MEDFORD, Ore. (Sep. 17, 2026)— The City of Medford is continuing its study of a potential professional baseball stadium, with pre-application reviews now underway for the two locations being evaluated.
The city emphasized that the process does not mean a stadium has been approved at either location. The pre-applications are part of the due diligence and analysis authorized by the Medford City Council in June.
The two sites being studied are Hawthorne Park and the existing Harry & David Field at Medford Sports Park.
A pre-application is a routine planning step that allows a project team to meet with city staff and gather information about land-use requirements, infrastructure, development standards and other site-specific considerations before submitting a formal development application.
No project approval or authorization to begin construction occurs through the pre-application process.
Harry & David Field
A pre-application filed with the city on Sept. 16 outlines a conceptual proposal for a minor league baseball stadium at the existing Harry & David Field location.
The proposal would use approximately 12 acres of the 124-acre Medford Sports Park, located along South Pacific Highway between Lowry Lane and South Stage Road. The proposed stadium would replace the existing Harry & David Field.
According to the city’s planning documents, the proposed facility remains in the conceptual design phase and could change. The pre-application is intended to further the city’s due diligence by determining the land-use entitlement path for a potential facility.
The conceptual proposal describes a facility that could accommodate minor league baseball games, youth sports tournaments, outdoor concerts and festivals, and civic events.
The site currently contains Medford Sports Park, including Lithia & Driveway Fields and Harry & David Field. City documents note that the property is subject to a 5,900-average-daily-trip traffic cap and that the conceptual stadium proposal anticipates additional parking and increased seating capacity.
A Land Development Committee meeting is scheduled for Sept. 30 at 9:30 a.m. to review the Harry & David Field pre-application.
Hawthorne Park
The second location under consideration is Hawthorne Park, where the project team is developing a 10% conceptual design and construction cost estimate as part of the stadium study.
The Hawthorne Park location previously entered the city’s planning process through a separate pre-application, representing another step in the site analysis rather than approval to construct a stadium.
Study authorized in June
On June 3, the City Council approved a contract of up to $500,000 with KNO Construction, in partnership with DLR Group, for design, cost estimating and due diligence related to a potential professional baseball stadium.
The council-approved scope calls for analysis of both locations.
At Hawthorne Park, the team is developing an early conceptual design and construction cost estimate. At Harry & David Field, the team is evaluating the cost and viability of using or modifying the existing site to meet professional baseball requirements.
The pre-application reviews are among the due diligence activities included in that work.
What happens next
Information gathered through the pre-application process will be incorporated into the broader stadium study, along with design work, cost estimates and other analysis.
The study is expected to be completed this fall. Findings and a staff recommendation will then be presented to the Medford City Council for review and further direction.
The City Council will determine what, if any, next steps should be taken after reviewing the completed study.
No decision has been made to build a baseball stadium at either location.
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