aug. 19th, followed by their Starry Night game where the field will be lit up with lanterns for charity, provide even more incentive to attend a game.
“We’ve got something going on pretty much every week that the team is in town,” Wingerter says. “Fans can find a calendar on our website or watch our social media for announcements.”
Single-game tickets, group tickets and 10-game ticket packages are still available for all remaining regular 2023 season games. For purchases and additional information, go to milb.com/kannapolis.
