Local Tips for the Best Knoxville Smokies Game Day: From Parking to First Pitch

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The Knoxville Smokies Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team is officially back in Knoxville at Covenant Health Park, their brand new home stadium! It’s officially their second season in this park, so they’ve settled in and so have we, the fans.

As a Knoxville local and travel blogger who specializes in practical travel tips, I’m excited to share everything you need to know about attending a game at Knoxville Smokies’ new stadium.

Last year, I went to a game during opening week and have since been numerous times. I’ve had the full experience, so I know exactly what you need to know…and what questions you’re asking, because I was asking them, too, before visiting my first time.

This guide will cover how to get there, where to park, concessions, and so much more.

Get Started

General Game and Ticket Information

Where is Knoxville Smokies stadium?

Covenant Health Park is in Old City at the former Rail Salvage Site.

The address is 500 E Jackson Ave., Knoxville, TN 37915.

As a map gal, here’s one I made of all the important locations for Smokies games.

How to get Smokies tickets

Most people buy their tickets online ahead of the game.

You can also buy them in person from the Ticket Window at the 1st Base Gate. When I attended, they had standing room only tickets still available for $21.

We paid $27 each for our seats in section 105 for a Friday night game.

Where is the best (and shadiest) place to sit?

All seats are honestly really great because it’s a small stadium. It only holds 7,000 people and has two levels.

When it comes to shade, the sun sets behind the first base side of the park and by 7pm (for night games), the entire base-side of the stadium is shaded already. I noticed the seats at left field had more sun until around 7:30pm.

My first game, I sat in section 105 and while I loved being close to the home team, I’d love to try out seating in right field or the Bush’s Best sections 120 and 121 in left field (despite the sun), because they had little tables.

Are there game promotions?

Yes! There themed days, promotional giveaways to the first people in the park, and fireworks nights.

Check the calendar for more details to see what’s going on when you’re going to a game!

When does the park open before games?

Season ticket holders can enter an hour and a half before first pitch, and general admission ticket holders can enter one hour before first pitch.

When should you line up on promotion days?

We visited on a promotion day for free replica jerseys, so the first 2,000 people in attendance got the jersey.

We lined up around 4pm for a 7pm game (6pm entry) and it was a bit too early. We were 10th in line…whoops.

I would suggest an hour before gates open instead. Also be mindful that there are no restrooms outside the park, even in the team shop.

If you need the restroom, you’ll have to walk back to Barley’s Taproom in Old City, which is the closest business.

Plus, those who lined up a bit later than we did had shade coverage from the freeway overpass above, while the shade didn’t reach us until closer to 5:30pm.

Clear bag policy and what you can bring inside

There is a clear bag policy in effect, where the maximum size is 12 inches x 6 inches x 12 inches.

There is no outside food or drink allowed in the stadium, but they did allow me to bring in a plastic (not-reusable) water bottle, so I was able to fill it without paying for a brand-name water bottle at concessions.

You can also bring in umbrellas, cameras, and strollers (which can be stored at First Aid behind section 108 or under your seat).

Obviously no weapons or alcohol can be brought in, and smoking is prohibited throughout the park.

Parking and Getting There

Parking has been the biggest question given the condensed space that Downtown Knoxville has. 

The city worked with an urban planning team to ensure that there was ample parking for the up to 7,000 stadium visitors. 

But, not all parking was created equal, especially in terms of price and accessibility, so let’s go through your options.

Where is the cheapest place to park?

Municipal city lots and pre-pay parking garages are the cheapest. You can pre-pay for your parking at the Summer Place Garage and Langley Garage for $5.

Municipal city lots like Jackson Ave lot, Market Square Garage, Locust Street Garage, and State Street Garage are $1 per hour up to $7 maximum daily. At these lots it’s also free after 6PM on weekdays and free on the weekends.

That means, you can potentially score free parking for Smokies games.

We parked at the Jackson Ave lot on a Friday game day to walk around Old City first, and parking was still free according to the Park Mobile app. I liked this option a lot because it was only a 10 minute walk to Covenant Health Park, so we didn’t need to fuss with the shuttle.

Shuttle Service

If you decide to park at Summer Place Garage, Langley Garage, Market Square Garage, or Locust Street Garage, you’ll likely want to take the free shuttle to and from the park. It is a 0.7 mile walk that takes about 16 minutes, so it’s certainly not impossible, but on hot summer days, the shuttle is a nice option.

It’s operated by Knoxville Area Transit (KAT), our local public transit system and only has two stops – Summer Place (between the Summer Place Garage and Langley Garage) and Covenant Health Park (on Patton Street).

When does it start and stop?

While it was super easy to find how frequently it runs (every 10 minutes), I couldn’t (and still can’t) find information on when the shuttle starts and stops. 

