City officials eye Tod Houston Field as possible home for State Liners | WJHL

BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — Officials in Bristol, Tennessee, will consider renovating Tod Houston Field, where the Tennessee High baseball team plays, to accommodate the Bristol State Liners Appalachian League team.

The subject is on the agenda for next Tuesday’s municipal council work session.

“As the Council knows, staff has worked diligently to analyze the location, plans and financing of a baseball stadium that would house the Stateliners and serve the youth of our community,” the agenda states. “After much discussion and consideration of a number of locations, we met with the Director of Schools and Facilities regarding the potential to renovate Todd Houston Field to meet all of our needs.”

The team was originally supposed to move from Bristol, Virginia to Bristol, Tennessee and play in a new stadium at Whitetop Creek Park. The project was to be a public-private partnership involving Boyd Sports, owner of all other local Appalachian League teams. However, Boyd Sports withdrew from the project.

According to the agenda, the city’s parks and recreation director and school facilities director are working with a representative from the engineering firm Mattern and Craig “to review plans for Whitetop and see what can be transferred at Todd Houston Field.”

Mattern and Craig developed the plans for the new stadium.

City staff are expected to brief council members during the work session, which begins at 5 p.m.

While the Appalachian League season is underway, the team plays “home” games at other Appy League team fields.