KNOXVILLE, TN (March 19, 2026) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – The Knoxville Knox County Sports Authority announces opening of Covenant Health Park Concourse access beginning March 23, 2026, as part of the continued activation of the multi-purpose stadium and surrounding district.

Beginning Monday, March 23, the concourse will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Access will be available through the First Base and Third Base gates, allowing residents, visitors, and downtown employees the opportunity to walk through the stadium concourse and experience the venue even on non-event days.

“We are excited to begin opening the stadium to the community in a new way,” said Alvin Nance, Chair of the Knoxville Knox County Sports Authority Operations Committee. “This first phase allows people to experience the concourse and the views of the ballpark while we continue adding permanent features that celebrate Knoxville’s rich sports history.”

“Opening the concourse access at Covenant Health Park is another step forward for Knox County and our entire region,” said Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “This multipurpose stadium was designed to be more than a place to watch baseball, and we’re pleased to see it become a valued community gathering space for families, fans, and visitors.”

“The opening of the Covenant Health Park concourse access reflects what we envisioned for this project from the beginning: a vibrant, welcoming space that belongs to the whole city,” said City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon. “Whether you’re here for a game, a walk through the surrounding neighborhood, or just to take in the view, the concourse helps knit this ballpark into the fabric of Knoxville and makes downtown an even more exciting place to be.”

“We believe ballparks should be open, active places that bring people together,” said Chris Allen, CEO of Boyd Sports. “We’re proud to work with Knox County and the City of Knoxville to make Covenant Health Park a year-round destination for the community.”

This initial opening marks Phase One of a broader effort to integrate Covenant Health Park into the daily life of Knoxville. The public is advised that there will be blackout dates for games and other special events. For updates on stadium access, upcoming events, and future phases of the project, visit https://www.visitknoxville.com/covenant-health-park/.

ABOUT THE SPORTS AUTHORITY
The Sports Authority Board is a joint board of the City of Knoxville and Knox County. The Board was created for the purpose of planning, financing, constructing, and managing a publicly owned sports and entertainment stadium in East Knoxville, near the Old City, now known as Covenant Health Park.

Knoxville City Council and Knox County Commission approved the formation of the Sports Authority of the County of Knox and the City of Knoxville in December 2020. The Sports Authority governing board is comprised of seven directors jointly appointed by the City and County. The slate of directors presented to Knoxville City Council and Knox County Commission has been vetted and is recommended by both the City and County Mayors.

ABOUT BOYD SPORTS, LLC
Boyd Sports, LLC was founded in 2013 by Randy & Jenny Boyd. Lifelong sports fans, the couple is committed to creating a fun, family-friendly experience at all the ballparks for generations to come. Boyd Sports currently owns & operates six baseball teams including the Knoxville Smokies, Johnson City Doughboys, Greeneville Flyboys, Elizabethton River Riders, Bristol State Liners & operates the Kingsport Axmen. Boyd Sports first team was acquired in 2013 with the acquisition of the former Tennessee Smokies (now Knoxville Smokies) which is the AA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Boyd Sports then acquired the Johnson City Cardinals (2016), Greeneville Reds (2018), Elizabethton Twins (2019), Kingsport Axmen (2021) and the Bristol State Liners in 2025. Boyd Sports is committed to the growth of the teams and the sport by continuing to invest into all the different facilities.

ABOUT VISIT KNOXVILLE
Visit Knoxville (Knoxville Convention and Visitors Bureau) is the official CVB for the City of Knoxville and Knox County. Visit Knoxville is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, private company that works together with the community, business leaders and local and state government to further develop Knoxville as a premier leisure, meetings and travel destination. Tourism is the second highest grossing industry in the state of Tennessee. Knoxville/Knox County annually produces over $2 billion in travel spending. Visit Knoxville is also home to the VK Sports Commission, the VK Film Office, the Sunsphere Welcome Center & Observation Deck, and the Visitors Center at 301 S. Gay Street. For more information, go to visitknoxville.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram.

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Kristen Combs
Director of Communications
Visit Knoxville
865.306.4341 c
kcombs@knoxville.org