(Ed. Note: Yes, I know there is bridge news. The facts have largely been reported, but I hope to bring you a little something extra on that tomorrow.)
We are a sporty town. Of course there’s a small college somewhere near downtown that attracts lots of fans for their various sporting events, but there’s much more to our sports menu. Even people who aren’t fans of college athletics (yes, there are some) may find themselves drawn to other kinds of sports. Several announcements this week made that very clear.
First off, have you wondered just how you change a baseball stadium to a soccer field without tearing the whole house down? And who does that? Do they just hire some randos? Who has that on their resume?
That question was answered this week in a press release from Visit Knoxville who announced a partnership with Earthadelic, a Knoxville-based landscape construction company, to flip that turf at Covenant Health Park from one sport to another and back again without leaving a trace. The seasons overlap so this is a must do that must be repeated routinely. So, what magic potion drives the notion?
According to the folks at Earthadelic, you start with ten workers and give them twelve hours. First, the retractable (built that way for this reason) pitcher’s mound is sealed and tarped before the field is covered with padding. Beyond that, the details get downright devilish:
Edge cuts will be made by hand on the warning track and infield, and this soil will be stored and reused. String lines will set perimeters of the soccer field, then fabric will be laid down on non-turf surfaces, securing this by hand with sod staples. The sod, which is a special blend of Bermuda grass will be laid, rolled out with an impressive sod installer. Trim work will be done by hand with machetes, followed by patchwork, and consistent watering. The goal is to find the perfect marriage between roots taking enough of a hold for the field to be stable yet not too much to where it is difficult to remove. The removal itself will take 10 employees around 9 hours. The sod is cut and torn off, all the fabric is removed, and a magnetic roller is used to pull up all the staples. The edge cuts are refilled with topsoil, with a final clean-up and finish to bring the baseball field back to its original state.
So, easy-peasy, ten dudes, over twenty hours, rollers, machetes, one soccer game. I need to see a timelapse of this. The sod is local, from Crossroads Sod Farm in Sweetwater, Tennessee. During the course of a season, this process is anticipated to be repeated nine times.
Kim Bumpas, President of Visit Knoxville said in the release, “We are so excited to see the community come together to create this process. Covenant Health Park is going to be an incredible asset for locals and visitors alike, and the fact that it will be able to host both baseball and soccer is a testament to the wonderful partners in place to make it happen.”
Not into baseball or soccer? How about some fishing?
Last week, Visit Knoxville announced the return of the Bassmaster Classic to Knoxville for 2026 on March 13-15 of next year. It’s a big deal. This will mark the third the event has chosen Knoxville, with fishing spread across Fort Loudoun and Tellico Lakes. Weigh-ins will be held at Thompson-Boling Arena and the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo, with more than 200 exhibitors will take over the Knoxville Convention Center and World’s Fair Exhibition Hall.
The competition “features 58 of the worlds top bass anglers,” who have to earn their way into the competition by angling to eliminate their competitors in previous competitions. Winning is sort of a big deal. There’s the recognition, of course, but there is also a little $300,000 check for the winner. In all, nearly a million dollars will be given away.
It’s not just a big deal for the fishermen and women, it’s a big deal for the city. All those people travel here to compete, bringing family, entourages, and fans. Of course, they stay in hotels and eat at restaurants and buy Vol gear to take home. Just how many and how much impact? The 2023 event here in Knoxville drew 163,914 fans and generated “an economic impact of $35.5 million for Knoxville and East Tennessee. Additionally, the event generated $2.85 million in state and local tax revenue, with
attendees booking 31,525 hotel room nights across Knox County. The Classic also supported 12,698 jobs throughout the event.” I can attest that they fill up downtown.
You can watch take-off each morning from Volunteer Landing, and how cool is that: A major fishing event launching from the heart of a city? That’s how we roll.
So, you don’t like college sports, baseball, soccer, or fishing? You are hard to please. Want something completely different? That’s where Over the Moon and Into the Woods: The Inaugural Outlandish Adventure Festival comes into play. You can expect the festival May 2-3 at Ijams Nature Center.
The Outlandish Adventure Festival promises to “transform Ijams Nature Center into a dynamic playground for thrill-seekers, nature lovers, and families.” It’s free and it focuses on the outdoor world of rocks, trails, and rivers that make us unique. How’s this for some different sorts of sporting events: “Witness high slacklining over the quarry, bike whip-off stunts, rock climbing competition, and kayak flatwater freestyle, SUP sprint races, and fire dancing.” I don’t even know what half of that is and my heart is pumping.
Even if you aren’t particular sports inclined at all, they have you covered with musical performances scattered all about the property with FERD popping up somewhere or another. If you are sports-inclined and don’t want to simply watch you can “try paddleboard yoga, biking, hiking, bird watching, trail running, kayaking, and strolling through vendor tents featuring local makers, outdoor brands and sport groups.” I like strolling and ambling about, so that might be my speed.
You’ll also find maker items “inspired by Knoxville’s outdoor culture,” and movies kicking off Friday night. Saturday will feature a series of talks covering, History of the Urban Wilderness, Climbing in East TN, and Women in Outdoors.”
With Ijams Nature Center as the backdrop, the Outlandish Adventure Festival invites everyone to experience Knoxville’s vibrant outdoor scene. Whether you’re an adventure veteran or new to the outdoors, there’s something for everyone.
Proceeds generated will “support outdoor resources in Knoxville, ensuring the city’s green spaces continue to thrive.”
So, this concludes this week’s sports news. Participate safely.