LYNCHBURG HILLCATS
Bank of the James Stadium
Architecture & History
Bank of the James Stadium opened in 1940 and is one of the oldest operating professional baseball venues in Virginia. The 85-year-old structure hosts Carolina League baseball with the Blue Ridge foothills visible beyond the outfield.
Build specs
- OPENED
- 1940
- CAPACITY
- 4,500
- DIMENSIONS
- LF 325 · CF 390 · RF 325
- AFFILIATE
- Cleveland Guardians
Names & History
2015–present
Bank of the James Stadium
Named after Bank of the James, the Lynchburg-based community bank.
1940–2015
City Stadium / Lynchburg Municipal Stadium
The original stadium name: a civic designation that served the city for 75 years.
The Food
Blue Ridge Smoked Sausage Plate
Sausage Stand
Lynchburg sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with a strong Appalachian food heritage. The house smoked sausage — a coarse-ground pork link with sage and red pepper — is grilled and served on a hoagie with mustard and peppers.
Lynchburg Sweet Tea
Beverage Stand
Lynchburg-style sweet tea: brewed dark, sweetened generously, served over ice. A cornerstone of Virginia summer culture and available at every game.
Virginia Ham Biscuit
Biscuit Stand
A country ham biscuit — thin-sliced, salty cured Virginia ham on a soft buttermilk biscuit. The most Virginia food possible, served at a baseball game.
Hillcats Dog
Throughout ballpark
Classic all-beef frank with mustard, chili, and slaw.
The Beer
Apocalypse Ale Works Blue Ridge Rage IPA
Apocalypse Ale Works · Forest, VA
The Lynchburg-area craft brewery closest to Bank of the James Stadium. The Blue Ridge Rage IPA is their signature — an aggressive, resinous West Coast-style IPA that reflects the Appalachian terrain.
Devils Backbone Eight Point IPA
Devils Backbone Brewing · Roseland, VA
Eight Point is Devils Backbone's sessionable IPA — lower ABV, same Blue Ridge character, easier to drink through a doubleheader.
Coors Light
Molson Coors
Standard volume pour.
Bud Light
Anheuser-Busch
Standard high-volume pour.
Sun & Weather Guide
Lynchburg foothills summer heat
Lynchburg's position in the Blue Ridge foothills means hot summers with moderate humidity. July and August day games regularly reach 95°F.
Foothills evening air is comfortable
Spring and fall evening games in Lynchburg are among the most comfortable in the Carolina League — the elevation and mountain air make a difference.
Original grandstand coverage
The stadium's original covered grandstand sections provide shade on the home plate and third base side in afternoon games.
Insider Tips
The One Thing
Order a Virginia ham biscuit and sweet tea. This is the most Virginia lunch possible and Bank of the James Stadium delivers both.
Best Seat
Lower box seats on the first base side give you a sightline toward the Blue Ridge foothills visible beyond the right field wall.
Historic Note
Bank of the James Stadium opened in 1940 and is one of the oldest continuously operating professional baseball venues in Virginia. The grandstand bones reflect 80+ years of history.
Getting There
Lynchburg is accessible via US-460 and US-29. The downtown Lynchburg core with hotels and restaurants is a 10-minute drive from the stadium.
Pilgrim Stops Near Lynchburg
Weird, wonderful, and worth the detour.
Devil's Backbone Brewery — Lexington
One of Virginia's most celebrated craft breweries sits in the Blue Ridge foothills between Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley. The basecamp taproom has a firepit, a pond, and more picnic tables than sense. Worth the detour.
Natural Bridge State Park
A 215-foot natural limestone arch that Thomas Jefferson owned personally and called one of the most sublime spectacles in nature.
Plan your pilgrimage
Every Park a Pilgrimage.
Plan a baseball road trip through Lynchburg and beyond.
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