Utah baseball will finally have its own on-campus ballpark to call home in 2026.
After years of playing at Smith’s Ballpark, the current home of the Salt Lake Bees, the Utes will open America First Ballpark on Guardsman Way in 2026. On Wednesday, Utah president Taylor Randall, athletic director Mark Harlan and other significant stakeholders hosted a celebration to commemorate the $35 million ballpark’s construction, which began earlier this summer.
“It means a lot to me personally,” Harlan said after the event. “I believe our teams are all really special here, and this team needed a home on campus. It’s as simple as that, and we’re set on doing that. … I’m really proud of the donors who stepped in and leaned in to create the dreams.”
In January 2023, the Bees announced plans to move from Smith’s Ballpark to a new complex being built in South Jordan’s Daybreak community. The Triple-A baseball team will officially move into their new home at the end of the 2024 season, leaving the future of the 30-year-old Smith’s Ballpark up in the air.
(Utah Athletics) The latest rendering of the University of Utah's new baseball stadium. Officials expect the facility to be ready in time for the 2026 season.
The Bees’ relocation put pressure on Harlan and the Utes to find a new stadium. After working through zoning issues and leasing a slice of Sunnyside Park where the Utes’ future left fielders will roam, the U. was able to start construction on its new ballpark this summer, officially giving the baseball team its first on-campus home.
“When the Bees announced their move that was a moment of panic for yours truly,” Harlan said “But then I kind of had a realization … that we didn’t have a choice anymore. We had to move. It really caused things to move in the right direction and aligned everything. In a strange way that kind of pressure allowed us to move forward in a real practical way.”
America First Ballpark will be a 1,200-seat capacity stadium and include various amenities such as in-house team lockers, showers, medical spaces, equipment storage, a coach’s office, and indoor batting/pitching cages for the players.
The field surface, which is named after Colorado Rockies owner and Utah alum Charlie Monfort following a $10 million donation, will be available for team practice in the spring of 2025.
Harlan also noted that America First Ballpark is a celebratory moment for the community. The stadium will have a turf field, which will allow it to host games outside of the Utes’ schedule.
“The (Utah High School Activities Association) was like, ‘let’s go,’” Harlan said. They’re really excited about it. This is a community asset. It’s the home of Utah baseball, but ... we know others can use it.”
While the Utes don’t have a home set in place for the 2025 season, Harlan said the university is very close to finding a temporary home for its opening season in the Big 12.
“Not ready to announce anything,” Harlan said. “I was hoping we could today, but we’re zeroing in (on a place). The good news is we have some really good options, and we’re getting really close to it, but we hope to get that done in the next month.”
