Ripken Baseball and City of Pigeon Forge Extend Partnership Through 2035

(PIGEON FORGE, Tenn., Aug. 21, 2025) – Ripken Baseball, the leader in youth baseball experiences, has signed a 10-year extension with the City of Pigeon Forge to continue operating The Ripken Experience® Pigeon Forge through 2035. The renewed agreement builds on the success of the partnership since the complex opened in 2016 and underscores the continued growth of sports tourism in the Smoky Mountains region.

Since launching The Ripken Experience® Pigeon Forge, the facility has welcomed nearly 10,000 youth baseball and softball teams that played 30,000 games, using 205,000 balls. Over 750,000 unique visitors have generated 480,000 room nights and driven an estimated $320 million in total economic impact for the city over the past nine years.

“Our partnership with the City of Pigeon Forge has created one of the greatest destinations in all of youth sports,” said Bill Ripken, co-founder of Ripken Baseball. “From the moment families arrive at the complex and see the backdrop of the Smoky Mountains, they know they’re somewhere special. We’re proud to keep building unforgettable baseball moments in Pigeon Forge.”

The Ripken Experience® Pigeon Forge opened in March 2016 with six turf fields modeled after historic and modern Major League ballparks. In 2023, the complex expanded through a partnership with the City to include four additional renovated fields at Wear Farm City Park, bringing the total number of playable fields to 10.

Tournaments run nine months out of the year and attract teams from more than 30 states and several countries. The events are free to spectators and consistently rank among the region’s top tourism drivers.

“Ripken Baseball has been a valuable partner for nearly a decade, and this extension allows us to continue that momentum,” said Pigeon Forge Mayor Kevin McClure. “The Ripken Experience has delivered measurable economic results while also providing our residents with access to upgraded sports facilities and year-round opportunities.”

Located atop a ridge overlooking Pigeon Forge, The Ripken Experience™ is designed to replicate the journey from the Minor to Major Leagues, with field layouts inspired by iconic stadiums such as Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore), BB&T Ballpark (Winston-Salem), and Fluor Field (Greenville).

 

About Ripken Baseball®
As part of the Unrivaled Sports family of properties, Ripken Baseball brings teammates, coaches, and families together through its Big League Experiences while teaching children how to play sports the right way – the Ripken Way. Ripken Baseball continues to innovate the game through tournaments, camps, clinics, and spring training at their state-of-the-art facilities – The Ripken Experience® Aberdeen Powered by Under Armour® (Maryland), The Ripken Experience® Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), The Ripken Experience® Pigeon Forge (Tennessee), The Ripken Experience® Elizabethtown (Kentucky), Cooperstown All Star Village (New York), Diamond Nation (New Jersey), Rocker B Ranch (Texas), and Sports Force Parks™ at Cedar Point Sports Center (Ohio). Ripken Baseball also develops and trains athletes through Baseball Factory™, Softball Factory™, and the All-Ripken Games. Learn more about Ripken Baseball at ripkenbaseball.com.

 

Media Contact:

Eric Nemeth – Ripken Baseball

nemeth@ericpr.com | 602-502-2793