MEDFORD, Ore. (Nov. 13, 2026) — Plans to bring a Minor League Baseball stadium to Medford have been shelved after the city and Eugene Emeralds agreed not to move forward with the proposed project following discussions stemming from Wednesday’s City Council study session.
The decision was announced Thursday, Nov. 13, after the Medford City Council reviewed preliminary findings from a feasibility study examining the potential construction of a stadium at Hawthorne Park, as well as a comparison with the existing Harry & David Field site.
During the Nov. 12 study session, council members raised questions and concerns about the project’s overall cost, potential impacts on nearby residents and whether the city could meet the timeline required for the Emeralds to comply with Minor League Baseball (MiLB) facility standards.
Following the discussion, both parties determined that the work necessary to advance the project, combined with the required timeline and outstanding questions, made moving forward impractical.
The Eugene Emeralds will instead focus their efforts on keeping the team in Eugene.
“We sincerely appreciate the time and effort the Mayor, City Council and City staff dedicated to exploring this opportunity. While there are still important questions to address and challenges with the timeline, we believe the best path forward is to focus our efforts on keeping the Emeralds in Eugene. We’re grateful for Medford’s partnership and thoughtful consideration,” said DG Elmore, owner of the Eugene Emeralds.
Medford City Councilor Kevin Stine expressed disappointment that the proposal would not advance but said the discussions created opportunities to consider future economic development.
“I was excited about the potential this project had to bring new energy and investment to Medford. While I’m disappointed it won’t move forward, I’m encouraged by the conversations it started and look forward to continuing to explore opportunities to strengthen our local economy and enhance quality of life in Medford,” Stine said.
Although the stadium proposal will not move forward, city officials said the council remains committed to exploring projects and partnerships that encourage economic development, attract private investment and improve quality of life for residents.
The stadium discussions were part of a broader effort to identify opportunities to bring additional activity and investment to Medford, particularly in and around downtown.
That work will continue through initiatives such as Medford Urban Renewal Agency (MURA) 2.0, which focuses on identifying redevelopment opportunities, infrastructure improvements and ways to encourage private investment in downtown Medford.
The City Council plans to continue exploring opportunities to support local businesses, strengthen downtown and create new attractions and economic opportunities for residents and visitors.
City officials said they remain optimistic about Medford’s future and committed to pursuing investments that support the community’s long-term economic vitality, despite the decision to end discussions on the proposed baseball stadium.
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