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Smith’s Ballpark (formerly known as Franklin Quest Field and Franklin Covey Field) is the ballpark that the Ballpark Neighborhood is named for. It was the home field of the Salt Lake Bee’s for 31 years until they randomly decided to build a new ballpark in Daybreak, and abandoned this one.
It opened in 1994 with a capacity of 15,400 seats, the largest of the Pacific Coast League. The building is located on the former site of Derks Field. Like Derks, Smith’s ballparks features an unorthodox southeast alignment which showcases the Wasatch Mountains. This is opposed to the traditional southwest orientation.
In 2023 the owner of the Bees announced they would be building a stadium in Daybreak. And the Bee’s left Smith’s Ballpark for Daybreak after the 2024 season. Leaving the future of the Smith’s Ballpark completely unknown. There have been a few proposed ideas and plans, but from what I can tell nothing is set in stone yet. Which is kind of what was my deciding factor in coming to visit it today. I am not a big sportsball person at all, but I was hoping to see the ballpark before, well, who knows what will happen to it.
Anyway… I stumbled upon a Pie and Beer Day event they were holding here today and that sounded like the perfect opportunity to explore it. Plus you know, pie and beer. Win win win. From the sounds of it, this is the OG Pie and Beer Day event, just at a new venue this year.
These are pictures from my phone. I didn't want to lug my camera around all day.
Quick Details:
Length: Meh, however far away you park. We parked at the Trax station about a block away.
Trail Type: Wander
Difficulty: DR2. Paved ADA Accessible.
Elevation Gain: at least 1 story. More depending on what you want to do.
Restroom: Several.
Dogs? No.
Other Info: Since the Bee's left it is listed as Permanently Closed. So you will have to catch a special event here until whatever happens to it down the road. So I am listing it as a fee area, at least for now, and depending on the event.
To Get Here:
Take 115 to 13th South and head east. The Trax station (good place to park) will be on the left, and the Ballpark on the right a block further. I didn't know it at the time, but it looks like there is a large parking lot across the street from the ballpark as well haha. Not sure if it is free to use now or not.
Or, of course you can take Trax to the Ballpark Station.
The Trail:
It is not super old, but it is a neat building.
Getting closer.
The main entrance.
Unfortunately they ran out of the pie and beer samplers, which was sad, but I was really here to see the building before whatever happens to it. They were still selling beer and food so we decided it was worth the $5.00 cover to go in.
Inside.
We went to the first vendor we saw and picked up some beer. We were just going to get some Kona’s but last minute I noticed they had one called Pentapitch, which is named after a rock climbing area in Little Cottonwood Canyon.
The field. We decided to sit down after the short but hot walk from the Trax station haha.
Stadium and mountains.
Panoramic.
Apparently there were a couple of local kickball teams playing. I am not at all a sportsball person, but it was actually kind of fun to watch… for a minute.
The stadium from the northeast side. We couldn’t go further east with our beer.
Inside again.
The guy on the right is a reporter for some Spanish station and asked to interview us. I politely declined. I don’t want to be on tv. Particularly after a beer. We also saw Brian Schnee formerly from Fox 13, now on KUTV.
I assume this might have been a concession stand.
From the southwest corner. Or well, as far as we could go with our beer haha.
Another panoramic.
Mountains.
Inside.
The other way.
We decided to have another sit and watch the games for a bit. You know, as far as beer drinking events go down in the valley, this is absolutely perfect! We walked around and explored the vendors, then sat and watched the game, walked some more, sat, almost all in the shade! It was perfect for a hot day!
The future of this space is still in the air since the Bees abandoned it I have seen a few proposals and plans, But, really we should preserve the building even if only as a summer event center. I really enjoyed it today.
The scoreboard.
Kickball.
The stadium.
Panoramic.
Inside again.
I wanted to explore the upper section, but they had all of the stairways closed off with a garbage cans. So I assume that meant they didn't want anybody up there today.
Inside.
Between games.
The scoreboard again.
The stadium.
Panoramic, which distorted it a bit from this angle.
Field and mountains.
Again.
The entrance/exit.
The front.
Again.
Well, I did a little digging and I found the most recent proposal of what to do with the area on the official Salt Lake City page (outside link).
Sadly it looks like the current plan is to only keep the west part of the building, which I think is dumb. The entire building should be saved and turned into a summer event venue. But, on the plus side at least some of it will be preserved, so I guess that is something. They also want to open it up and add walking paths. And, the thing that I think I love the most is they plan to Daylight another section of the 3 Creeks (Red Butte, Emigration, and Parleys)! This would be in addition to the recently daylighted section at the 3 Creeks Confluence. The 3 creeks are currently underneath 13th south between Liberty Park (well Red Butte and Emigration do, Parleys joins them at about State Street). Then down to the 3 Creeks Confluence.
From across the road.
I had planned to have dinner at the Shanghai Café since they are closing at the end of the month, but when we got there the takeout wait was over 2 hours. I guess I was not the only person with that idea in mind. Damn it.
That was absolutely awesome! I am so happy that I randomly stumbled upon the event and I got the see the stadium before, well, who knows what might happen to it. And again, I really liked that we could walk around and explore the venders and then sit down and watch the games whenever we felt like it all in the shade. I really hope that whatever happens with this location they can preserve this building as an amazing public event space. It may not be super historic, but it is historic and a fun space. Come on Salt Lake City, don’t fuck this up! 10 out of 10 squirrels today.
As for difficulty, it is flat and paved walk from the Trax station and the stadium is ADA accessible. DR2.
Dogs are not allowed. So be sure to leave Fido home for this.
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