Some Chattanooga traditions are measured in years. The Chattanooga Lookouts can measure theirs in generations. Since 1885, the Lookouts have been woven into the story of the Scenic City, giving generations of families a reason to head to the ballpark, find their seats and cheer on the home team. More than 140 years later, that tradition is entering an exciting new chapter at Erlanger Park.

The road here is filled with Chattanooga history. Among the team’s former homes was Engel Stadium, which opened in 1930 under the leadership of larger-than-life owner Joe Engel. Known for innovative promotions, Engel helped turn Chattanooga baseball into a regional attraction. The stadium welcomed legendary players and became the backdrop for one of baseball’s most memorable moments when Jackie Mitchell famously struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig during a 1931 exhibition game. In 1999, the Lookouts moved downtown to AT&T Field, where another era unfolded. The team went on to capture Southern League championships in 2015 and 2017 while affiliated with the Minnesota Twins. Today, the Lookouts are the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. And in 2026, Chattanooga baseball came home to somewhere new. The opening of Erlanger Park brought professional baseball to the South Broad District, but the vision was never simply to build another stadium. 

From the beginning, Erlanger Park was imagined as a gathering place for Chattanooga and a catalyst for what is still to come in the surrounding district. Even within something brand new, pieces of Chattanooga’s past remain. Two structures from the original foundry site were preserved as part of Erlanger Park: the EPB Powerhouse, built in 1882, and the Coca-Cola Pattern Shop, built in 1936. Today, those historic spaces have found new life as gathering and event venues, already hosting everything from dinners and award ceremonies to fundraisers and a fitness expo.

That spirit of community extends throughout the ballpark. Erlanger Park has already welcomed community programming, including a Play Ball clinic with Southside Youth Development, and its role extends well beyond game days. The ballpark also serves as a public park, giving people a place to grab lunch, meet friends or simply get their steps in.

Of course, when the Lookouts take the field, baseball is still at the heart of it all. First-time visitors can expect an atmosphere centered around family fun, along with delicious and affordable food throughout the park. But you do not have to be a baseball fan to find your place here. Erlanger Park was built to be a place for everyone, whether that means catching a game, meeting friends for food, enjoying live music or attending one of the many events expected to fill the stadium in the years ahead. For the Lookouts, 2026 is only the beginning. As the South Broad District continues to grow, Erlanger Park is positioned to be part of that momentum while continuing a Chattanooga tradition that began more than a century ago.

The ballpark may be new, but the story behind it is anything but. And after more than 140 years of Chattanooga Lookouts baseball, there are still plenty of innings left to play.