Speculation regarding a potential temporary home in Utah for the Oakland A's has intensified as the Salt Lake Bees complete their transition to a new stadium in South Jordan. The move follows a long-term relocation plan for the Bees, who announced in January 2023 that they would move to a new stadium at the close of their 2024 season.
A New Era for the Bees
The Salt Lake Bees have transitioned to The Ballpark at America First Square, a facility located at 11111 South Ballpark Way in South Jordan. This new venue, which serves as a regional anchor for the Downtown Daybreak development, provides a different experience from the team's previous home at Smith's Ballpark in Salt Lake City.
The Bees' departure from the Salt Lake City-owned Smith's Ballpark has triggered a major urban redevelopment project known as Ballpark NEXT. The project aims to re-envision the 13.5-acre site located at the corner of West Temple and 1300 South, which includes the former ballpark and a City-owned parking lot to the north. According to the City of Salt Lake, the redevelopment is being guided by an Urban Design Framework developed by Perkins&Will, a firm known for projects like Mission Rock and Turner Field.
Redeveloping the Smith's Ballpark Site
The relocation of the Bees was first announced in January 2023 by the Larry H. Miller Company. The move prompted the City of Salt Lake to launch the Ballpark NEXT Design Competition, which invited residents, students, and professionals to submit creative ideas for the site's future. The competition received 123 applications, including 92 from residents and 14 from post-secondary students.
While the winning concepts from the competition will not be built specifically, their themes were incorporated into a Community Visioning process. This process, conducted during the summer and fall of 2023, involved the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City, GSBS Architects, and local stakeholders. The resulting Guiding Principles serve as the foundation for long-term land use strategies for the site.
Three Visions for the Future
The redevelopment of the Smith's Ballpark site has been explored through three primary scenarios. The first scenario focuses on sports as a community anchor, aiming to preserve and revitalize the ballpark as a multi-purpose venue that includes a regulation soccer field and local commerce. The second scenario focuses on culture, reimagining the site as a cultural district with multi-purpose greenspaces and a festival street along West Temple.
The third scenario prioritizes nature, emphasizing the integration of public green spaces and the potential daylighting of three historic creeks located beneath 1300 South. These scenarios were developed to ensure the redevelopment meets the specific needs and aspirations of the Ballpark neighborhood and the broader Salt Lake City community.
The Downtown Daybreak Development
While Salt Lake City looks toward the future of the Ballpark site, the Salt Lake Bees are already establishing their presence in South Jordan. The new venue is part of the Downtown Daybreak project, a 200-acre mixed-use development that Larry H. Miller Real Estate began breaking ground on on October 19, 2023.
Downtown Daybreak is designed as a walkable, transit-connected hub located near a planned UTA Red Line TRAX Station. The development includes the Salt Lake Bees ballpark and the Larry H. Miller Megaplex Entertainment center. The ballpark features a capacity for 7,500 fans and includes diverse seating options, ranging from open-lawn seating to premium club and field-level seating. The venue is named America First Square, following a naming rights partnership with America First Credit Union.
Bees Community Engagement
The Salt Lake Bees continue their role as the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, a partnership that remains in effect through the 2030 season. The team has a storied history, including five division championships and two trips to the Pacific Coast League.
As the team settles into its new home, it continues to engage with the local community through various initiatives. These include 'Abejas Night' to celebrate the cultural aspects of the Hispanic and Latino community through the Minor League Baseball 'Copa de la Diversión' initiative, and specialized themed nights like 'Utah Dirty Sodas Wednesdays,' which highlights local soda culture.
Urban Growth and Housing
The transition to South Jordan also highlights the broader growth in Salt Lake County. The Downtown Daybreak project is a multi-year, large-scale development intended to bring jobs, housing, and dining to the southwest quadrant of the county.
As the city manages the transition of the Ballpark site, other urban improvements are underway. For example, on September 8, 2026, Salt Lake City and Chelsea Investment Corporation broke ground on Camden Court, a 96-unit affordable housing development in the Ballpark neighborhood. This development is intended to provide income-restricted apartments for households earning 60% or less of the area median income.
Looking Ahead
As the Oakland A's continue to evaluate their options for a temporary home, the infrastructure in Utah is clearly expanding to accommodate major sports and entertainment. The combination of the Salt Lake Bees' new stadium in South Jordan and the massive redevelopment of the Smith's Ballpark site in Salt Lake City positions the region as a significant hub for professional baseball and urban innovation.