Considering employees of the park use the shuttle and it’s operated by KAT, it might be a regular route that operates every day during all hours of normal KAT operation.

I will say that I saw it running 2 hours before game time when I was there and well after the game ended.

Where is paid parking?

Right next to the ballpark are two parking lots covered by James White Parkway overhead, on opposite sides of Jackson Avenue.

The lot south of Jackson Ave is called Old City South, where Lot A is for season ticket holders and Lot B is 70 free ADA parking spaces. The lot north of Jackson Ave is called Old City North and is reserved monthly parking for downtown workers.

Old City South Lot A also has spaces for bikes and scooters to be parked and locked.

What about private lots?

Every other lot around Covenant Health Park is a private lot that charges around $20 for game day parking.

The closest is right next to Barley’s Taproom, but you can drive around to find other options.

What about rideshares and drop offs?

You can take a rideshare to and from the game where prices fluctuate based on days of the week and other events downtown.

There is a designated rideshare drop off and pick up point at the 3rd Base Gate (E Jackson Ave. and Randolph St/Florida St.).

All other drop offs and pickups will be on Willow Ave at the Southwest corner of the park.

Entrances to the Park

1st Base Gate

As you’re navigating to the game, you’ll likely arrive on the first base side.

This is the general ticket entrance. Here, you’ll find Will Call, the Ticket Booth, Team Shop, and a season ticket holder entrance.

3rd Base Gate

On the third base side, there’s another entrance gate. When I visited, they had this side set up only for season ticket holders, but I imagine that’s subject to change as they navigate operations since things are so new.

Elm Hill Gate

At right field, there is an additional gate sponsored by Elm Hill, called the Elm Hill Gate. I had no idea it was here even when I tried to walk all the way around the stadium.

It’s one of two ADA accessible entrances though!

VIP Entrance

Finally, there’s a VIP entrance along Jackson Ave between the 1st and 3rd base gates. It’s just a door on the side of the stadium, but there’s a sign out front to help you identify it.

ADA Accessible Entrances

Covenant Health Park was designed to be fully accessible. However, you’ll need to enter via the 3rd Base Gate or Elm Hill Gate for accessible entry. The 1st Base Gate has stairs upon entry.

And don’t forget, there’s an accessible drop off point at Willow Ave.

What to see before you go inside

Before you enter the park, there’s some fun things to see outside the stadium.

Knoxville Little League Statue

At the 1st Base Gate, you’ll find a statue commemorating the first Knoxville Little League for Black children. Four teams were established in 1951, and members of the teams formed an all-star team that faced a white all-star team, which was historic in Knoxville’s segregation history.

Team Shop

Also on the first base side, you’ll find the Team Shop. The store has so much great merch for the Knoxville Smokies and their affiliate, the Chicago Cubs including hats, shirts, foam fingers and “bear claws,” baseballs, stuffed animals, magnets, stickers, and more.

There is a clear bag policy in effect and if you don’t have one, you can purchase one here.

Be sure to go around the back to look at all the trading cards from baseball to Pokemon and beyond!

The Team Store is also a very nice AC reprieve if you’re standing in the heat with a group waiting to get into the park. And finally, there is a water bottle fill station inside the store in the back (to the left of the trading card hub).

African American Baseball Legends

Outside the 3rd base gate there is a collection of seven statues of African American baseball legends in the area known as Giants Landing.

Because the new park was built in an historically Black neighborhood, the park chose to highlight Black baseball achievements in their construction.

Here, you’ll see:

• Big Jim Tugerson: Jim was one of the best pitchers and made history in 1953 by helping integrate the Knoxville Smokies. He had 29 wins in the regular season and led them to a championship, while also pushing through the deep South’s racism. His brother pitched for the team, too.
• Claude “Steel Arm” Dickey: A hometown guy from East Tennessee, Claude pitched for the Knoxville Giants in their very first season in 1920. His fastball earned him the nickname “Pride of the South.”
• Forrest “One Wing” Maddox: Despite losing his left arm as a kid, Forrest still played as both a pitcher and an outfielder for the Giants in 1920. Some even say he was the league’s very first batting champ.
• Jerry Benjamin: A three-time All-Star in the Negro Leagues, Jerry kicked off his career with the Knoxville Giants and became one of the greats.
• William M. Brooks: A big name in Black baseball, Brooks helped found the Negro Southern League and managed the Knoxville Giants in 1920. He also taught at Austin High and Green School.
• William Nathaniel “Nat” Rogers: At 52, Nat joined the Giants in 1946 and became the oldest active player in organized baseball. He brought major experience to the team as a seasoned outfielder.

