The West Virginia Mountaineers had only hosted a Regional once before. They had never hosted a Super Regional. And they had certainly never punched a ticket to the College World Series.

All of those boxes have been checked.

I had great fun covering the first-ever Morgantown Super Regional. You can check out my thoughts (that are being published by USA TODAY Sports Weekly) right here.

There are five new ballparks in 2026, but only one of them was constructed amidst century-old structures.

The Chattanooga Lookouts’ new home was built on the former home of U.S. Pipe and Wheland Foundry, an industrial site abandoned two decades ago. A local family bought the property in hopes of one day turning it into something special for the citizens of Chattanooga. After 20 years and an immense amount of planning, their property is springing back to life — first as a top-notch ballpark, then with apartments, then offices, and then all kinds of other mixed-use development.

But what makes this truly special is the way the abandoned buildings at the site have been integrated into the baseball facility. Through “adaptive re-use,” the structures are now greeting fans in ways never before imagined. It’s fun. It’s historic. It’s showing tremendous stewardship. And it works.

As you’ll read in our in-depth review of Erlanger Park, it’s been ironic that Lookout fans have never actually been able to see the team’s namesake mountain while attending a game. Now they can, and it’s glorious.

So check out our detailed look at how the ballpark came to be, how the franchise owner’s vision made it a reality, and what it’s like to attend a Lookouts game (hint: it’s the most affordable of any of this year’s new parks). It’s all in our review of Erlanger Park.

Decades ago, Wilson, North Carolina was best known as a major market for tobacco. As the tobacco warehouses and marketplaces disappeared, the city then became known for its fascinating assortment of outdoor whirligigs. Now those whirligigs tie into an impressive new ballpark, home of the area’s entry in the Carolina League. Read all about how Wilson reinvented itself, and how the Mudcats-turned-Warbirds have taken roost in the city’s right-sized stadium.

There are five new ballparks in 2026: Hillsboro, Oregon; Ontario, California; Wilson, North Carolina; Chattanooga, Tennessee and Richmond, Virginia. We will have in-depth reviews of them all, but first we’re examining CarMax Park in Richmond, built adjacent to the city’s baseball home that opened in 1985. That’s a long time between new stadiums, but CarMax was worth the wait, with more features than any new Minor League park from recent years.

There are more upscale hospitality spaces than anywhere other than Las Vegas, and dining options that rival Salt Lake.

And this is a ballpark for a Double-A team? Yes. This new venue is what a Triple-A market like Richmond deserves for its Eastern League franchise.

So check out our review that includes over 6,000 words and 32 pictures that you can only find here at BaseballParks.com.

I was given the privilege of covering the 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals and finals for USA TODAY. It was an experience like I’d never seen. Truly, the WBC — after 20 years — has grown into the extravaganza that MLB had envisioned when it first planned the tournament over two decades ago.

Check out my thoughts following the championship game, one of the most emotional and thrilling sporting events I’ve ever witnessed.

The brand-new book RICKWOOD has been printed, and we have the first copies! Before Amazon or Walmart, you can purchase it from BaseballParks.com, using our eCommerce page. Plus for no additional charge, the book can be autographed by co-author Joe Mock.

The awesome publisher of this book, Stoney Creek, produced this video to promote the book. Give it a watch!

Read all about the contents of the book on our product page. You’ll also be able to see what prominent people in the sport have to say about it. Check it out now!