The crack of the bat. The roar of the crowd. Hot dogs, cold beer and Cracker Jack. Root, root, rooting for the home team. Between the sights, the sounds and the tastes, there’s nothing quite like the experience of a summer baseball game.
For many North Carolina families and sports fans, a trip to the ballpark is a cherished annual tradition. In Kannapolis, that means cheering on the Cannon Ballers during a fun-filled visit to Atrium Health Ballpark, just a quick 20-minute drive east from Mooresville on NC-152.
After previous iterations as the Boll Weevils and the Dale Earnhardt-inspired Intimidators, the beloved local minor league team became the Cannon Ballers in 2019 when Temerity Baseball took ownership of the franchise. The $52 million state-of-the-art Atrium Health Ballpark facility opened the following year.
“People from all walks of life love this game,” says Mark Wingerter, Temerity Baseball’s Director of Marketing. “And thanks to a deep history of baseball in this region and North Carolina as a whole, the sport holds even more significance here.”
An affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, the Cannon Ballers put on a wholesome and highly entertaining show every time they take the field at the 4,900-plus seat stadium. The nostalgic opportunity to enjoy America’s favorite pastime is, of course, the main attraction that brings most folks to Atrium Health Ballpark with their friends and families.
“This is a really vibrant ballpark with a lot of energy,” Wingerter says. “Baseball Digest even named Atrium Health its 2022 Ballpark of the Year.”
That’s not the only reason to visit, though. Thanks to an agreement with the city of Kannapolis, the property remains accessible to the public between sunrise and sunset any day there’s not a game going on. Even when the Cannon Ballers’ 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ballpark stayed open for free, safe and socially distanced use.
“Anyone can come in and walk on the track through the concourse for exercise; there’s also a children’s playground and summer splash pad,” Wingerter says. “This ballpark is really a community hub that brings people together.”
The 6,000-square-foot Kinetic Club banquet space on-site serves as a hospitality suite during games, and can be rented out for private parties and weddings year-round. The ballpark also hosts occasional concerts, festivals and other large-scale local events.
If you haven’t yet made it out to Atrium Health Ballpark this summer, it’s not too late to catch a game before the Cannon Ballers’ season wraps up on Sept. 3. Special promotions like $2 Tuesdays and Thirsty Thursdays for discounted food and drinks, plus the Cannon Baller’s 5k benefitting the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation on Aug. 19th, followed by their Starry Night game where the field will be lit up with lanterns for charity, provide even more incentive to attend a game.
“We’ve got something going on pretty much every week that the team is in town,” Wingerter says. “Fans can find a calendar on our website or watch our social media for announcements.”
Single-game tickets, group tickets and 10-game ticket packages are still available for all remaining regular 2023 season games. For purchases and additional information, go to milb.com/kannapolis.
