The Charlotte Knights’ ballpark is opening for batting practice, food and disc golf

Charlotte may not host a baseball game any time soon, but fans will have a chance to eat and play at the Knights’ stadium this weekend.

“We want to reintroduce the ballpark,” said Dan Rajkowski, Knights Chief Operating Officer.

For $10 a person, fans can reserve a spot for dinner at Truist Field and enjoy corn hole and the reopened team store. Parties are limited to 25 people — in-line with the state’s social distancing guidelines — where they can purchase food and drinks from a menu of classic ballpark food that includes hot dogs, nachos and beer.

The Knights have blocked out five 90-minute reservation slots Friday-Sunday, and those interested will need to reserve their spots online before entering the ballpark.

Tuesday-Thursday, fans can come to the ballpark for food and to take live batting practice.

Rajkowski said he hopes revenue from the weekend can go to keep Knights staff employed. He said the Knights have been able to keep the “majority” of full-time staff on because of PPP loans, but they’re starting to run out of funding.

“We want to keep people going,” Rajkowski said. “At some point, baseball is going to be played here, and we’re going to need people.”

But there will be more than just classic baseball staples at Truist Field this weekend. The Knights partnered with Another Round Disc Golf to let patrons play disc golf on the field for $72.

Kyle Deck, co-owner of Another Round, said he and co-owner Joseph Phillips jumped at the opportunity when the Knights reached out about the idea.

Deck said he and Phillips played through their “unique” 12-hole game Wednesday to make sure there was enough room on the field for players to avoid getting hit by someone else’s throw.

“It’s an activity that you can do safely during all of this,” Deck said. “There’s no shared equipment. You can be six feet away from people. It’s outdoors. It’s an activity that’s gotten a real bump during this whole quarantine.”

Rajkowski said the Knights are eager to have some activity in the ballpark -- they haven’t hosted an event since Davidson College played Duke on March 10 -- even with health and safety protocols present, such as sanitation stations and staff members in masks.

“I think people are anxious to get out,” Rajkowski said. “If they can get in a venue, enjoy some good ballpark food, see some events that are going on, a little bit of music, something played on the video board, I think it will be exciting.”