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A local business leader stopped by the Michelob Ultra Backstop Bar before the first pitch April 8 and handed over his card, starting a tab for himself and the employees he brought out for the Knoxville Smokies' first weekday afternoon game at Covenant Health Park.
The Wednesday afternoon start for Seiya Suzuki was expected to be his last in a Smokies uniform before the Japanese-born outfielder fully rehabs the knee he injured in the World Baseball Classic and returns to the Chicago Cubs.
The chance to see an MLB player in action − and the novelty of a weekday game played in full sunshine − helped draw a respectable crowd to the stadium April 8 that came close to a typical Wednesday night attendance.
Amanda Ayers Moore, business and HR manager for Professional Sports Catering at Covenant Health Park, gets projected attendance numbers before games and plans accordingly when it comes time to staff the stadium's "four major concession stands, three bars and two kitchens."
Moore oversees 163 hourly employees − and keeps Knoxville's People Ready temp service on standby. For Wednesday's game, she ended up staffing 55 employees. Six salaried managers also were present, including Moore, who experienced her first weekday afternoon game at Covenant Health Park alongside fans.
"I love it because I come in at 9 o'clock regardless no matter what," she told Knox News, half-jokingly. "But I think it's great because it gives people something to do during the daytime."
Smokies owner Randy Boyd told Knox News years before the new Old City stadium opened the team's move from Kodak would likely change the demographic of fans who show up to games. Young professionals, he said, and those who live, work and spend time downtown would be important repeat customers for Covenant Health Park.
"There was a man over there," Moore said at Wednesday's game, "and he was in business because he said he had to go back to work after this."
The same goes for downtown developer Leigh Burch III, who told Knox News he went to the stadium Wednesday “for business.” From his perspective, “most of the people that I saw were down on business” as well, and many seemed to be part of "the normal after-work crowd."
Those in attendance Wednesday afternoon, Moore said, brought the energy of a typical Tuesday night game − though the free beer promotion from the night before proved to still be a popular draw for fans.
The ticketed attendance for the afternoon game was 2,630, according to Smokies staff. The first Wednesday night game in 2025, for comparison, drew an attendance of 3,410 − a difference of 780 fans.
"We want to introduce some day games this year and see how the business community responds," Smokies CEO Chris Allen told Knox News in a text. "Cubs play a lot of day games, so let's give it a try."
Anyone can enjoy some extra weekday sunshine at the ballpark now that the stadium's concourse is open to the public 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The concept allows folks downtown to get their steps in, take their lunch and enjoy the public park without all the gameday noise.
But for at least one more Wednesday, Smokies fans will be able to enjoy afternoon baseball and a lunch break at the ballpark when Knoxville hosts the Chattanooga Lookouts on April 22.
Scheduling afternoon games is just one way the Smokies and their partners across Covenant Health Park are taking new approaches to draw fans to the stadium. The 24-ounce refillable Smokies mason jars, for example, now work for all events at Covenant Health Park in 2026, including One Knoxville SC games.
The mason jars are $19 (compared to around $10 for a single 20-ounce beer) and can be brought back to the stadium throughout the year for $6 refills. On Thursdays − when the Smokies adopt their new Knox Vegas alter ego − fans can enjoy half-price beer, meaning $3 refills.
The Smokies continue their series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas with Thirsty Thursday and play through Sunday, April 12. Here are the upcoming promotions at Covenant Health Park:
As a multiuse stadium, Covenant Health Park is capable of hosting concerts and other events on the field, around the concourse and throughout the luxury suite level. Earlier this week, the Smokies announced live action-sports show Nitro Circus 2.0 will be stopping at the stadium for high-speed stunts and motorized competitions Aug. 29.
Ryan Wilusz is the business growth and development editor for Knox News. Email: [email protected]; Cell: 865-317-5138; Instagram: @knoxscruff.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing to subscribe.knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville Smokies try first weekday afternoon game in 2026. How was it?
Continue reading...
The Wednesday afternoon start for Seiya Suzuki was expected to be his last in a Smokies uniform before the Japanese-born outfielder fully rehabs the knee he injured in the World Baseball Classic and returns to the Chicago Cubs.
