Photo by Erin Nelson.
Regions Field as seen from a parking deck overlooking the Parkside district.
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The Birmingham Barons were previously scheduled to open their 2020 season at Regions Field on April 9 with a homestand against the Rocket City Trash Pandas. However, Minor League Baseball has announced that the entire 2020 season will be delayed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But when the season finally starts, Barons fans will see some recent improvements to Regions Field.
In January, the Double-AA Southern League baseball club announced a marketing partnership with Dread River Distilling Co. in Birmingham and changed the name of the Regions Field Club Lounge to the Dread River Lounge.
The 3,500-square-foot lounge, which offers concessions, a bar, televisions and seating, will also offer newly installed AirFlow Mesh balcony seating that will provide fans a more comfortable outdoor seating experience.
The new breathable seats will allow air to flow through the individual strands of the elastomeric mesh, thereby reducing the temperature of the seat surface by up to 65 degrees.
The cushioned seat pan and back distributes weight evenly, eliminating pressure points and making fans more comfortable.
The Barons have also extended the protective netting at Regions Field further down the first- and third-base lines.
Net Connection, based in Trussville, used a new netting that is stronger than the standard nylon. The new product is also half the size of standard netting, allowing for more visibility for fans.
2020 will be the eighth season for the Barons at Regions Field, said Jonathan Nelson, the club’s general manager.
“Each year we along with the city of Birmingham aim to add new ballpark amenities that will positively enhance everyone’s experiences at Barons games,” Nelson said.
The Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox since 1986, the Barons have been located in Birmingham since 1885.
The team finished the 2019 season with a record of 64 wins and 72 losses, leaving them third in the Southern League North and 23 games behind the first-place Montgomery Biscuits.
For information about the season, call 205-988-3200 or go to milb.com/birmingham.
