The San Francisco Giants' High-A Affiliate, the Eugene Emeralds, are looking for a new home as the Ems' current stadium at PK Park, which they share with the University of Oregon, isn't up to MLB standards.
According to the Daily Emerald, Oregon's student newspaper, Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball have implemented new facility rules requiring large clubhouses, training facilities and changing rooms for women.
PK Park doesn't currently have these facilities and neither does it have room to add the amenities, meaning the Emeralds may have to move.
The Emeralds are currently holding "Save Our Ems" nights at PK Park to draw attention to the problem.
The group Taxpayers for Transparency was formed to ask for clarity and more information about the issue and any plans for a new stadium, which many say would be too expensive.
"According to materials furnished, at the June 27 Board of County Commissioners meeting, a baseball stadium located at the Lane Events Center will cost between $90-$100 million. Nearly all of that would be publicly funded: $1.5 million from federal funds, $7.5 million in state funds and $35 million in county funds that would come from an increase in car rental taxes (CRT) and transient lodging taxes (TRT) implemented this year," KVAL reported.
The Eugene Emeralds have been the SF Giants' High-A affiliate since 2021 as a result of the minor league realignment. They have shared PK Park with the University of Oregon since 2010.
