Fans cheer team, food, atmosphere as Hub City Spartanburgers make debut at Fifth Third Park

SPARTANBURG — The Upstate was ecstatic to get its first glimpse of minor-league baseball in Spartanburg on Wednesday when the Hub City Spartanburgers took on the Hickory Crawdads in an exhibition game at Fifth Third Park.

The game itself was not the most eventful, as neither team scored, and the Spartanburgers don’t play their first official South Atlantic League home game until April 15 against the Bowling Green Hot Rods. However, from the tasty ballpark food to the lively music, Upstate residents said they were more than pleased with the Spartanburgers’ debut.

Kids’ reactions to Hub City Spartanburgers game

An impressive number of the 2,200 fans at Fifth Third Park were children who were thrilled to be part of the first ballgame at home for the Texas Rangers’ High A minor league affiliate. Especially 7-year-old Campfield Bailey, who was decked out in a Spartanburgers cap and jersey.

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“I’m most excited to see them hit the ball really far,” Bailey said, grinning, as he watched a batter hit the ball into right field. “I’m a big baseball fan, and I play second baseman.”

His sister, Hunter Bailey, 10, was just as excited to be front row to all of the action.

“I want them to get almost everyone out on the opposing team… I want Hub City to win,” she said. “What I love most about baseball is how interactive it is. When you see everyone it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ I love it.”

About the ballpark menu: Fifth Third ‘knocked the food out of the park’

Sheila Conway, a Spartanburg resident and long-time Atlanta Braves fan, described ballpark food as “one of a kind,” and said the Hub City menu didn’t disappoint.

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“People don’t realize that baseball games are so much more than just the baseball itself. Lots of people come for the food and drinks … and I’m one of those people,” Conway said. “My favorite dish so far is the deep-fried pizza — it was absolutely delicious.”

Perhaps the most intriguing dish on the menu is the Spartanburger, a grilled beef patty adorned with a fried green tomato, pimento cheese and a pickle on top.

“I think it’s cool and unique that they have a menu item that reflects the team name,” said Bryce Collins, an Anderson resident and a long-time Rangers fan. “The burger is great. The pimento cheese adds a nice touch. You can’t have a good ballpark without some good ballpark food, and Fifth Third Park knocked the food out of the park — no pun intended.”

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Fans praise ‘lively addition’ to Spartanburg’s downtown entertainment scene

From between-inning sing-alongs, T-shirt tosses and dance cams, several Upstate residents said the environment at Fifth Third Park is a winner.

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“I think Spartanburg needed a lively addition to its downtown area,” Trey Foster said. “And this ballpark is the perfect fit. Everyone’s in a great mood, they’re playing nice music to get everyone loose, and most importantly, it’s bringing the community together. I’ve already run into about three pals that I haven’t seen in months. This place is bringing everyone closer.”

Louise and Bryan Adams have been married for 15 years, and they describe the setting at Fifth Third Park as the “perfect date night.”

“I feel like we’ve been to almost every place in downtown Spartanburg for dates,” Bryan Adams said. “But this is for sure going to be our new spot. We get to interact with other fans, eat great food and watch a sport that we love while spending time together. it doesn’t get much better than this. These are the things that bring my wife and I even close together.”

Kamryn Jackson covers high school sports for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at KEJackson@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @KamxJack.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Hub City Spartanburgers debut: Fans cheer team, food and atmosphere