The Reno Zephyrs have announced an expansion to their twenty two year old baseball park known as Washoe Field. The seat expansion project is still pending league approval. However, the team expects to add 5000 new seats to the east side upper and lower deck in the very near future. This expansion marks the third time the team has increased seats since the park was built back in 2016. The seat addition will bring the total number seats up to the PEBA maximum seating for a park at 65,000.
Attendance numbers for the team have been up and down over the past several season but the team managed an impressive 4.2 million fans in 2038. The new expansion project will be made in hope there is a desire for more fans to come to the ballpark.

“The organization and owner believe in this city and this team,” Reno Manager Antonio Morales said at a press conference announcing the change to the seating. “When we win, the fans come out to see us. This organization expects to build upon last season’s playoff berth. The level of commitment the owner has to this franchise and this city is reflected in his investment in the wonderful park known as Washoe Field.”

When the Reno Zephyrs manager was asked about the unusual pattern of alternating between winning and losing seasons every other year, he replied with a curt “no comment.” Reporters at the press conference repeatedly tried to illicit some type of response to no avail.

Construction on the seat expansion project will take place as soon as it is approved by Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance officials, which the Zephyrs front office expects to come through in the very near future. Funding for the project will come directly from team owner Steve Poppington’s budget.

“I believe in investing in this franchise and I want to limit outside influence and corporate meddling as much as humanly possible, Poppington said. “The best way to finance this ballpark improvement project is with my own money.”

The California based construction firm Kiewitt Facciee Engineering and Construction was contracted to do the work on the project. The team utilized the same firm during their last stadium improvement project and was very pleased with the work they did approximately five years ago.

In addition to the new seating, the team finally added free Wi-Fi to the ballpark and a few unique food options to help improve the overall fan experience at Washoe Field. In order to highlight the fantastic Reno foodie scene, the team has partnered with a number of local restaurants including; Mari Chuy’s Tequileria y Botanas, Smith and River, Wonder Ale Works, Fourk Kitchen, Rice Box Kitchen and Beline Carniceria and Deli. The wonderful local food will all be available on the new concourse that will be added with the seating.

All things said, the team hopes the seating additions will bring in increased revenue for the team and provide greater access and enjoyment for the fans, a true win-win situation. As always, time will tell.