Is LaGrave Field for sale? Speculation swirls about the abandoned Fort Worth ballpark
What’s happening at LaGrave Field?
If you drive past the abandoned minor league baseball park in Panther Island, it’s clear that it looks nothing like it did when it was home to the Fort Worth Cats. Graffiti covers the sides of the beige brick exterior adjacent to a field of high grass and growing weeds.
Back in 2018, the Tarrant Regional Water District approved a land swap with the ballpark’s former owners, Houston-based Panther Acquisition Partners. At the time, some fans hoped the change in ownership would lead to a new full-time tenant for the park just north of downtown.
The Cats played their last game in 2014, and in the years that followed, the ballpark slowly fell apart and was repeatedly vandalized.
Now, “For Sale” signs on adjacent parcels have led some loyal baseball enthusiasts to suspect the former Fort Worth treasure is on the market, as part of the future Panther Island redevelopment. Someone in a Facebook group called “Save LaGrave” posted an image of a LanCarte Commercial real estate sign on the grass lot just next to the stadium. Members of the group began to comment on their sadness and concerns.
The Facebook group has nearly 1,500 followers, and its mission is to “Keep baseball in Cowtown.” In 2019, the water district approved a deal with Save LaGrave Foundation to revitalize the stadium, but it was terminated in September 2020.
“Those who visited and watched games there have some great memories,” a Facebook user lamented. “I know I do. It was baseball as it was supposed to be. It’s a shame what greed did.”
Another commented: “So sad!!! Such great memories taking my son to so many games and meeting old Cats players.”
“There goes history,” said another.
But is LaGrave Field really for sale? Multiple sources at the Tarrant Regional Water District affirmed those rumors are false.
“The stadium is not up for sale,” said Matt Oliver, a spokesperson for the water district.
“When purchasing the stadium, I think the intent was that there hopefully could be a team that plays there again in some capacity,” Oliver said.
What likely caused the confusion is the fact that more than 11 acres of surrounding land is for sale. The ballfield, owned by the water district, is not.
Seven parcels marketed as “Upstream at Panther Island” are listed by LanCarte Commercial. The firm did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The listed properties, on North Main, North Commerce and Northeast Seventh streets, vary in size from less than a half acre to more than three acres.
The property will most likely be used for the Panther Island redevelopment, which is envisioned to be an expansive mixed-use project with residential, restaurants and retailers. The years-long plans for Panther Island were revived in January with the announcement of $403 million from the U.S. Corps of Engineers tied to the project’s other primary aim: mitigating flood risks by digging a bypass channel for the Trinity River.
But perhaps the baseball field and Panther Island redevelopment will not be mutually exclusive.
“I think a revamped LaGrave would fit right into the so called Panther Island project,” a Facebook user said. “So much history and nostalgia on that site.”
This story was originally published September 20, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
