Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium

From BR Bullpen

  • Name: Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium
  • GPS-able Address: 5757 US-90 W., San Antonio, TX 78227
  • Ballpark Owner: City of San Antonio
  • Architects: HOK Sport (now Populous); Ford, Powell & Carson
  • Groundbreaking: 9/5/1993
    • Minor League Baseball/Professional Development League Teams: San Antonio Missions (AA) 2021-present; San Antonio Missions (AAA) 2019-2020; San Antonio Missions (AA) 1994-2018
  • Pro Baseball Class/League History: AA/Texas League 2022-present; AA/Double-A Central 2021; AAA/Pacific Coast League 2019-2020; AA/Texas League 1994-2018
  • First Pro Baseball Game: 4/18/1994; stadium debut of Class AA Missions
  • Others Playing or Operating Here: None
  • Previous Ballpark Names: None
  • LF: 310 CF: 402 RF: 340
  • Seats: 6,200
  • Stated Capacity: 9,200
  • House Baseball/Softball Record Attendance (as currently configured): 9,336, 4/18/1994


Wolff Stadium-3183.jpg

Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium in San Antonio, TX, is the home of the San Antonio Missions, the San Diego Padres' Double-A Texas League farm team. "The Wolff" graduated to Triple-A in 2019, but that would last only that one season - and the facility now appears headed for its sunset.

That year, Elmore Sports Group moved its Double-A Missions from San Antone to a new stadium in Amarillo, TX, the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox to the Alamo City, and the Rookie-Advanced Helena Brewers to the Springs. ESG said at the time The Wolff was not Triple A-worthy, but the mayor made the point moot by opposing public money for a new ballpark.

After the Coronavirus pandemic killed the 2020 minor league season, MLB's 2021 Minor League Reorganization - largely because of the old yard - relegated the San Antonio franchise to Double-A Central, the Texas League's successor circuit. In 2022, MLB restored the pre-reorg circuit names, including "Texas League".

The short-term "moot" proved to be a long-term problem. With San Antonio still showing no interest in building a ballpark, facility standards included in the reorg require renovations estimated at $5 to $10 million just to keep Double-A - or any affiliated - ball.

The solution that has arisen will kill The Wolff as a pro playpen: the sale of the team to a local group that includes local developer Graham Weston and a co-owner of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, Bruce Hill. The group is looking for the right property for a new stadium, and Round Rock Express ownership will be involved in the management of the Missions. However, MLB is still requiring upgrades for the team to keep playing in its old house[1] - something that will only increase as the new-stadium timeline continues.

Spurs legend David Robinson, another of the Missions' new co-owners, scored a foul ball on April 30, 2023.{https://www.kens5.com/article/sports/nba/spurs/david-robinson-snags-foul-ball-san-antonio-missions-game/273-2e327672-0cff-4aee-b171-6b08fa0f21cb}

Opened in 1994, "The Wolff" hosted a feat on July 27, 1998, that stood as unique for more than 24 years: Organized Baseball's first documented home run cycle. Visiting Arkansas Traveler Tyrone Horne hit four homers with all four possible runner combinations. On August 10, 2022, Springfield Cardinal Chandler Redmond accomplished the feat in Amarillo, TX. It has still never been done in the Majors.

"Snake in the grass" is a cliché - except the one in The Wolff's center field that delayed the May 12, 2018, game.


Current ballparks in the Texas League
North Division South Division
Arvest Ballpark | Dickey-Stephens Park | Hammons Field | ONEOK Field | Riverfront Stadium Hodgetown | Momentum Bank Ballpark | Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium | Riders Field | Whataburger Field