Joe Davis Stadium Renovation: New Ballgames for Old Ballpark

The outfield fences are down and earth is being moved as the city has started the renovation of Joe Davis Stadium from primarily a baseball park to a multi-use venue.

If construction isn’t delayed, the former site of the Double-A baseball Huntsville Stars will once again host high school football, that is if school administrators choose to use the reimagined stadium that will certainly host soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and ultimate frisbee.

The playing field will have space for a regulation soccer layout with the city hoping to lure a minor league professional team.

“Our goal is to have the construction complete by early fall 2022 so we can host at least some of the 2022 high school football season,’’ City Administrator John Hamilton said. “Options on day-to-day management are being explored now and will be determined in the near future.’’

Mark Russell, the executive director of the Huntsville Sports Commission, said he sees several choices for the day-to-day operations of the stadium.

“There are, I think, several different options,’’ he said. “One is to have a private operator, one is to have the city do it and one is, I don’t think the school system would seriously be considered, but that could be an option.

“Probably really two choices. To have a private, for-profit operator running some events out of there or to have a city manager kind of like they did with Joe Davis Stadium. I’m not making that decision, people have just asked me what I thought.’’

Plans call for the seating to be reduced from 10,000 to a cozier 6,800. The new design will feature new fences and updated roofing, restrooms, locker rooms, concessions, offices and press box.

The skyboxes will be removed, and there will be stands where the old right-field wall was with its back toward the Parkway.

The remodeling is estimated to cost $8 million.

Joe Davis Stadium, named after Huntsville’s late, longtime mayor, was considered a jewel of the Southern League when it opened to house the Oakland A’s-affiliated Stars in 1985.

But in just 20 years, other league cities built venues that surpassed Joe D and it fell into need of repair. The Stars, then affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers, left town following the 2014 season for Biloxi, Miss.

“There are a lot of the stadiums being reused and it was I think it’s more of a seeing a need in the community that there needed to be a small-type stadium,’’ Russell said. “If they were able to get a team to play there consistently, as for the economic impact, I’m sure it would cover whatever costs put into it.’’

A professional soccer team seems to be high on the wish list to become a regular tenant.

“That’s what I would expect,’’ Russell said. “Again, I’m not the decision-maker but I suspect our community is right for minor-league soccer. I don’t know what the official term is but a pro soccer team.’’