Ballpark Review: The Ballpark at America First Square Inaugural Season for Salt Lake Bees Triple-A Affiliate Los Angeles Angels

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — The Salt Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, opened The Ballpark at America First Square on April 8, 2025, hosting the Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Owned and operated by Miller Sports + Entertainment, The Ballpark at America First Square broke ground on October 19, 2023. The venue seats 6,500 with fixed seating and can accommodate up to 8,000 with berm seating for multi-purpose events.

The Salt Lake Bees called Smith’s Ballpark in the South West Temple neighborhood—just west of Liberty Wells and roughly 300 blocks east of downtown—home for 30 seasons. The stadium opened April 11, 1994, and served as the team’s home through 2024.

The University of Utah baseball program, now in its second season competing in the Big 12 Conference, has shared Smith’s Ballpark since 1994 and remains its primary tenant.

The ballpark previously went by several names: Franklin Quest Field from 1994 to 1997, Franklin Covey Field from 1997 to 2009, and Spring Mobile Ballpark from 2009 to 2014.

With tourism on the rise and momentum building for a potential Major League Baseball franchise, the Salt Lake Bees have added new attractions around The Ballpark at America First Square to enhance fan engagement beyond what was offered at Smith’s Ballpark.

With concerts, restaurants, shops, and playgrounds throughout the venue, The Ballpark at America First Square is positioned to host year-round events across The Beehive City.

Treats and Ballpark Food at The Ballpark at America First Square
The vendors at The Ballpark at America First Square include Catchers Cantina, Home Plate Chicken, Ballpark Classics, Cheesesteak, J-Dawgs, Dugout Pizza, Smith’s Ballpark Market, Bumbles BBQ, and The Change Up, which offers Tex-Mex. Prices for sandwiches, tacos, hot dogs, and burgers may approach MLB ballpark levels at some stands, but overall remain affordable.

Even if you’re not a baseball fan, it’s hard not to have a good time here,” said Parker Smith of Orem, Utah. “You’ve got hot dogs and burgers, but also Tex-Mex and even Mediterranean food. It’s more than a ballpark—it feels like a full-on community space.”

Transportation to the Ballpark
The Trax Red Line, operated by the Utah Transportation Authority, offers a convenient route from Downtown Salt Lake City to the ballpark.

Baseball Roots Run Deep in the Crossroads of the West
Salt Lake City’s baseball history dates back to 1900 with the Rio Grande Rios and Short Line Shorts of the Independent Utah-Idaho Intermountain League, followed by the Salt Lake City White Wings in the 1901 Class D Inter-Mountain League.

Over the past 125 years, Salt Lake City has hosted affiliates at every level—Class AAA from 1958–1965 and 1970–1984, Rookie-level from 1967–1969, Class C from 1916–1928 and 1939–1957, Class AA from 1915–1925, and Class D from 1911–1914.

The Salt Lake City Bees have competed in four leagues over the decades: the Pacific Coast League (1915–1925, 1958–1965, 1970–1984), the Pioneer League (1939–1942, 1946–1957, 1967–1969), the Utah–Idaho League (1926–1928), and the Union Association (1911–1914).

The Bees operated under various names including the Salt Lake City Skyscrapers (1911–1914), Salt Lake City Giants (1967–1968), Salt Lake City Angels (1971–1974), and Salt Lake City Gulls (1975–1984).

Derks Field, which opened in 1928, hosted the Bees and later the Salt Lake City Trappers through 1992. It was home to affiliates of the Phillies, Pirates, Indians, Cubs, Giants, Padres, Angels, and Mariners. The park saw six championships before being demolished in 1993.

The Minnesota Twins revived Triple-A baseball in Salt Lake City in 1994 with the opening of Smith’s Ballpark. The Anaheim Angels took over affiliation in 2001.

The franchise was known as the Salt Lake Buzz from 1994 to 2000, the Salt Lake Stingers from 2001 to 2005, and has used the Bees name since 2006.

Smith’s Ballpark saw 14 titles during the Bees era: three conference championships in 2000, 2002, 2013, eight division titles in 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013, a second-half title in 1995, and two wild card berths in 1994 and 1996.

Can MLB Expand to Salt Lake City?
Now in their 31st Triple-A season, Salt Lake City and the Larry H. Miller Company are exploring the feasibility of a Major League Baseball franchise as part of the Big League Utah initiative. The targeted site, known as The Power District, would redevelop over 100 acres on Salt Lake’s west side to host a future stadium and entertainment hub.

According to Big League Utah, Salt Lake City offers five key advantages. Utah is the fastest-growing state in the U.S. and ranks as a top-30 media market. It consistently places in the top three for NBA local television ratings, even after the debut of the NHL’s Utah Hockey Club earlier this year.

“The Bees opening this park is getting more people into baseball,” Smith added. “Hopefully it leads to Salt Lake getting an MLB team. With all the schools and growth around here, there’s a lot of potential.”

The state leads the nation in job growth and boasts a best-in-class economy, low unemployment, a business-friendly climate, and the highest median income among potential MLB expansion cities. Salt Lake City is geographically central to every West Coast franchise, creating natural travel and rivalry advantages.

The newly renovated Salt Lake City International Airport, completed in 2020, is the largest Delta Air Lines hub in the western U.S. and offers easy access to metro suburbs and downtown. to the University of Utah and BYU Cougars of the Big 12 Conference, the Utah Mammoth of the NHL, the Utah Jazz of the NBA, the Utah Royals of the National Women’s Soccer League, the Utah Monarchs of the MLS Next Pro, Real Salt Lake of MLS, the Utah Grizzlies of the East Coast Hockey League, and the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby

Salt Lake is home to the to the University of Utah and BYU Cougars of the Big 12 Conference, the Utah Mammoth of the NHL, the Utah Jazz of the NBA, the Utah Royals of the National Women’s Soccer League, the Utah Monarchs of the MLS Next Pro, Real Salt Lake of MLS, the Utah Grizzlies of the East Coast Hockey League, and the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby.  The Utah Sports Commission and Ski Utah help maximize venue access and bring national exposure year-round.

Ranked fifth as the healthiest city in the U.S., Salt Lake City offers family-friendly summer entertainment surrounded by five national parks, 46 state parks, and 11 ski resorts—an outdoor economy that generates $12 billion in tourism revenue, an all-time high.

According to the Big League Utah website, “The Miller Family and the Larry H. Miller Company have a long history of sports ownership… Since 2005, the family has owned the Salt Lake Bees… and continues to invest in the franchise.”

Looking Ahead

With Major League Baseball eyeing the end of its current Collective Bargaining Agreement after the 2026 season, expansion discussions could soon accelerate. The late 2020s or early 2030s may be the window when cities like Salt Lake City and Nashville emerge as serious candidates.

Markets like Montreal, Raleigh, Charlotte, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Orlando, San Antonio, and Portland could also give Major League Baseball a valuable test in reaching new fans and shaping what the next era of the sport looks like.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this article about future MLB expansion markets—including Montreal, Raleigh, Charlotte, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Orlando, San Antonio, and Portland—are those of Matthew Tallarini, founder and chief correspondent of World Baseball Network, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organization as a whole.