Columbus Breaks Ground on $50 Million Baseball Stadium Renovation

Baseball is returning to Columbus, Georgia, as the city celebrated a groundbreaking at the newly-named Synovus Park on June 11 that will allow Minor League Baseball to return to the Columbus area for the first time in 17 years when the Mississippi Braves — Double A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves — move to Georgia for the 2025 season.

Synovus, a financial services company rooted in Columbus, has signed a partnership with Diamond Baseball Holdings, the owner and operator of select Minor League clubs affiliated with Major League Baseball, to become the official naming rights partner for Columbus’ soon-to-be-renovated ballpark.

“This state-of-the-art ballpark is going to make the city of Columbus proud,” said Pete Laven, general manager for Columbus Professional Baseball. “We are committed to instilling a community-first culture as our team and ballpark play a leading role in revitalizing downtown, but we are also confident this facility will attract baseball fans from across the country. Most importantly, for fans in Columbus, Synovus Park will be synonymous with family-friendly fun.”

The ceremonial groundbreaking is the next step in the $50 million renovation — led by Populous — that will bring professional baseball back to Columbus at the 98-year-old ballpark that was formally known as Golden Park. The upgrades will allow the venue to operate year-round with the expansion of seating to 5,000 to 7,000 as well as the addition of new suites, a club level, hospitality amenities and upgrades to player facilities.

“Synovus Park will offer fans a best-in-class experience on the river, combining the charm of one of the country’s oldest ballparks with a host of innovations that will make it a standout among its contemporaries,” said DBH’s Executive Chairman Pat Battle and Chief Executive Officer Peter Freund. “Synovus Park will offer fans a best-in-class experience on the river, combining the charm of one of the country’s oldest ballparks with a host of innovations that will make it a standout among its contemporaries. We are confident this team and ballpark will propel the revitalization of downtown while making Columbus a premier baseball destination.”

A new club name, logo and mascot will be unveiled later. The Braves’ Double-A club will continue to play as the Mississippi Braves in Pearl, Mississippi, through this season. Prominent attendees at the groundbreaking included Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson; Ronnie Richardson, regional supervisor at MLB; Chip Moore, executive vice president and senior advisor at the Atlanta Braves; and Tim Hudson, Columbus native and four-time MLB All-Star pitcher.

“The Braves AA baseball team relocating to the Columbus, Georgia, area is incredible news,” said Henderson. “In addition to great baseball and an amazing family experience, Braves AA baseball will serve as an anchor for capital investment and job creation in an area of Columbus that is poised for economic development.”