Blue Wahoos Stadium Going Through Home Improvement Projects Before Season Begins
With the team’s 2025 season less than 30 days away, the largest home improvement project at Blue Wahoos Stadium is progressing toward completion. Most of the enhancements are in areas not visible from the outside, or the seating bowl, but necessities to ensure the team’s future as direct affiliation with
With the team’s 2025 season less than 30 days away, the largest home improvement project at Blue Wahoos Stadium is progressing toward completion.
Most of the enhancements are in areas not visible from the outside, or the seating bowl, but necessities to ensure the team’s future as direct affiliation with Major League Baseball.
The two biggest renovations are complete remodeling of visiting team clubhouse and installation of two indoor batting cages that will enable both the Blue Wahoos players and visiting team players to have separate areas for pregame workouts.
As part of the Blue Wahoos’ 10-year agreement in the Professional Development League (PDL) license contract for Minor League Baseball teams, the improvements will help meet requirements set by Major League Baseball for facility needs.
This season begins the fifth year of the Blue Wahoos affiliation as the Miami Marlins Double-A team in the Southern League.
“It’s significant, because of the fact if you don’t meet PDL requirements, you lose your baseball team,” said Blue Wahoos team president Jonathan Griffith. “So it’s very significant that we make sure we follow all of the PDL rules to meet and exceed those (requirements).
“To the point of exceeding, we’re going to have one of the largest, if not the largest, visitors’ clubhouse areas in Double-A baseball. I believe we’ll be the only one with its own weight room, which is taking it to another level. That way we will hit all of the marks.”
The Blue Wahoos have partnered with Pensacola-based Hanto & Clarke General Contractors to handle the engineering and construction.
An area formerly known as Imagination Station on the ground level, third base side of the stadium has been transformed into a connecting open space with the current visitors’ clubhouse. This will be where the new weight room, new dining area and visiting coaches offices will be located.
In the past, visiting teams have needed to use the dark hallway outside the clubhouse entrance to lift weights or perform agility stretching exercises. That will change beginning with the season-opening series April 4-6 when the Biloxi Shuckers visit Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Here are the improvement projects, which are either under construction or soon to be developed for the ballpark.
--- The visitors’ clubhouse will get new carpeting, wood lockers to replace the original blue metal lockers, new televisions, enlarged coaches’ offices, a separate weight and workout area, enlarged dining area and more space for support staff.
An April 1 target date is set for completion and usage.
”We basically removed a couple walls (where the Imagination Station was located), so we’re almost doubling the size of the visitors lockerroom and clubhouse,” said Tyler “TJ” Johnson, the Blue Wahoos’ assistant general manager. “It will be a much larger area for visiting teams.
“Our plan is to blow them away. We’ll have new couches, cabinets, new finishes, the wood lockers, the new carpeting. It will look really good.”
--- The Blue Wahoos clubhouse will get new wood lockers for the players, the coaches offices will move into a much larger space, complete with new carpeting.
--- The two indoor batting cages will connect inside a prefabricated building to be attached to the stadium. Included in the building will be an audio/visual room for teams to utilize in analyzing swings and player batting stances.
“It will be nice to have two indoor cages and it gives us more overall indoor space,” Griffith said. “This area will be over 5,000 square feet of indoor space. That will be beneficial to do other things apart from the season as well, but the big one is being able to meet the PDL requirements. It will give us two cages next to each other in a separate building.
--- An expanded women’s locker room, big enough to accommodate 10, which can include trainers, fitness specialists, female coaches or visiting female staff members.
“It will give us 40-percent more space, and as more women come into the sport, we’ll have an area large enough to meet future requirements,” Griffith said.
--- A remodeled lobby entrance for the Blue Wahoos front office. This will include a ticket reception area, separate from the box office on the third base side.
“We’ll almost double the size of that area,” Johnson said. “Our plan is for a small merchandise storefront as well, separate from our team store on the concourse. This will enable us to sell some T-shirts, hats, other items whenever the front office is open. We’ll add some Blue Wahoos memorabilia to increase the wow factor.”
--- There also will be new blue padding install on rails from the dugouts on each side, all the way down each baseline, as well as a new batter’s eye windscreen in centerfield.
The Blue Wahoos began working with Hanto & Clarke in October for initial planning.
“It is exciting to see it come from papers and drawings, and now to get visuals of what it will look like,” Johnson said. “I think we will have some of the top visiting facilities in all minor league baseball, so it will be huge to see that.
