FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – The City of Fayetteville, N.C., the Houston Astros and the Big South Conference announced today an agreement to host the 2019-21 Big South Conference Baseball Championships at the new Fayetteville Ballpark. The newly-constructed ballpark will serve as the host venue for the eight-team, double-elimination tournament that will determine the Big South’s automatic bid recipient to the NCAA Championship for the 2019-21 seasons. The 2019 event will take place May 21-25.
The Big South will have a true neutral site location for its Baseball Championship for the third time in the past four years within the league’s footprint of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. The nationally- televised tournament will serve as the first major event hosted at the new ballpark, which is the home facility for the Houston Astros Class A Advanced affiliate in the Carolina League. The 4,786-seat ballpark is scheduled to open in April 2019 and will mark the return of professional baseball to the Fayetteville community after a 19-year absence.
“This is a major milestone for the City of Fayetteville and its downtown development,” said Mark Zarthar, President of the Houston Astros Fayetteville affiliate. “The Big South is a premier collegiate athletic conference with a rich history in baseball. With institutions spread across Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, many of its athletes hail from the greater Fayetteville area. The tournament will bring players, staff, families and fans to explore the growing number of accommodations, dining and entertainment options that this historic city has to offer.”
The $37.8 million state-of-the-art stadium is expected to be a catalyzing economic development tool that attracts and retains business, provides national exposure, increases civic and community pride and provides for an improved quality of life for residents. It features natural grass, a 25×70 LED scoreboard, six luxury suites, four field boxes, a premium club level, outdoor party deck, a Kids Zone and more.
“We are delighted to find not only a fine location, but a true partner willing and able to help make our Baseball Championship into an event bigger than just a series of games,” added Big South Conference Commissioner Kyle Kallander. “Between the level of competition demonstrated by our teams and the level of hospitality shown by our hosts, we know the Big South, the city of Fayetteville and the Houston Astros will put on a great show.”
The 2019 Big South Baseball Championship will hold 10 games over its first three days, May 21-23, followed by the semifinal round on May 24 (anywhere from 2-4 games as needed). The tournament will culminate with a “Winner-Take-All” Championship Game on the final day (Saturday, May 25). All games will air on ESPN platforms, with exact distribution to be announced next Spring.
WHAT’S THE BIG SOUTH? Founded in 1983, the Big South Conference has been an exemplary leader in college athletics, dedicated to developing student-athletes through the pursuit of excellence in the classroom, community and field of play. The league’s growing presence as an NCAA Division I athletic conference is made evident by its multitude of athletic accomplishments, innovative marketing and media partnerships, increased television packages and most importantly, its commitment to fostering the academic, personal, social, athletic and leadership development of its student-athletes. Comprised of Campbell University, Charleston Southern University, Gardner-Webb University, Hampton University, High Point University, Longwood University, Presbyterian College, Radford University, UNC Asheville, USC Upstate and Winthrop University, plus football members Kennesaw State University, Monmouth University and the University of North Alabama, Big South member institutions share a common geographic region and similar academic values and purposes. The conference’s remarkable history of achievement is characterized by the league’s 19 championship sports and the profound academic and life successes of its nearly 4,200 student-athletes. The Big South Conference: Where Winners Are Made.
CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. Fayetteville is proud of its rich role in our nation’s history and holds fast to the friendly feel of a true hometown, while providing the cultural and entertainment amenities of bigger cities. The city boasts sophisticated restaurants, museums, musical and sporting events, not to mention nearby Fort Bragg – the nation’s largest military installation – that solidifies the city’s deep roots in all things military. Fayetteville is the 6th largest city in the state and home to more than 208,000 residents.
FAYETTEVILLE BASEBALL CLUB The 2017 World Champion Houston Astros own and operate its Class A Advanced minor league affiliate, the Fayetteville Baseball Club LLC (team name to be announced in September). The Astros agreed to a 30- year lease and are invested in the long-term success of the City of Fayetteville. The team’s direction focuses on creating a culture of success with an accessible management team, building the best young talent in baseball, engaging with fans and connecting the community with an exciting, family-friendly experience.
