The Ballpark at America First Square - Salt Lake Bees

Photos of Sean MacDonald, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29

The Ballpark at America First Square 11111 South Ballpark Drive South Jordan, UT 84009

Salt Lake Bees website The Ballpark at America First Square website

Year Opened: 2025 Capacity: 8,000

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Ballpark First, Square Coming Soon 

The Salt Lake Bees had one of baseball's best stadiums in Smith's Ballpark but there were some problems with the surrounding area and other concerns that prompted the Larry H. Miller Company, owner of the franchise, to move the club. In a rather unique choice for a minor league franchise, they built their community in South Jordan, about 20 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. 

This sports-anchored, mixed-use development is known as Daybreak and the 200-acre site will eventually include apartment buildings, restaurants, and shops, making it similar to The Battery in Atlanta. However, at this time, only the ballpark is ready, with the surrounding area in various stages of construction. 

When complete, it promises to be a summer sports destination for those visiting the Beehive State, but at this point, much work remains to be done. Stadium Journey paid a visit to The Ballpark at America First Square for their second-ever game and were impressed with some aspects, but look forward to when the full dream is realized.

Food & Beverage 4

For a minor league ballpark, the selection here is incredible. It would take the entire review to mention every concession stand and offer, so a few highlights will be presented. Closest to the main entrance is Home Plate Chicken, where a spicy chicken sandwich basket with fries is $10, possibly making it the best bargain at the ballpark. A Buffalo chicken sandwich is $12, while chicken tenders and fries are $15, five bucks more than tenders with a waffle. You can also get a jumbo hot dog here for $8. As you can tell, these prices are a bit much for a minor league stadium, and that is why a point is docked.

Smith's Ballpark may no longer be the team's home, but Smith's Ballpark Market is one of the concession stands, so named because Smith's is a local grocer. Here you can find a cheeseburger basket for $15, a mini corn dog basket for $9, and a veggie (black bean and corn patty) burger for $9. A single slice of Little Caesar's pizza runs $8, and if you are a family of four, you can get a bundle of four burgers or dogs with fries for $35, and $50 if you add soda or water.

Franx has a couple of specialty dogs: all-star footlong for $11 and Chicago style for $10. In the left field corner is J. Dawgs, a food truck with polish or beef for $9 and fries for $6. There is also a Mediterranean stand here where hummus nachos are $15, or you can build your salad or bowl (choose from rice, chickpeas, mixed greens, tomatoes, olives, feta, pepperoncini, and tzatziki sauce), also from $15. 

The Changeup offers a variety of Mexican entrees such as enchiladas, burritos, or quesadillas between $16-$18, while a churro sundae is an unusual option at $11. Bumble's BBQ tempts with brisket sandwiches for $16, a buck less will get you pulled pork or chicken. They also have Mac and Bees bowls, with the traditional for $10, while adding meat will add $3-$6 to your order.

Dugout Pizza is a grab-and-go concession with $14 cheese or pepperoni personal pies (a meat pizza is an extra 50 cents), while a meatball sub is $10. Those looking for a healthier option can try a Caesar salad for $8.

Snacks are available at most stands and start at $5 for peanuts, Cracker Jack, or churros, and go up to $8.50 for a popcorn box. Coca-Cola products are available for $6 for bottled soda and $5 for water. Beer starts at $12.5 for typical canned options and goes up with premium or draft.

Again, this is not a comprehensive list of all available items but should give you an idea of what to expect before you arrive. With nothing around the ballpark at this point, you might want to eat along the way should you find the prices here to be a bit more than you are willing to pay.

Atmosphere 5

At the main entrance, the red brick exterior is covered with silver plating along the top that has mountain scenery etched on it, a unique look for a ballpark.

The stadium design is typical if a bit small for AAA, with a capacity of 8,000 including the right field berm. This makes it the fourth smallest at this level, behind Tacoma, St. Paul, and Sugar Land. 

After entering, you will see one of many premium areas, this being the Founders Suites, four private rooms right off the main concourse behind the plate. These offer very comfortable seats above the seating bowl, with dedicated concessions included right next door. 

Another premium area are the suites at field level directly behind the plate, all of which have food and beverage service. This means that the seating sections behind the plate are quite limited as the dugouts and field level suites take up much of the space, so there are no front-row seats in these areas available to the general public.

Up top are the premium decks, one above the first base and one above the third. Both were empty for the game we attended and hence available to all fans, but few knew about them or bothered to explore them. For some reason, an usher was at the bottom of one set of stairs, implying that it was not open to all fans, but when I inquired, she said anyone could go up. So have a look as the views from up here are among the best in baseball.

Between the premium decks is the Terrace Club, the third premium area that requires a wristband to enter. Here you will find an unlimited buffet and soft drinks, while alcohol is available at prices cheaper than in the rest of the stadium. Of course, most travelers will not be able to access these areas, but they are worth knowing about.

The last section down the lines turns in to face the field, a welcome change from the old-style ballparks where you would have to turn your neck to watch the action should you be sitting well down the lines. The entire seating bowl is protected by netting, though of course, pop fouls do reach the seats on occasion. 

The scoreboard is large and sits above the left field fence and below it are two rows of seats where home run hopefuls gather. The bullpens are underneath these seats, and you can stand above and watch the pitchers warm up. 

In the left field plaza is the unique feature, a miniature golf course, which will have a nominal charge but looks to provide a bit of fun before the game. There is also a small kids area here and a separate concession stand with kids meals, which might attract a few adults given how expensive regular concessions are.

