When fans return to Trenton Thunder Ballpark for Opening Day on June 2, they’ll see far more than a fresh field and new video boards.
The sweeping renovation project underway at the stadium is part of a larger multi-year effort by Mercer County, the Trenton Thunder and new ownership group Diamond Baseball Holdings to modernize the 30-year-old ballpark to current Major League Baseball standards — and position Trenton for the possible return of affiliated minor league baseball.
“Our goal is to have an affiliate back here in Trenton,” Thunder President Jeff Hurley said during a recent stadium tour. “These fans deserve a major league affiliate.”
The Thunder, formerly the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have played in the MLB Draft League since losing affiliated status during Major League Baseball’s restructuring of the minor leagues in 2020.
Now, following the recent transfer of the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings — one of the nation’s largest operators of minor league baseball clubs — local officials view the ongoing stadium overhaul as a key step toward restoring affiliated baseball to Trenton.
The renovation project represents more than $25 million in public investment spread across multiple phases and includes upgrades to both player facilities and fan amenities.
“We’re excited that renovations to Trenton Thunder Ballpark are going well and on-schedule, and we can’t wait to welcome fans back on June 2 for Opening Day,” Mercer County Executive Dan Benson said in a statement provided to MercerMe.
“What hasn’t changed is our commitment to affordable entertainment for the whole family, and these upgrades ensure we can continue to provide fans with a top-notch experience while bringing the stadium in-line with modern MLB standards,” Benson said.
Benson also emphasized that the project is being completed under a Project Labor Agreement using union labor.
“Even better, this work is being done under a Project Labor Agreement, creating good local jobs and ensuring that the work will be completed on time with the highest standards for safety and quality,” he said.
Rebuilding the stadium from the field up
Among the most dramatic transformations is the stadium field itself.
Only weeks ago, much of the playing surface had been stripped down to dirt as crews rebuilt the field from beneath the surface upward, replacing drainage systems, irrigation and grading before laying entirely new sod this spring.
“This field was completely ripped up,” Hurley said. “We replaced the drainage. We replaced the irrigation. We took the grade down to pretty much a flat surface, which is a requirement from Major League Baseball.”
The work also included bullpen improvements and expanded warning tracks that will help accommodate both MLB standards and the Thunder’s frequent on-field fan activities.
For Hurley, one of the most impressive parts of the process was watching the field rapidly come together after months of winter construction.
“When you don’t see grass for four or five months in a ballpark and they lay it down, it’s like the greenest grass you’ll ever see,” Hurley said. “It looks amazing.”
More than cosmetic changes
While fans will immediately notice the new field, video boards and sound systems, much of the work has focused on less visible but critical infrastructure improvements throughout the ballpark.
Kappa Construction said its crews played a major role in delivering both fan-facing and operational upgrades throughout the stadium.
“Kappa is proud to have played a major role in helping elevate the Trenton Thunder Stadium experience through the delivery of significant upgrades including the new Victory Lounge, outfield video boards, press box renovations, batting cages, dugouts, and player walk-paths,” said Phil Kamaratos of Kappa Construction.
Kamaratos said the company worked alongside Thunder staff, Jingoli, the design team and union tradespeople to complete major portions of a second construction phase ahead of schedule, including concourse waterproofing and safety upgrades, restroom renovations, fire suppression improvements, electrical system upgrades and modernization of concession kitchens.
“Achieving all required inspections and the Certificate of Occupancy well in advance of Opening Day has already allowed the Thunder to begin hosting events and delivering an enhanced fan experience sooner than anticipated,” Kamaratos said.
Hurley noted that many of the seemingly smaller upgrades — new flooring systems, railings and concourse improvements — are essential to maintaining the overall quality of the ballpark experience.
“We really stress a clean ballpark,” Hurley said. “We take pride in that.”
Built to MLB standards
Many of the renovations are directly tied to MLB Player Development License standards, known as PDL requirements, which Major League Baseball now requires for affiliated minor league teams.
Those standards govern everything from clubhouse square footage and player amenities to batting cages, training areas and field specifications.
“A lot of the construction, a lot of the funding that we received, was to go to PDL requirements to attract an affiliate,” Hurley said.
The project includes expanded and upgraded player facilities, batting cages, dugouts and clubhouse areas designed to meet those modern requirements.
Hurley said many players now arrive from large college baseball programs with advanced facilities, and MLB wants affiliated minor league clubs to provide similar environments.
“This ballpark has great bones,” Hurley said. “Mercer County has done a great job taking care of it, but a lot has changed over the years.”
Expanding beyond baseball
One of the largest fan-facing additions is the new Victory Lounge on the suite level.
The renovated space combines several former suites into a large open gathering area overlooking the field, complete with new lighting, improved sightlines and expanded hospitality space.
Hurley said the lounge is intended to improve both the game-day experience and the stadium’s ability to function as a year-round event venue.
“We would always shut down the ballpark come November,” Hurley said. “Now we can have events up here all throughout the year — Christmas parties, fantasy drafts, company meetings, chamber events.”
The additional flexibility reflects a broader effort to position the stadium as both an entertainment venue and community gathering space beyond baseball season.
Still, Hurley said the heart of the experience remains the same.
Opening Day on June 2 will once again bring baseball, fireworks, bat dogs and families back to the Delaware River waterfront.
“It’s the entertainment experience that makes fans want to come here,” Hurley said. “Want to be a part of the show and have a good night with the family.”
And for the organization, county officials and fans who have continued supporting baseball in Trenton through years of uncertainty, the renovations represent something larger than construction projects alone.
“It always has been a great facility,” Hurley said. “And it’s going to be one of the top ones in the country when it’s all said and done.”
