Minor League Stadium's $300M Impact: How Baseball Revitalized a South Carolina City

Greenville, South Carolina's Fluor Field: A Home Run for Urban Revitalization Greenville, South Carolina, has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its West End, thanks to an unlikely catalyst: Fluor Field, a minor league baseball stadium. For years, this area was characterized by abandoned textile mills and a sense of decline. However, the construction of Fluor Field, using bricks salvaged from the demolished mills, has jump-started a renaissance. The stadium has become a community hub, drawing roughly half a million people annually for games and other events. This influx of people has generated significant economic activity, with the city estimating a $300 million financial impact over the past decade. "This ballpark has had a monster impact," says a CBS Evening News reporter. The city's approach 20 years ago, according to Mayor Knox White, was "unusual for the time, but savvy." The mixed-use development strategy, which integrated the stadium into a larger plan for residential and commercial growth, has proven remarkably successful. Bobby Daugherty, owner of Old Europe Desserts, located a few blocks from the ballpark, credits the stadium for bringing in "bodies." He explains, "I sell cake; I need bodies through the door." His business, along with numerous others, has thrived as a result of the increased foot traffic. The story of Fluor Field is one of successful urban revitalization, demonstrating the power of strategic planning and community engagement. It shows how a minor league baseball stadium can serve as the engine for economic growth and community transformation, turning a once-blighted area into a vibrant and thriving downtown.