America’s Pastime is Back in Knoxville
After 25 years, professional baseball is back in Knoxville! On April 15, the gates of the much-anticipated Covenant Health Park will open for the inaugural season — marking a new chapter for sports and entertainment in the city. The journey to this moment began four years ago when city and county leaders gave the green light to a new multi-use stadium project. At the forefront of the effort is team owner Randy Boyd, whose vision has brought the Knoxville Smokies — formerly the Tennessee Smokies — back to their roots.
But this isn’t just a baseball stadium. Covenant Health Park is designed to be a true community hub. In addition to hosting Smokies home games, the stadium will be the new venue for One Knox SC soccer matches, as well as concerts, festivals, and other major events throughout the year.
The park boasts a scoreboard in the shape of the state of Tennessee and direct access to Knoxville’s greenway system. Situated in the heart of the Old City, it’s surrounded by new apartments and improved streetscapes, all part of a broader plan to breathe new life into East Knoxville. Walkable, vibrant, and built with community in mind, Covenant Health Park is more than a stadium — it’s a symbol of Knoxville’s growth and a celebration of its past and future.
Knoxville Smokies
From 1886 to 1999, professional baseball was a staple in Knoxville. Now, after 25 seasons, it's officially homecoming time. The brand-new, state-of-the-art Covenant Health Park marks the return of pro baseball to the city, providing a fresh home for the Knoxville Smokies — the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. While the 2025 season is already underway, the moment fans have been waiting for is just around the corner. Tomorrow, April 15, the Smokies will play their long-awaited home opener at Covenant Health Park, kicking off a new era in the heart of Knoxville.
One Knox SC
Knoxville’s own professional soccer club, One Knoxville SC, has quickly made a name for itself in the city’s sports scene. What began as an amateur team has evolved into a full-time professional club, capturing the attention and support of fans across the region. The club played its first-ever match in 2022 at Austin-East High School. Just two years later, One Knox reached a major milestone, announcing an agreement with Boyd Sports to host all home matches at the brand-new stadium that was set to be built in the Old City. Now, the next chapter begins. On April 26, One Knox SC will kick off its home slate at the new stadium with a match against FC Tulsa. With a modern venue and growing fanbase, the stage is set for an exciting new era of soccer in Knoxville.
Evenings in Downtown Knoxville just got more exciting! Covenant Health Park is bringing an element and attraction that’s been needed to the city. We can’t wait to catch games this summer and have fun at the ballpark!
For Knoxville Smokies Tickets visit: https://www.milb.com/knoxville/tickets
For One Knox SC Tickets visit: https://www.oneknoxsc.com/tickets/
Article Sources
Grand Slam Knox. (2025). Home. https://www.grandslamknox.com/
One Knoxville SC. (2025). About Us. https://www.oneknoxsc.com/about-us/
Knoxville Smokies. (2025). Home. https://www.milb.com/knoxville
Dellinger, R. (2025, February 12). Covenant health park announced as Knoxville’s newest Multi-use stadium. Covenant Health. https://www.covenanthealth.com/blog/covenant-health-park-announced/
Gross, T. (2025, March 24). Covenant health park opens in April, welcoming Knoxville Smokies to New Home. Covenant Health. https://www.covenanthealth.com/blog/covenant-health-park-opens-in-april/