*Note that you can’t go in and out of the park, so if you want to see these, do so before your ticket is scanned and you go inside the park.

Amenities Inside the Park

This ballpark is incredibly well cared for and a lot of attention has been given to guests’ needs.

There is a family bathroom for nursing mothers that’s air conditioned and private, behind section 118.

An adult changing area is behind sections 104 and 105.

If you have a problem that requires medical attention, there is a first aid station behind section 108. Strollers can also be stored here during the game.

ADA-friendly seating is available with wheelchair seating. Call the office at (865) 286-2300 to reserve.

The park is also kid-friendly with a designated Kid Zone play structure. It’s located in left center field under the Yardley Flats apartments that border the park.

And just a note that Covenant Health Park is a cashless venue!

Concessions at Covenant Health Park

The biggest surprise of the ballpark were the concessions. I was not expecting such a variety in food, drinks, and prices.

Food

You can easily get baseball classics like hot dogs, fries, Cracker Jacks, and ice cream in a plastic mini helmet for reasonable prices. For example, my corn dog was $6 and Cracker Jacks were $5. My Dippin’ Dots in a helmet was $9.

The concessions were split between quick service and carts.

The quick service options included a different station for each type of food.

Quick Service:

• Barley’s Taproom: pizza
• Knox Smoque: barbeque
• Coop 365: chicken entrées 
• Ballpark Bites: corn dogs, hot dogs, tots
• Sweets: Smoky Mountain Snow (shaved ice), ice cream, kettle corn
• And more!

Carts:

• Knoxville Cantina: street tacos, beef brisket bowl, nachos
• Philly cheesesteaks
• Ice cream, popcorn, lemonade, hot dogs
• And more!

As for a proper food review, I was quite pleased with the selections at this park. I’ve been to a lot of baseball stadiums in my days (lifelong fan and a husband who’s on a mission to see a game at every park), and the food here was top tier. 

Not only was there a large variety, but it was high quality and reasonably priced. If an item was expensive, it was because it was involved. For example, BBQ nachos were $10 for pulled pork over kettle chips with baked beans, queso cheese, and BBQ sauce.

My corn dog was perfect, not soggy or rubbery, and you really can never go wrong with Dippin’ Dots.

Drinks

There were a lot of drink options! If you’re a beer drinker and planning to return to the park multiple times a season, one of the best deals is their mason jars. 

For $19 you get a 24 oz jar (it’s plastic, to avoid broken glass in the park) filled with your choice of beer (any draft). Then every time you bring your jar back, refills are only $6, including during the game you purchased the jar at.

On Thirsty Thursdays, they have a promotion for half priced draft beers and that extends to the refills, so they’re only $3!

You can buy the mason jar at any place that serves draft beer including quick service stations, carts, and bars.

As for where to buy drinks, there are numerous carts, but the three main (non-cart) spots are:

• The Backstop Bar (behind home plate): most drink options in one place, quick service (so no sitting)
• Modelo Watering Hole (right field): spacious with seating, ping pong, and corn hole, perfect for chilling before the game
• Craft Corner (behind section 103): a market-style grab and go area with fridges of local craft beer; be sure to try the Steel Arm Lager from Ebony & Ivory Brewing (a Smokies stadium exclusive)
• And more!

Note that alcohol sales stop at the end of the 8th inning.

I was so impressed with the variety of drinks and especially loved the incorporation of Knoxville’s craft brewery scene (it’s huge for us!). Plus, the mason jar system was so genius so locals can keep enjoying the benefits all season long.

Game Experience

The actual game was so much fun! At the time, it was my first minor league game and consider me hooked.

I loved all the classic baseball game things – 7th inning stretch, in-between inning contests, fun walk-up songs, and cheers orchestrated by the announcer.

We found that most people surrounding us were into the game, but there was a group that to us, felt like they were there to drink and socialize, and the game was their backdrop.

Not to say this will be everyone’s experience, but it was a bit distracting at times. But where there’s alcohol… 

Pre- and Post-Game Fun in Old City

Covenant Health Park is located in Old City, an artsy, hipster, energetic part of Knoxville’s downtown.

It’s a very safe area to walk around even at night, in my experience (as a frequent solo traveling white woman from Los Angeles).

Before the game, see the new Smokies mural outside Boyd’s Jig and Reel, see glass blowing at Pretentious Glass Company (and grab beer from their neighboring brewery, Pretentious Beer Co.), and shop unique Knoxville gifts from Rala, Bethie Lou’s, and Earth to Old City.

After the game, grab drinks from Barley’s Taproom, STIR, or Boyd’s Jig and Reel.

And check out all the other incredible things to do in Knoxville while you’re here.

My Travel Essentials

• Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
• Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
• Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
• Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
• Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
• Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
• Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!

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