Erlanger Park - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Lloyd Brown
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
Photos by Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Erlanger Park 2658 Pipe Way Chattanooga, TN 37402
Year Opened: 2026
Capacity: 8,032
The Lookouts New Outpost
The Chattanooga Lookouts have one of the longest histories of any minor league baseball team in the country, as they were founded in 1885. They are currently the AA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. Since 1930, they have called only three ballparks their home: Engel Stadium (1930-1999), AT&T Field (2000-2025), and their new home at Erlanger Park (2026). Erlanger Park is named for the Chattanooga region’s largest healthcare provider. The ballpark was constructed for $115 million.
Erlanger Park offers several advantages over its predecessors. The seating capacity of the park is 8,032 versus 6,300 at AT&T Field, but this does not include the berm in the outfield, which holds approximately 1,800 fans. The new ballpark offers much more shade at game time than either AT&T Field or Engel Stadium, and for the first time ever, offers seating in the outfield.
Erlanger Park is a key feature of the redevelopment of the South Broad neighborhood, which has been rechristened as the Foundries District. It was the site of the US Pipe Company and Wheland Foundry, a large industrial facility. The ballpark has retained several buildings from the original facility and incorporated them into the stadium structure. These include the Powerhouse Building (1882) and the Pattern Shop Building (1936). These buildings house group seating areas, as well as a food hall for the ballpark.
Food & Beverage 4
The food and beverage program at Erlanger Park offers much more variety than was available at AT&T Park. There are 13 different stands located around the concourse. In addition to the typical ballpark food served at many of the concession stands, there is a food hall featuring a more elevated menu along the first base side of the stadium.
The food hall offers items including po’ boys, quesadillas, funnel cakes, and giant pretzels. Names of these stands are plays on words and include Pipe Way Popcorn, Phoundry Philly, Road to the Sno, and Scenic City Sausage Company. Local favorite Clumpie’s Ice Cream also has a stand in the building.
A wide variety of adult beverages are available inside Erlanger Park, including frozen daiquiris, wine, and beer. There are three bars located along the concourse level of the park. Creature Comforts Brewing Company operates a Beer Garden in the Shed Building just outside the ballpark.
The concession prices are quite reasonable for baseball standards like hot dogs ($4), hamburgers ($6.50), pizza slices ($4.50), peanuts ($6), and popcorn ($6). The ballpark offers a wide variety of sodas ($5.50), while some of the fancier options served in the food hall offer selections at more premium prices.
The Clumpie’s Ice Cream Stand offers ice cream in a sugar cone ($5), a waffle cone ($9), or a small ($5) or large cup ($9).
Atmosphere 5
Erlanger Park offers a wonderful setting to enjoy a baseball game. It is situated between the Tennessee River and Lookout Mountain. For the first time, fans can watch the games from an outfield perspective, something that was never possible at AT&T Field or Engel Stadium. The concourse is wide and open, rather than narrow, under the stands experience of the Lookouts former homes.
The stadium also maintains respect for the history of the ballpark’s former industrial usage, which adds more charm to the site.
Neighborhood 3
Erlanger Park is in the Foundries District, just south of downtown Chattanooga. This area formerly served as a housing area for workers at the US Pipe and Wheland Foundry, which was located on the present site of Erlanger Park. The opening of Erlanger Park is a key factor in the redevelopment of the area into a vibrant live-work and play community. The ballpark will host a variety of community events during the offseason.
While the immediate area surrounding the ballpark is a work in progress, it does offer easy access to many of Chattanooga’s top tourist attractions. The ballpark is a part of the Tennessee Riverwalk, which offers pedestrian access to Downtown Chattanooga. The Tennessee Aquarium is less than a five-minute walk from the stadium, and it is a short drive to sites including Lookout Mountain, Ruby Falls, and Rock City.
There are three hotels… the Red Roof Inn, the Comfort Inn Chattanooga Downtown, and the Motel 6 Chattanooga Downtown, located within a few blocks of the ballpark. More upscale accommodations are available in downtown Chattanooga.
Fans 4
The Lookouts have established a very loyal fanbase over their more than 140 years of baseball in Chattanooga. They’ve seen future MLB stars Rogers Hornsby, Jim Kaat, David Ross, Ferguson Jenkins, Aaron Boone and Joey Votto working their way up through the minor leagues. There are numerous salutes to fan favorites along the concourse at Erlanger Park.
There is a wide variety of seating options for fans at Erlanger Park. In addition to traditional seats around the park, berm seating is available atop the left field wall. There are cabanas atop the right field wall with seating for up to 12 people. These cabanas come with covered sofas and wait service. The Powerhouse Building features both indoor seating and a large, covered patio in the right-hand corner. The Kubota Club of Chattanooga has two levels of seating in center field, including a rooftop open-air deck.
Fan amenities include a team store just inside the main gates into the park, and a Kids Zone on the plaza in the left field corner of the park.
Access 4
Erlanger Park can be easily accessed via Exit 178 off I-24. Exit 178 takes you onto US Highway 27 North. Turn left at West 21st Street toward Lookout Mountain and the ballpark. If you come from the Nashville area, you should also take Exit 178. From this direction, you would turn left at West 28th Street, then go right on Chestnut to the park. There are parking lots for the ballpark on both 28th Street and Chestnut Street.
Once at the ballpark, there is a 2,700-space surface parking lot. Plans include the addition of a parking deck to the property.
The main gates into the ballpark are on the Chestnut Street side of the park. The other gates are located along the Tennessee Riverwalk and from the South Broad District side of the park. Once inside, the concourse also allows fans to travel the full 360 degrees around the ballpark for the first time.
Gates open one hour before the first pitch.
Return on Investment 5
Erlanger Park offers an excellent return on investment for Lookout fans. The ticket prices in many cases are lower than the prices at AT&T Field. Outfield tickets run from $10 for berm seating to $12 for bleacher seats. Drinking rail seats in right field are priced at $16. Other price points in Erlanger Park include Infield corner seats ($17-20), Upper Infield seats ($20-23), and Lower Infield seats ($23-27).
Parking is $8 at either of the parking lots for the ballpark.
Erlanger Park operates on a cashless basis.
Extras 3
Erlanger Park’s main concourse serves as an extension of the Tennessee Riverwalk and will be open to the public on non-event days. The Riverwalk links the stadium to the many attractions in the downtown area, including the Tennessee Aquarium, the Hunter Museum, and the Bluff View Art District.
The incorporation of many elements from the foundry formerly located on the site adds to the historical uniqueness of the park. Local artist Tommy Bronx has created an art installation as the stadium gates feature laser renderings of the Lookouts' rich baseball history cut into steel sourced from the former foundry site.
Erlanger Park can accurately state that they have seats closer to the field than any other ballpark. All that separates the field-level Baseline Reserved and Diamond Reserved seats from the action is protective netting.
Final Thoughts
In addition to being a wonderful place to catch a ballgame, Erlanger Park is an outstanding example of adaptive reuse of a former industrial site into a community asset.
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