“And the new batting cages giving our players some of the best facilities they can have to improve their game and get better.”
Team owners Quint and Rishy Studer have been involved in the entire stadium enhancement procession. Their input has led to new ideas and further improvement plans.
“They’ve been a huge influence,” Johnson said. “This is is a big initiative the we are undertaking and facilities are something that means the most to Quint. He wants to have the best, the top of the line to make everything look great.
“He’s and Rishy have been wanting to make sure everything looks just right. They have been great.”
Final Prep Game Today At Blue Wahoos Stadium Features West Florida, Milton
The final high school baseball game of 2025 on Friday at Blue Wahoos Stadium features one of the area’s top teams. The West Florida High Jaguars (15-3), ranked No. 6 among Class 3A teams in Florida, face the Milton Panthers (8-7) at 5 p.m. today at the bayfront ballpark. Admission
Escambia High Has Made Games At Blue Wahoos Stadium A Spring Break Reward
When taking over in 2016 as Escambia High’s baseball coach, Tracey King made a point of scheduling a game each season at Blue Wahoos Stadium. “For us, it is our spring break trip,” said King, whose team is soaring with an 11-2 record and unbeaten in District 1-4A. “We try
Blue Wahoos Provide Impactful Experience For Wisconsin-Whitewater Baseball
Months of planning, days of travel, have created an annual mid-March excursion by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater baseball team viewed beyond a spring getaway into better weather. It is considered a vital component of the team’s future. “Almost every program at our level now…. all the programs are taking trips.
Nine Former Blue Wahoos to Appear in 2025 Miami Marlins Spring Breakout Game
PENSACOLA, FL – Major League Baseball announced on Thursday the rosters for the second annual “Spring Breakout” Prospect Games that will be part of Major League Spring Training and broadcast live on MLB.tv, MLB.com, MLB Network, and the MLB app from March 13-16. The Miami Marlins prospect team will play
UWF Baseball Team Celebrates Return To Blue Wahoos Stadium With Walk-off Win
A return trip by the UWF baseball team this year to Blue Wahoos Stadium became a far different experience. This one was celebratory. Argos’ first baseman Cade Easterbrook hit a slow roller in the ninth inning with the bases loaded, and Alex Urias beat the throw to the plate for
Pensacola Blue Wahoos Principal Owner Quint Studer Wins 2025 Baldrige Foundation Leadership Award
Quint Studer, principal owner of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and co-founder of Pensacola’s Healthcare Plus Solutions Group® (HPSG), has been named one of the 2025 recipients of the Baldrige Foundation Leadership Excellence Awards. The award, given by the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Inc., recognizes leaders who
Blue Wahoos Stadium Hosts UWF Baseball Tuesday In Showcase Game
His desire to play an annual game at Blue Wahoos Stadium has provided UWF baseball coach Mike Jeffcoat with a notable element this time. After the Argos came back against No. 16 ranked Delta State to win their biggest weekend series, so far, this season, they will face the University
Blue Wahoos Announce Preliminary 2025 Promotional Schedule
PENSACOLA, FL – The Pensacola Blue Wahoos announced their preliminary promotional schedule for the upcoming 2025 baseball season at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Friday, bringing a jam-packed slate of giveaways and exciting promotions back to downtown Pensacola! Single-game ticket sales begin on Saturday, March 1 as the Blue Wahoos embark
Blue Wahoos First-Time Contest Winners Thrilled By Marlins FanFest Experience
Taylor Addison was driving her daughter last month to a cheerleading competition in Biloxi when jolted by a phone call, which led into a family trip of a lifetime. She was informed of submitting the winning entry in the Blue Wahoos first-time contest of an all-expenses paid trip to Miami
Blue Wahoos Celebrate Majority Women Impacting Organization Success
A recent photo gathering of women working in the Blue Wahoos front office created a poignant moment. With this month highlighting the 39th celebration of National Girls and Women In Sports Day, officially recognized February 5, the Blue Wahoos have become a leader in the sports business world for women
Blue Wahoos Announce 2025 Coaching Staff Led by Manager Nelson Prada
The Miami Marlins announced the 2025 coaching staff for the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Tuesday, led by new manager Nelson Prada. Prada will be joined by pitching coach Jerad Eickhoff, hitting coach Jason Krizan, defensive coaches Jay Weaver and Ruben Someillan, athletic trainer Adam Sparks, strength and conditioning coach
Blue Wahoos To Make Up Half Of Miami Marlins Spring Training Roster
