Bowling Green hot rods

BY ASHLEE WILSON

The Bowling Green Hot Rods are a Minor League Baseball team that competes in the High-A East League as the High-A Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, with whom they have been affiliated since the team’s founding in 2009. The team is heading into their 14th season in Bowling Green as the Back-toBack High-A East Champions. The Hot Rods will play a 132-game schedule and host 66 contests at Bowling Green Ballpark over 11 home stands in 2023.

In 2022, the Bowling Green Hot Rods were recognized as the South Atlantic League Organization of the Year for their success on and off the field. Throughout the past six seasons, the Hot Rods have donated over $1.8M back into the South Central Kentucky community, Aside from the 66 Hot Rods home games, the ballpark hosted 176 additional events. In 2021, the Hot Rods won the High-A East Championship and had a record-breaking season with 85 wins. In 2018, the Hot Rods won their first Midwest League Championship. Since the 2019 season, the Hot Rods have had over 89 players make their Major League debut.

In 2019, the Hot Rods celebrated their first year under the team’s current ownership of Jack Blackstock, who helped spearhead the 2.5-million-dollar renovation of the Bowling Green Ballpark. The ballpark is a 4,350 seat, multi-function complex in the heart of downtown Bowling Green. More renovations concluded in 2022 with a new clubhouse for the team and will have new fan features debuting within the next two years. With more than just stadium seating, the ballpark features several picnic, patio, and play areas for fans to enjoy. The Hiller Kids Zone includes Axle’s Adventureland Playground presented by Van Meter Insurance, as well as a classic carousel and splash pad, and more. Celebrate birthdays and other special occasions on the Birthday Decks while enjoying the views from right field. The Coca-Cola Deck is a private covered, open-air picnic area located on the suite level on the first base side. The Happy Hiller Corner is an open patio area with three covered gazebos, as well as brand-new food and drink rails for an elevated experience. The covered gazebos are furnished with outdoor lounge furniture located on the left-field wall overlooking the Hot Rods bullpen. The Budweiser Zone is the largest picnic area in the ballpark with a three-tiered landing and is the prime location to catch your favorite player’s homerun. The Yuengling Tap

Room is a trendy lounge atmosphere featured on the concourse level of the ballpark. New in 2023 is the Jim Beam Bar located on the first base side of the ballpark. The Performance FoodService Stadium Club and Evan Williams Bar is an outstanding enclosed group area with an air-conditioned lounge and reserved seating on the balcony, located on the suite level behind home plate. This club is also used for meeting and event rentals throughout the year for corporate meetings, trainings as well as weddings and formal dinners.

Hot Rods baseball is more than just a sporting event, but a family-friendly, memory-making experience. From theme nights like Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond Night to Unicorn Night, and playing as the Bootleggers and Bolidos de Bowling Green, we have entertainment planned for everyone. Games come packed with fun promotions giveaways, and celebrity appearances that keep fans coming back for more.

In addition to hosting the Hot Rods baseball team, Bowling Green Ballpark continues to host a multitude of professional, corporate, charity, and individual events, including large-scale concerts, charity walks, Bourbon and Brewfest presented by The Mint Gaming Hall, high school and college baseball tournaments, ultra-marathon, professional wrestling, and more.

For more information on the Bowling Green Hot Rods and the happenings at Bowling Green Ballpark, please visit BGHotRods.com or call 270.901.2121.