For the first time, minor league baseball is coming to metro Detroit and the players will have a brand new ballpark to call home.
"We wanted to create something that was one of the top facilities in the country," said Andy Appleby, the man behind the development and construction of Jimmy John's Field in Utica.
Appleby told 7 Action News the construction of the $15 million project is on schedule and will be ready for the start of the inaugural United Shore Professional Baseball League season on May 30.
The ballpark has been years in the planning according to Appleby, the founder and CEO of General Sports, and a former executive at the Palace.
"It's kind of a product of every good idea I've seen or done over the last 30 years," Appleby said. "It's just wonderful to be able to have such a project that gets the most out of everything that I've learned."
The grandstand is mostly complete. The installation of 2,000 permanent seats is scheduled to being this week with work on paying field to follow. The stadium will have a total capacity of 4,500.
"It's all about affordable, fun, family entertainment and the baseball is really terrific," Appleby said of the product he plans to put on the field.
College players who were not drafted or signed by major league organizations will make up the rosters of the three teams that will play out of the new ballpark starting on May 30.
The Utica Unicorns, Eastside Diamond Hoppers and Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers will play in the inaugural season. Appleby said he expects the league to eventually expand to 10 ballparks in cities around the Midwest.
Appleby is determined to capitalize on the popularity of minor league baseball.
"It has been a national phenomenon everywhere else and it was always my thought that it would be even more of a phenomenon here in metro Detroit," said Appleby.
