Play Ball! Celebrating the Return of Minor League Baseball in Columbus, GA

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Columbus, GA, has home fields that are a huge advantage when it comes to attracting sports tourism, generating economic development and enhancing the quality of life for area residents. And with the return of minor league baseball in Columbus, the city has even more to celebrate.

Rich Baseball and Softball History

As far back as 1926, Columbus baseball fans have been rooting for the home team at Golden Park, now known as Synovus Park. Some of the game’s greatest legends have played at the historic facility along the Chattahoochee River, including Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth.

How do you top that All-Star lineup? By bringing the world to town, which is what happened when Columbus became the site for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics women’s fastpitch softball competition. In preparation for the Games, the eight-field South Commons Softball Complex was built just a half-mile from the newly christened Synovus Park.

South Commons Boosts Economy

Today, South Commons is still going strong, hosting numerous tournaments every year, including the 2024 Georgia High School Association Fastpitch Softball State Championships. Over the past fiscal year, the softball complex generated more than $12.7 million in visitor spending.

“The legacy of hosting softball at the 1996 Olympic Games continues to create sports business for our city,” says Merri Sherman, executive director of Columbus, GA Sports Council. “We host numerous collegiate, high school, youth and adult softball events each year at the complex.”

Minor League Baseball in Columbus: Sprucing Up the Park

Meanwhile, Synovus Park is undergoing a $50 million renovation to become the new home for the Atlanta Braves’ Double A affiliate in 2025. Because of this softball and baseball doubleheader, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” is becoming the unofficial song of Columbus, celebrating sports that are bringing both cheers and revenue to the city.

“We’ve had a rich tradition of baseball and softball being played here at a number of different levels throughout the years, which by itself is outstanding,” Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson says. “But what those sports are helping us accomplish for our community is incredible.”

Baseball in Columbus is nothing new. There were pro teams playing in the city as far back as the late 19th century and, over the decades, seven different Major League Baseball franchises have placed minor-league affiliates in Columbus. 

But none of those MLB teams is nearly as popular to the people of Columbus as the home-state Atlanta Braves. 

“We were thrilled when we found out we were getting a Braves-affiliated team,” Henderson says. “Columbus is a big Braves town. We’re excited about the possibility of seeing their future Major League starters come through here.” 

Nathan Lambrecht

Meet the Columbus Clingstones

In anticipation of the arrival of the team, which will be called the Columbus Clingstones (named after the type of peach), the city is sprucing up Synovus Park. General contractor Brasfield & Gorrie is keeping several of the historical elements intact – the grandstands, steel canopy roof, primary concourse – while adding expansive new amenities. These include a new natural-turf field, stadium lighting, locker rooms, training facilities, weight rooms, concessions areas, restrooms and Fan Zones. There also will be new buildings on-site for team offices, an indoor batting cage, suites and other items. 

“We’re bringing that facility into the modern era,” says Wes Kelley, Brasfield & Gorrie vice president and division manager. “This is another exciting development in the evolution of Columbus. Over the last 20 years, the downtown area has been completely revitalized, and now this will activate growth in another area of our city.” 

Henderson agrees, saying that he expects the arrival of the team to the renovated Synovus Park combined with the existing South Commons Softball Complex will launch up to $400 million worth of capital investment within the surrounding neighborhood. 

“South Commons has been a real boon to our economy. There’s some sort of tournament being played on those fields almost every day,” Henderson says. “Now with the renovation of Synovus Park, the idea is to bring in hotels, residential and retail to that area and really ignite an economic resurgence. This is going to have a very broad impact, and create community right in the middle of those venues.”