A group of Owensboro residents is exploring the feasibility of bringing professional baseball back to the city — anchored by a potential mixed-use facility that would be designed to host everything from games to concerts, festivals, and community events.
Operating as the Owensboro Baseball Committee, the group is assessing the potential for securing a franchise in the Frontier League — an official MLB Partner League since 2020 — while also studying whether a multi-purpose venue could be financially viable and beneficial for the community.
Committee Chair Kenneth Burns said the effort is still in its early stages, but it builds on a similar push from decades ago.
“In the early 2000s, there was a committee called Bring Back Baseball, and they had tried at one point to get a minor league team to come to Owensboro, but they were unsuccessful,” Burns said. “This is a completely new committee, but it was kind of born out of that previous effort. We just started it as a grassroots effort and have been building from there.”
Burns said the current committee — made up of eight members — began meeting late last year and has been laying the groundwork for what the project could look like.
At the core of the proposal is a belief that Owensboro could support an affordable, family-friendly entertainment option anchored by professional baseball but expanded through a multi-purpose venue.
“The committee recognizes that Owensboro needs more affordable, family-friendly entertainment,” Burns said. “With the proposed baseball team, we’re proposing a mixed-use facility because we think it would be a valuable asset to the community, enhance quality of life, attract visitors, and generate economic benefits.”
In addition to hosting games, Burns said the facility could generate additional income by housing concerts, festivals, youth and collegiate tournaments, and other events.
The committee has been in contact with Frontier League officials, including commissioner Steve Castler, and Burns said the league has been receptive to potential expansion.
“They’ve been in such a growth pattern — they just added two new teams in 2025 — and they’re always looking to add expansion teams,” Burns said. “He said if we get the green light on it, they’ll have an opening for us.”
From a logistical standpoint, the next major step will be working with local officials to commission a feasibility study — a process Burns said will ultimately determine whether the project moves forward.
“The feasibility will be able to tell us whether this team would work,” he said. “One of the strong points for the committee is to make sure the team and facility generate sufficient revenue to cover both operational and capital expenses and minimize the financial burden on taxpayers.”
Burns emphasized that the group does not intend to pursue the project if it cannot sustain itself financially.
“If the feasibility shows that it would not generate enough income to be self-sufficient, then we’re not going to push it,” he said. “We’re not going to have taxpayers subsidize this team just to keep it running.”
Many key details — including cost, size, seating capacity, and funding structure — remain unknown until that study is completed.
“The feasibility study will show what income it would generate, what the expenses are, how you’re going to finance it, what the facility size will be, how many seats — a lot of that comes through that process,” Burns said.
Potential locations have been discussed, though no site has been selected.
“We’ve looked at properties in the city and the county, but there’s no clear-cut ideal spot,” Burns said. “Owensboro is pretty filled out, so it’s hard to find enough space for something like this. The feasibility study will help guide what makes sense financially and from a traffic and visibility standpoint.”
Ownership and operational structure are also still to be determined, with possibilities ranging from public ownership to private investment.
“It’s too early to know for sure,” Burns said. “Right now we’re just setting up the concept, and we’ll see how it takes shape from there.”
Burns said the committee believes the project aligns with Owensboro’s longstanding identity as a sports-driven community.
“Owensboro has always been a sports town,” he said. “We have tournaments at Fisher Park, many facilities, and sports tourism has been big here. We think this is an obvious next step.”
Owensboro last had a professional minor league team — the Owensboro Oilers — in 1955. Burns said bringing baseball back at that level could provide both entertainment and economic benefits.
“With minor league baseball, it’s more than just the game — it’s the whole experience,” he said. “It gives families something to do in the summer, and it keeps people from having to go to Evansville or Bowling Green for entertainment.”
If the project advances, Burns said it could also generate jobs and bring additional visitors to the area, with players typically living in the host community during the season.
“You’d have players and coaches living here, plus jobs at the facility and events,” he said. “You’re bringing in fans from other cities, and that means restaurants, hotels, and shops all benefit.”
Residents interested in learning more can visit owensborobaseball.com.