When the Miami Marlins assemble for the official start of spring training in two weeks, exactly half of the 64 players in camp will be former Blue Wahoos players. The Marlins on Monday released their non-roster invitees, which include 16 former Blue Wahoos, led by last season’s top player, catcher
Blue Wahoos Stadium sets the stage for the start of the Double Bridge Run
Runners for the 2025 Publix Pensacola Double Bridge Run 15k presented by aDoor Real Estate will get an added bonus this year — shelter from the cool coastal breeze while they are inside Blue Wahoos Stadium. Runners have typically had to brave the chilly temps outside the stadium while waiting
Win a Trip for Four to Miami Marlins FanFest in Blue Wahoos Social Media Contest
PENSACOLA, FL – The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are offering four fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to receive a VIP experience at Miami Marlins FanFest, held at loanDepot Park on Saturday, February 8. The winning entrant will receive round-trip airfare from Pensacola International Airport to Miami International Airport, hotel accommodations in Miami,
Blue Wahoos' Advocate Roger Mayo, Decorated Prep Coach, Gets Hall of Fame Honor
Roger Mayo was once a pitchman for Blue Wahoos Stadium, pushing the return of affiliated baseball in Pensacola and the groundbreaking in 2009 for the now-acclaimed bayfront ballpark. He was then a fixture as Escambia High baseball coach, a role he held for 32 years. “Everywhere I went, everyone I
Blue Wahoos Return An Early New Year’s Eve Party To Ballpark
The Blue Wahoos are providing a New Year’s Eve experience, family style. For the first time in six years, Blue Wahoos Stadium will host “Kazoo’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Party,” an event on Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. that will feature renowned country music artist Jessie Ritter, inflatable
Blue Wahoos Leadership Team Reconnects, Gains Insight at MLB Winter Meetings
The Blue Wahoos had an increased presence at the annual Major League Baseball Winter Meetings, which concluded on Wednesday in Dallas. The three-day event began Monday at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, located in an upscale suburb of Dallas. This event, which brings together MLB and Minor League Baseball executives, has
Blue Wahoos Stadium to Host "Kazoo's Rockin' New Year's Eve Party"
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos are ringing in the new year in festive fashion, hosting “Kazoo’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Party” at Blue Wahoos Stadium on December 31. The family-friendly event will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and feature inflatables, playing field access, ballpark concessions, a photo booth
Blue Wahoos Celebrate Holiday Season By Hosting, Participating In Variety Of Events
In ways which have utilized both the stadium and front office staff, the Blue Wahoos have spread Christmas spirit and created holiday season cheer. Being part of Saturday’s annual Cox Pensacola Christmas Parade, presented by Cox Communications, will complete a two- weekend stretch of four private stadium events and two
Quint and Rishy Studer Provide Holiday Surprise to SFOC Employees
Quint and Rishy Studer have provided each full-time and part-time employee of the Studer Family of Companies, Center for Civic Engagement and Studer Community Institute a gift of $1,000 in advance of the holiday season. “Rishy and I see how inflation impacts individuals and families,” said Quint Studer in an
Blue Wahoos Announce Front Office Promotions
PENSACOLA, FL – The Pensacola Blue Wahoos announced on Tuesday a series of promotions and additions to their full-time front office staff. After five years in the organization, Tyler “TJ” Johnson has been promoted to assistant general manager. Born and raised in Pensacola before attending Troy University, TJ joined the
Blue Wahoos Hosting Yard Sale Party At Ballpark On Saturday
The Blue Wahoos on Saturday are having a yard sale at their ballyard. In a first-time event, dubbed “Thrift And Sip At Blue Wahoos Stadium,” there will be a variety of items dating from the first season in 2012 to the past season on display throughout the infield and playing
Joe Mack Wins 2024 Minor League Rawlings Gold Glove Award
PENSACOLA, FL – Minor League Baseball and Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., today announced the nine recipients of the 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award for defensive excellence, including the recognition of Pensacola Blue Wahoos catcher Joe Mack as one of the best defensive players in Minor League Baseball. The winners
Blue Wahoos Partnership With Local HS Soccer Team Provides New Uniforms
An opportunity for the West Florida High boys soccer team to work as volunteer parking attendants at Blue Wahoos baseball games this past summer brought dividends. Taking part in a work-fund project, the team of 34 student-athletes worked 12 games and 205 volunteer hours, enabling them the ability to purchase