MLB looking to potentially host special game at Bosse Field

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - Evansville city officials say that Major League Baseball is considering Bosse Field for a special-event game.

City leaders tell 14 News they pitched the idea to MLB officials last August and the conversations have continued since.

We are told MLB officials have visited Evansville on more than one occasion.

“When you walk up that main tunnel right behind home plate, it’s kind of an ‘oh wow, this is cool,’ kind of moment, and they certainly experienced that,” Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke said.

[READ MORE: History behind Bosse Field stands out as major selling point for potential MLB game]

MLB is asking the city to make some field and dugout improvements if they select Evansville to host a game.

Winnecke says that would cost around $2.2 million.

The city also wants to improve seating, which is another $1 million, according to the mayor.

“They didn’t ask us to change the seats, we just feel like it’s time to change the seats,” Mayor Winnecke said. “That’s roughly another million dollars roughly, so that’s roughly $3.5 million total in round numbers.”

City leaders say that funding would come from the corporate community.

Mayor Winnecke says MLB officials haven’t confirmed they will be moving forward with the idea, and a special game would not happen until at least 2024.

However, the mayor tells 14 News that MLB officials are very interested.

“We’ve certainly made the best pitch we can, pun intended,” Winnecke said. “The fact that I have a follow-up call with their chief operating and chief strategy officer in the coming weeks tells me they’re very interested in Evansville.”

City officials tell 14 News that if the game is approved, other temporary changes could come to Bosse Field, such as more seating, an improved PA system, additional lighting and another scoreboard.

Winnecke says any of those items would be funded by the MLB.

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