Photo by Eric Moreno, Stadium Journey
A recent report in the San Antonio Express-News has revealed that the ownership group of the Double-A San Antonio Missions is zeroing in on a new stadium for the club. The current ownership group purchased the team in 2022 and has always eyed a move into the Alamo City’s vibrant downtown area.
According to the newspaper’s reporting, the Missions ownership group has been buying up parcels of land in the downtown area since taking over the team. It is unclear exactly how much a new ballpark will cost, or where the funding will come from.
The Missions, who have resided at their current home Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium since 1994, are under a deadline from Major League Baseball (MLB) that is fast approaching. Minor league clubs were put on notice when MLB put new facility standards in place in 2020; the deadline for the Missions to either make significant improvements to Wolff Stadium or make plans to build a new ballpark is Opening Day of 2025.
The guidelines released by MLB include upgrading to larger clubhouses, improving training facilities and lighting, and upgrading facilities for female staffers. If a team fails to make the changes by the 2025 deadline, they could lose their affiliation with MLB. The Missions, members of the Texas League, are currently affiliates of the San Diego Padres.
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