Before Hagerstown’s new baseball stadium opened in May, the economic impact on the city was already apparent—investment in the downtown area was booming before construction even began.

Vacant buildings were repurposed, exterior facades were painted and improved, and a new parking garage was built in anticipation of Meritus Park . Residential demand started growing and the city even gained a new outdoor escalator for pedestrians.

The city had been in dire need of a new sports complex for years; after losing its baseball franchise, they knew downtown would be the perfect location for a stadium to reinvigorate the region.

View of Meritus Park in Hagerstown by Jonathon Irby, Maryland Stadium Authority Project Manager

“We saw other communities with new ballparks located downtown and the enormous economic impact they had, and how that revitalized the city core,” said Dan Spedden, president of the Hagerstown/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau  (CVB).

With CVB leading the efforts for the multi-purpose stadium since 2012, and Hagerstown’s Department of Community & Economic Development  conducting feasibility studies, the project eventually landed on its feet with construction beginning in 2022.

Seeing the complex come to life caused an immediate shift throughout the region, says Spedden.

“People are talking about Hagerstown in a very positive way—the change in perception was rapid and exceeded all expectations,” said Spedden. “It brought jobs and customers to the core of the city, where there was little investment before.”

“The Maryland Stadium Authority  collaborated with project stakeholders throughout the design and construction process and delivered an innovative multi-use facility that compliments historic Hagerstown, incorporates the cultural trail, and further elevates Maryland as a sports and entertainment destination,” said Gary McGuigan, the Maryland Stadium Authority’s executive vice president of the capital projects development group.

Now that Meritus Park is open and home to the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars, the city will look at property values, tax assessments, job availability, and more to see just how much the stadium has strengthened the local economy.

And with the Boxcars’ season complete, attendance numbers already show that tens of thousands of people spent their summer in Washington County. After 60 games, Meritus Park brought in 175,079 fans , with a nightly average of nearly 3,000 guests.

Outside of baseball season, the park plans to host community events, concerts, and much more. The facility is also suited to host soccer, lacrosse, and football games throughout the year.

Header image courtesy of Jeff Allen with Turner Construction