Excitement grows as Blowfish prepare to move to Lexington County

Columbia Blowfish owner Bill Shanahan had been searching for about three years to find a home for his team.

On Monday, Shanahan announced that the Blowfish will be moving away from Capital City Stadium to a new complex in Lexington County.

"We're excited," Shanahan said. "We're sad. Many, many great memories at Capital City Stadium, but we are so excited to Lexington County out on Ball Park Road and bring Wildcat Hollow back to life."

"It's bittersweet," said Blowfish General Manager, Kelly Evans. "It's hard to leave a place like Capital City Stadium and all of our amazing fans that are located in downtown. This stadium will always have a special place in our hearts. We want to thank the City of Columbia for all that they have done for us as an organization over the years. We are excited to now call Lexington County home, and to leave our mark on a new community."

According to Shanahan, the team reached an agreement with the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission to market and manage a new collegiate baseball stadium.

WIS has learned that the stadium will cost $3 million and is part of a $23 million bond to improve sports facilities across Lexington County. Workers are slated to begin building the stadium in August as they look to replace turf and add new seating.

Lexington County Baseball Stadium will be located just off U.S. Highway 1 at the site of the old Lexington High School football field on Ball Park Road.

The stadium will seat 3,000 people and will have an expanded concourse, bowl seating, box seats similar to those found at Wrigley Field in Chicago, and an enclosed air-conditioned hospitality club suite among other features.

Officials hope that having the Blowfish in Lexington County next year will give residents one more reason to stop and see what Lexington has to offer. Business owners believe having the team in town will still draw a crowd for their businesses.

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