Hammons Field

What is being considered?

• Actions related to the purchase of Hammons Field and parking lots - the City has reached an agreement with John Q. Hammons Charitable Trust.
•  An agreement would keep the Springfield Cardinals here long term.

How did this come to pass?

After stadium owner John Q. Hammons passed away, the City became involved in his some of his holdings' bankruptcy proceedings. During those proceedings, it became evident that the greatest benefit to the community would be if the City purchased the stadium and parking lot. Keeping the Cardinals' minor league franchise in Springfield was a top priority.

Why would the City want to purchase the stadium?

• We are at a crossroads in the history of minor league baseball in Springfield. 
• Hammons Field opened in 2004 on the corner of Sherman Avenue and Trafficway Boulevard as the centerpiece of a major downtown development project. 
• The investments along the Jordan Valley Corridor in the 1990s and early 2000s have changed the landscape of Springfield’s downtown and ushered in a new era of revitalization. 
• Purchasing the stadium and announcing a new 15-year lease with Springfield Cardinals ensures that the Cardinals franchise stays in Springfield for the long term.
• Losing the Springfield Cardinals would not only mean that Springfield would no longer have professional baseball, it would also have a negative effect on not only downtown, but also the on the City’s ability to attract another minor league franchise, attract future businesses, residents and workforce talent. 

How much is the City considering paying for the stadium and where is the money coming from?

The $12 million global agreement would include the stadium and the lots directly across Trafficway south of the stadium and to the west of the stadium. The majority of the monies are coming from unrestricted savings from the General Fund and monies earmarked for “Economic Vitality” from the Level Property Tax Fund.

What are the details of the agreement with the Cardinals? 

The lease agreement going through 2038 would ensure the Springfield Cardinals remain in Springfield where they have played since the affiliate’s founding in 2005. The lease agreement with the Cardinals has been structured to ensure the stadium is paying for itself and for the improvements and maintenance required by Major League Baseball. Part of the team’s rent will be split between operating and capital funds.  The City will create an initial $4 million capital improvement fund to make the immediate Major League Baseball-mandated improvements to the stadium. After that, the agreement is expected to pay for operation costs and for future improvements and maintenance. The Cardinals' annual rental agreement would be $650,000, which is only one of several revenue streams that will be put back into the stadium. 

What are the specific improvements required by Major League Baseball?

Highlights include new field lighting, accommodation for female staff facilities and improvements to visitors' side commissary and dining areas. 

Will the MSU baseball Bears continue to play at Hammons Field?

Yes. Hammons Field is home to the Missouri State University Baseball Bears, who played their first game at the stadium on April 2, 2004. Missouri State will continue to play its home games at Hammons Field under the provisions of their lease agreement through 2030. The annual rental agreement is $250,000 and will be adjusted each year, aligned with increases in the Consumer Price Index. 

What are the specs of the stadium?

The stadium has a capacity of 6,750 general admission seating. It is unique due to its baseball-specific outbuildings. The stadium currently has two large buildings just outside the right-field walls. The larger of the two serves as a fully furnished indoor practice facility complete with Astroturf, batting cages, and a small diamond for drills. The smaller building serves as administration, including general manager offices, as well as housing Springfield Cardinals and Missouri State University Baseball Bears clubhouses, a cardio workout facility and the physical trainer's office. Hammons Field also boasts one of the largest high-definition video boards in Minor League Baseball.

How will the facility be used as a community asset?

The City of Springfield, in particular, is provided two dates each year to stage large-scale community events. In addition, the Springfield Cardinals plan to host a variety of new community events as upgrades are made to the stadium.  

Will parking fees be reduced?

The Springfield Cardinals will set the parking fees and have committed to reducing the fee. 

Will the stadium be renamed?

There is no immediate plan to change the name of the stadium. The Cardinals have the right to market the naming rights and any revenues generated from the rights will be deposited in the capital fund.

The $12 million global agreement would include the stadium and the lots directly across Trafficway south of the stadium and to the west of the stadium. The majority of the monies are coming from unrestricted savings from the General Fund and monies earmarked for “Economic Vitality” from the Level Property Tax Fund.

The lease agreement going through 2038 would ensure the Springfield Cardinals remain in Springfield where they have played since the affiliate’s founding in 2005. The lease agreement with the Cardinals has been structured to ensure the stadium is paying for itself and for the improvements and maintenance required by Major League Baseball. 