You can walk around the entire concourse, going out to center field and reaching the berm in right field, where many families will spend the evening. Bring a blanket and get there early to claim your space.  As you walk back along the first base concourse, you will see a few picnic tables for those who want to spread out to enjoy their meals.

The mascot is Bumble and he made his way around the ballpark greeting fans and keeping them entertained. As this was only the second game, there were no on-field promotions between innings, though there were a couple of scoreboard ones such as the dance cam and cap shuffle. Presumably as the club gets its bearings, these will appear.

Drink rails abound and are ideal for those who like a bit of space and don't mind standing for a few innings. This also allows you to talk to the ushers at the top of the sections; the one I met was quite informative and friendly and made the experience that much more enjoyable.

One thing missing here is team history; the franchise has been in Salt Lake City for over 30 years and there should be something acknowledging those who have gone on to the majors.

The Ballpark at America First Square may have a long name (America First is a credit union; they also hold the naming rights for Real Salt Lake's stadium) but it is a beautiful stadium with an incredible backdrop and this is its highlight.

Neighborhood 2

There is nothing near the ballpark, other than parking lots and the transit stop. If you are landing at SLC from the south, a left-side window seat will give you a clear view of the ballpark in the distance, as there are no buildings surrounding it.

However, just over a mile away are a few eateries and bars, with The Break Sports Grill being the most appealing. Next to that is Cupbop, where you can get Korean BBQ in a cup. Farther down SR85 in Herriman are Slackwater Pizza, Station Bar, Garage Grill, and Salt Flats Bar. As these are not walkable, we recommend driving rather than using transit should you be looking to explore the area postgame. Utah also has several In-N-Out locations and some are within a short drive of the ballpark should you be coming from a state that lacks this fast-food restaurant with a cult following.

In terms of lodging, your best bet is to stay in Salt Lake City or West Valley and drive or take the light rail. Eventually, the area around the ballpark is expected to be much more vibrant, but it will probably take a couple of years before that is fully realized.

Fans 4

For the second ever game at the ballpark, attendance was somewhat muted with just 2,725 on hand after nearly 7,000 attended the night before. Of course, this is to be expected for a midweek game in April. Last season, the team averaged 6,300 at Smith's Ballpark, an excellent number for AAA baseball. 

Will attendance match that this year? With a capacity of just 8,000 and ticket prices rivaling major league teams, no. The first homestand saw an average of 4,069, which is a good total but unlikely to continue. The problem here is that ticket prices are much higher than they were last year, more than tripling in some cases. It is clear that the owners are trying to maximize revenue rather than attendance figures, but this category should not be punished for that choice.

Of course, the Bees are not a new franchise as the team has been in town since 1994. The fans are experienced and know what they are watching, and there were plenty of families and groups taking advantage of premium areas. It remains to be seen if they will continue to show up given the distance and cost.

Access 4

South Jordan is a suburb that is about 30 minutes by car from the airport and also reachable on the TRAX Red Line, taking about 45 minutes from downtown and 75-90 minutes from the airport. One thing to be aware of is that the light rail uses a single track, so if the train you want is in front of the train you are on, you will have to wait for the next one, which takes 15 minutes. Some fans use one of the Park and Ride lots in nearby West Jordan and take the train the last few stops, thus saving the $15 parking fee that is charged for any lots around the stadium.

If you are driving, SR85 runs next to the ballpark, while SR154 is three miles east and takes you straight from the airport.

If you have a game ticket, you can enter via the outfield gate; otherwise head around to the front where the box office trailer is located. We recommend this option to get a look at the impressive facade mentioned above.

Inside, the concourse is spacious and no major lines are at the concessions or restrooms. The fact that the upper deck is open to the public when not in use is also a bonus.

Return on Investment 1

Tickets start at $18 for the berm, a bit much for minor league baseball at any level. These go up to $26 for seats in the sections farthest down the line, while seats in the next section over are $45. Yes, forty-five dollars to sit 250 feet away from the plate for a minor league game. Other options are the second deck are $35, outfield seats at $30, and bullpen seats at $39. Want to be above the dugout? That'll be $51. That is unreasonable for what is supposed to be a family-friendly and affordable experience.

Seats behind the plate appear to be sold out to season ticket holders; one game I checked had resale tickets in these sections for $121 and up. Again, this review is for the Salt Lake Bees of the AAA Pacific Coast League, not the New York Yankees. I realize the motive here is to maximize revenue, but it seems like the team is going to lose a significant portion of their fan base with these prices. For those traveling, the obvious thing to do there is pay $18 and stand for a while or sit at one of the drink rails.

To be fair, there are ticket specials such as 4 berm seats for $40 on Tuesdays and a Sunday Brunch where you get a ticket and a meal for $47, but these require planning and the schedule to work out for those making a road trip. There are also last-minute ticket specials that you can register for, though it is not clear what these entail. 

When you add in the parking and overpriced concessions, a night at the ballpark for a family of four is going to cost over $150. Perhaps everyone in Utah just won the lottery, but this is far too much for the product on the field and is the biggest detriment to the new ballpark.

Extras 3

Of course, as with any ballpark in Utah, a mountain backdrop is essential and merits a point as does the facade out front. The miniature golf course is also worth a point.

Final Thoughts

Overall, The Ballpark at America First Square is the initial step in what promises to be an intriguing question - can a minor league stadium be the centerpiece of a suburban development? Right now, prices are too high and the lack of a surrounding neighborhood means fans are traveling a long way just for the game. As time passes, the area will improve and I expect adjustment in the cost to make this a more attractive sports destination. We will revisit in a year or two to see how things have progressed.