The chance to see an MLB player in action − and the novelty of a weekday game played in full sunshine − helped draw a respectable crowd to the stadium April 8 that came close to a typical Wednesday night attendance.
Downtown 'after-work crowd' steps away for Smokies game
Amanda Ayers Moore, business and HR manager for Professional Sports Catering at Covenant Health Park, gets projected attendance numbers before games and plans accordingly when it comes time to staff the stadium's "four major concession stands, three bars and two kitchens."
Moore oversees 163 hourly employees − and keeps Knoxville's People Ready temp service on standby. For Wednesday's game, she ended up staffing 55 employees. Six salaried managers also were present, including Moore, who experienced her first weekday afternoon game at Covenant Health Park alongside fans.
"I love it because I come in at 9 o'clock regardless no matter what," she told Knox News, half-jokingly. "But I think it's great because it gives people something to do during the daytime."
Smokies owner Randy Boyd told Knox News years before the new Old City stadium opened the team's move from Kodak would likely change the demographic of fans who show up to games. Young professionals, he said, and those who live, work and spend time downtown would be important repeat customers for Covenant Health Park.
"There was a man over there," Moore said at Wednesday's game, "and he was in business because he said he had to go back to work after this."
The same goes for downtown developer Leigh Burch III, who told Knox News he went to the stadium Wednesday “for business.” From his perspective, “most of the people that I saw were down on business” as well, and many seemed to be part of "the normal after-work crowd."
Enjoy weekday sunshine at Covenant Health Park in 2026
Those in attendance Wednesday afternoon, Moore said, brought the energy of a typical Tuesday night game − though the free beer promotion from the night before proved to still be a popular draw for fans.
The ticketed attendance for the afternoon game was 2,630, according to Smokies staff. The first Wednesday night game in 2025, for comparison, drew an attendance of 3,410 − a difference of 780 fans.
"We want to introduce some day games this year and see how the business community responds," Smokies CEO Chris Allen told Knox News in a text. "Cubs play a lot of day games, so let's give it a try."
Anyone can enjoy some extra weekday sunshine at the ballpark now that the stadium's concourse is open to the public 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The concept allows folks downtown to get their steps in, take their lunch and enjoy the public park without all the gameday noise.
But for at least one more Wednesday, Smokies fans will be able to enjoy afternoon baseball and a lunch break at the ballpark when Knoxville hosts the Chattanooga Lookouts on April 22.
Scheduling afternoon games is just one way the Smokies and their partners across Covenant Health Park are taking new approaches to draw fans to the stadium. The 24-ounce refillable Smokies mason jars, for example, now work for all events at Covenant Health Park in 2026, including One Knoxville SC games.
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The mason jars are $19 (compared to around $10 for a single 20-ounce beer) and can be brought back to the stadium throughout the year for $6 refills. On Thursdays − when the Smokies adopt their new Knox Vegas alter ego − fans can enjoy half-price beer, meaning $3 refills.
The Smokies continue their series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas with Thirsty Thursday and play through Sunday, April 12. Here are the upcoming promotions at Covenant Health Park:
- 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9: Thirsty Thursday (half-price beer all game), with the first 500 fans receiving a free poker chip rally towel celebrating the new, weekly Knox Vegas uniforms
- 7 p.m. Friday, April 10: Chick-fil-A Friday (ticket and coupon combo)
- 7 p.m. Saturday, April 11: Summer Fireworks Series
- 2 p.m. Sunday, April 12: No promotions scheduled
As a multiuse stadium, Covenant Health Park is capable of hosting concerts and other events on the field, around the concourse and throughout the luxury suite level. Earlier this week, the Smokies announced live action-sports show Nitro Circus 2.0 will be stopping at the stadium for high-speed stunts and motorized competitions Aug. 29.
Ryan Wilusz is the business growth and development editor for Knox News. Email: [email protected]; Cell: 865-317-5138; Instagram: @knoxscruff.
Support strong local journalism by subscribing to subscribe.knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville Smokies try first weekday afternoon game in 2026. How was it?
Continue reading...
