Smokies To Host 2016-17 SAC Tourneys

Smokies Stadium To Play Host To South Atlantic Conference

By Nicolas Bowman/South Atlantic League Conference

May 19, 2015

The South Atlantic Conference and the Tennessee Smokies Baseball Club have reached an agreement to move the South Atlantic Conference Baseball Championship to Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tennessee. The agreement is for the 2016 and 2017 championships, with an option for 2018.

"We are thrilled to reach an agreement with the Tennessee Smokies to host our conference baseball championship for the next few years," said South Atlantic Conference Commissioner Patrick Britz. "This will be a wonderful opportunity for our student-athletes to compete in an exceptional facility and provide the fans who attend the ability to visit a great location with wonderful restaurants, hotels and other activities they can enjoy."

Smokies Stadium is conveniently located off of Interstate 40 and is the home of the Double-A affiliate for the Chicago Cubs. A major league style facility, the stadium has a capacity of 6,000 fans, a state of the art press box and luxury suites. With no seat more than 19 rows off the field, Smokies Stadium offers every fan an up-close and personal viewing experience. The Smokies have ranked in the top five in attendance in the Southern League for nine-straight years.

The South Atlantic Conference student-athletes will also receive first-class amenities including, pro-style dugouts, clubhouses and an on-site indoor hitting facility. The field measures 330 feet down the lines and 400 feet to straight-away center field. In the power alley in left field is a cutting edge scoreboard that features a large high-definition video board.

"We are ecstatic to have been afforded the opportunity to host the South Atlantic Conference Tournament for the next few years," said Assistant General Manager Jeremy Boler. "We are looking forward to working with all the schools and making their postseason experience here at Smokies Stadium memorable."

Smokies Stadium is just minutes from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and is only 20 miles from downtown Knoxville. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg offer a multitude restaurants and activities as well as prime shopping with the Tanger Outlet Mall.