Part of the team’s rent will be split between operating and capital funds. The City will create an initial $4 million capital improvement fund to make the immediate Major League Baseball-mandated improvements to the stadium. After that, the agreement is expected to pay for operation costs and for future improvements and maintenance. The Cardinals' annual rental agreement would be $650,000, which is only one of several revenue streams that will be put back into the stadium. 

As a part of the Jordan Valley Park Plan (a part of Vision 2020) the City and John Q. Hammons came together to bring minor league baseball back to Springfield in the early 2000s. It was a goal of the community for many years. The City issued bonds (a form of borrowing) in order to lend Hammons the money to construct Hammons Field. The agreement with Hammons required him to make an annual rent payment in the amount equal to the cost of the City’s annual bond payment. The idea was that once the bonds were paid off, the City would sell him the stadium and a portion of the land under it for $1. The City was also required to provide Hammons a 50-year ground lease on the remaining portion of the land under the stadium. The 50-year ground lease was created because the stadium sits on property the City owns.

Hammons Field opened in 2004 on the corner of Sherman Avenue and Trafficway Boulevard as the centerpiece of a major downtown development project. The investments along the Jordan Valley Corridor in the 1990s and early 2000s have changed the landscape of Springfield’s downtown and ushered in a new era of revitalization. 

When Hammons passed away in 2013 at the age of 94, many of his holdings went into bankruptcy. Under the bankruptcy plan, the court ordered that the bonds be paid off and that the John Q. Hammons Charitable Trust be required to acquire the stadium in order to sell it. Once the bonds were paid off, it became clear during discussions that the community would benefit the greatest if the City were to purchase the stadium and parking lots.

What the City is specifically seeking to purchase is the charitable trust’s rights to obtain the 50-year ground lease and its right to purchase the stadium and part of the land under the stadium. Hammons Field is also the last thing pending in the City’s involvement in the Hammons bankruptcy. 

Hammons Field is also home to the Missouri State University Baseball Bears, who played their first game at the stadium on April 2, 2004. Missouri State will continue to play its home games at Hammons Field under the provisions of their license agreement with the City.

Springfield has hosted professional baseball teams since as early as 1905, when the Springfield Highlanders began play. For nearly 30 years, the team was variously called the Highlanders, Jobbers and Merchants. There were several years when no team existed at all.

The original White City Park (historical photos at right courtesy of History Museum on the Square) was built in 1901 on Boonville, near West Lynn Street and North Campbell,  but caught fire and was rebuilt in 1921. 

In its heyday, the original Springfield Cardinals were the kings of the Western Association in the same way that they are consistently atop the Texas League today. The Cardinals would serve Springfield until 1942 when World War II came. Some famous future All-Stars of Major League Baseball came through this ballpark including future Hall of Famer Stan Musial.

In 1931, the St. Louis Cardinals purchased a minor league team, renamed it the Cardinals, and relocated it in Springfield. That year, the team won the first of several Western Association titles. With a front office led by future Hall of Famer Branch Rickey, Springfield also went to the playoffs in 1931, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, and 1941, and won league titles in 1931, 1932, 1934, 1937, and 1939.

Following World War II, St. Louis moved the team to St. Joseph where it remained until 1953. The City of Springfield saw a brief re-emergence of minor league baseball when the rival Chicago Cubs moved its affiliate to Springfield for one season taking the name Springfield Cubs, playing in Memorial Stadium in west Springfield.

Though there was a gap of 63 years, most in the Springfield and St. Louis organizations consider the current Springfield Cardinals the same group which existed in 1932. Many pieces of fan apparel actually say, "Springfield Cardinals circa 1932." The deck on top of the Cardinals dugout also has the championship banners from the 1930s and 1940s. Springfield played host to several players that would go on to play in Major League Baseball. Stan Musial played 87 games in Springfield; other players to come through Springfield are Dizzy Dean and his brother Paul, Pepper Martin, and Joe Medwick.

The Springfield Cardinals compete as a member of the Texas League's North Division. The Cardinals began play in 2005, winning three Texas League North 1st Half Division titles, two Texas League North 2nd Half Division titles, two Texas League North championships and one Texas League championship (2012).

Though there was a gap of 63 years, most in the Springfield and St. Louis organizations consider the current Cardinals the same group which existed in 1932. And wow, have we seen our share of Cardinals stars!

Through the 2022 season, a total of 126 former Springfield Cardinals have gone on to make their Major League debut with St. Louis with an additional 30-plus others debuting with different Major League Baseball teams.