It may have been a cold January day, but thoughts of winter melted away at the ribbon cutting event for the University of Utah’s Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark, the new home of Utah Baseball. Looking at the bright green diamond, you could almost hear the crack of the bat and see the players rounding the bases.
Located at the site of the former Utah Baseball practice facility on Guardsman Way, the stadium is the program’s first permanent home on campus—a dream 10 years in the making. After nearly three decades of sharing Smith’s Ballpark with the Salt Lake Bees, the Bees’ move to South Jordan prompted an opportunity for the U’s home team to finally put down roots. The project, which broke ground in summer 2024, is the outcome of a shared vision between the U, Salt Lake City and community.
Ribbon cutting ceremony at Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark in Salt Lake City, UT on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. Photo by Sophia Kuder/Utah Athletics
“This is not only a milestone for University of Utah Athletics and our baseball team, but it’s also a milestone day for our community,” said U President Taylor Randall. “This is truly a community asset. This will be a field of dreams for everyone.”
“I want to thank everyone for all the work that has been done to see the vision through,” said Steve Price, former University of Utah Trustee. “This was a massive collaborative effort from the council to leadership within the city to long-term employees and others who said, ‘Yeah, we think we can get there.’”
“Is there a better view in college baseball—or baseball anywhere?” asked Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan, indicating the park’s stunning Wasatch Mountains backdrop.
Harlan thanked the financial partners who made the $38 million project possible. America First Credit Union played a leading role, partnering with the U through a landmark 10-year naming rights agreement. The project also received meaningful support from Charlie Monfort, owner and general partner of the Colorado Rockies and a proud Utah alumnus. Layton Construction served as general contractor, with architecture support from VCBO and Populus.
The facility blends championship-level competition spaces with fan amenities. The ballpark can welcome 3,000 fans on game day, with 1,200 chairback seats and standing-room areas on the concourse and outfield berm. Fans can enjoy food and drinks from a concession booth and a rotating lineup of food trucks along the Right Field Deck. The upper level of the building includes coaches’ offices, recruiting area and a press box with full capacity for game operations, media coordination and broadcasting.
Charlie Monfort Field is designed for durability, performance, and year-round playability. The synthetic turf allows for snow removal—a must, given college baseball’s February-May season, with practice games beginning in January. Student-athletes can hone their skills at the indoor training area, with batting tunnels and a fully resourced pitching lab. Other player spaces include a clubhouse, lounge, film room, weight room and sports medicine suite with hydrotherapy tubs.
“To have access to all these tools and resources is truly going to elevate our game and our performance so much,” said Utah Baseball infielder Cameron Gurney. “And we’re all going to be hanging out here as a group, so it’s going to build that chemistry that is so important to a winning culture.”
The university announced plans to pursue a new ballpark in 2023 and over about an 18-month period held several community open houses and invited more than 6,400 university neighbors to provide input on the planning process. With that feedback in mind, the facility was designed to complement Sunnyside Park. The restrooms east of the field will be open to park visitors on non-game days. High school baseball teams can play select games at the ballpark, and the public will have various rental options available. With a conference room, large indoor space overlooking the field, a patio, and the field itself—all framed by mountain views—the facility can accommodate meetings, weddings, community fairs and other events. Rental information will be available soon.
Utah Baseball will host its first home game on Friday, March 6, vs. Grand Canyon University. Don’t miss the chance to root for the Utes in their brand-new home. Watch for tickets and more info on the Utah Baseball website.