KNOXVILLE SMOKIES
Covenant Health Park
Covenant Health Park opened in 2025 as the Knoxville Smokies moved from their longtime home at Smokies Stadium in Kodak to a new facility in Knoxville proper — returning Double-A baseball to the city that gave the franchise its name. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park — the most-visited national park in America — sits 30 miles to the southeast.
PHOTO: TomasVial · CC BY-SA 4.0
Architecture & History
Covenant Health Park opened in 2025 as the brand-new home of the Knoxville Smokies, replacing their former Kodak-area facility. The downtown Knoxville location marks a new era for Tennessee baseball.
The Smokies franchise has roots dating to 1925 and the name honors the Great Smoky Mountains. The new park was designed to integrate with Knoxville's Old City entertainment district.
Downtown Knoxville has seen tremendous growth, and the ballpark anchors new mixed-use development. Views of the Smoky Mountain foothills add a dramatic natural backdrop.
Build specs
- ARCHITECT
- Populous
- CAPACITY
- 7,200
- OPENED
- 2025
- SURFACE
- Natural Grass
- COST
- $144M
Statues & Exterior
EXTERIOR FEATURES
Smoky Mountain Foothills
Outfield view
Views of the Great Smoky Mountain foothills create a natural Tennessee backdrop beyond the outfield.
Old City Connection
Main entrance
Direct connection to Knoxville's Old City entertainment district, a vibrant area of restaurants, bars, and live music venues.
Names & History
2025–present
Covenant Health Park
Brand-new park opened for the 2025 season.
The Food
Tennessee Honey Hot Chicken
Tennessee hot chicken with local East Tennessee honey as a glaze — sweet-heat specific to the Tennessee mountain honey tradition.
Tennessee Honey Hot Chicken
Hot Chicken stand — main concourse
Tennessee hot chicken with local East Tennessee honey as a glaze — sweet-heat specific to the Tennessee mountain honey tradition.
Biscuits and Gravy
Southern food stand
The Southern biscuits and gravy tradition — flaky buttermilk biscuits with peppery sausage gravy. Available for early games.
Ole Smoky Tennessee Whiskey BBQ Wings
Wings stand
Ole Smoky Moonshine from Gatlinburg has a BBQ wing sauce program at Covenant Health Park. Tennessee whiskey BBQ on crispy wings.
Tupelo Honey Chicken Biscuit
Tupelo Honey stand
Tupelo Honey, the Knoxville-founded Southern restaurant chain, brings their chicken biscuit program to the park.
Smokies Dog
Hot dog stands
Standard hot dog with Tennessee yellow mustard and optional hot chicken seasoning as a condiment.
The Beer
Covenant Health Park has a strong Knoxville craft presence. Crafty Bastard Brewery is the most local option.
Crafty Bastard Brewery Park Ridge Pale Ale
Crafty Bastard Brewery · Knoxville, TN
Crafty Bastard is one of Knoxville's most established craft operations. Park Ridge Pale Ale and their rotating seasonal lineup reflect East Tennessee's craft growth.
Schulz Bräu Brewing Kölsch
Schulz Bräu Brewing Co. · Knoxville, TN
Schulz Bräu, Knoxville's German-style craft brewery, brings their Kölsch and Märzen to Covenant Health Park. A clean, sessionable option for the Tennessee heat.
Yazoo Brewing Dos Perros
Yazoo Brewing Co. · Nashville, TN
Yazoo Brewing, Nashville's most established craft brewery, represents the Tennessee state craft presence at Knoxville's park.
Bud Light
Anheuser-Busch
Volume beer throughout the East Tennessee market.
Sun & Weather Guide
northeast — Knoxville TN · Tennessee River · Great Smoky Mountains 30 miles SE
Tennessee River valley — Knoxville mountain basin
Knoxville evening games in the Tennessee River valley basin are comfortable. The mountain terrain surrounding Knoxville moderates summer temperatures and evening breezes cool the park.
Tennessee summer — mountain basin heat trap
Knoxville summer afternoon games in the Tennessee River valley can be hot — the ridge-and-valley terrain traps heat and humidity. Evening games preferred June through August.
Tennessee spring — exceptional April and May
Knoxville spring is outstanding for baseball. The mountain terrain moderates temperatures and the Great Smoky Mountains bloom in dogwood and redbud.
30 miles SE — most visited national park in America
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is 30 miles southeast of Covenant Health Park. On clear days, the Smokies' ridges are visible to the southeast.
Insider Tips
The One Thing
Order the Tennessee honey hot chicken and a Crafty Bastard pale ale and find a seat with the Smokies' ridge visible to your southeast. The hot chicken with East Tennessee wildflower honey is the most specific East Tennessee food.
Great Smoky Mountains Day Trip
The most-visited national park in America is 30 miles southeast — Gatlinburg and the Newfound Gap entrance are accessible in 45 minutes from Knoxville. A morning in the Smokies followed by a Smokies game is the correct itinerary.
Ole Smoky Moonshine
Ole Smoky in Gatlinburg is the most-visited American distillery — their Tennessee moonshine and whiskey products are available throughout the park. The BBQ wing sauce made with their whiskey is available at the wings stand.
Parking Reality
Covenant Health Park is a new 2025 facility with adjacent parking designed for the Knoxville urban context. Check the stadium website for current parking specifics as the new neighborhood develops.
Best Value Seat
Third base lower grandstand — Smoky Mountain ridge direction to the southeast, Tennessee River view to the north, and the best sight line in the new facility. Evening game, honey hot chicken, Crafty Bastard pale ale.
Plan your pilgrimage
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