Public Information Meeting – Big Top Investments at Breese Stevens Field

Big Top Events, LLC, is proposing to make a sizable private investment at Breese Stevens Field. This privately funded investment would result in improvements that, upon completion, would be owned by the City. The proposal represents an opportunity to make significant improvements to one of the City's historically significant public assets while also supporting the continued use of the facility for athletics, concerts, and community events.

Proposed Improvements

• A permanent stage to provide higher quality experience for concerts, sports, and community events.
• Artists' green room and event support facilities constructed with modular buildings to provide preparation space for artists, performers, and their staff.
• A permanent building for additional locker rooms and concession area, that can also be utilized as a hospitality space for events. 
• Updating and expanding the stadium's stormwater management facilities. 
• Remodeling the space on the east end of the stadium to park large vehicles, reducing the need to park buses and other large vehicles on E. Mifflin Street.

Changes to the Use Agreement

For Big Top Events to make this investment in the property, a change in the Use Agreement would be necessary to ensure both parties benefit from the privately funded capital improvements. 

• A new, 21-year use agreement with an initial 11-year term and two five-year options to extend.
• Establish per-ticket fees to provide funding to support future Breese Stevens Field stadium needs. 
• The number of shows held at the stadium would increase to meet the needed return on investment, and to recognize the growing demand for culture and entertainment of our population. 
• The contract would include strict limits on the number of shows that could be held on a school night across the term of the agreement. 
• All shows would be subject to the same restrictions on sound levels and curfew that are in the current agreement. 
• The City would provide $500,000 in capital improvements to the stadium over the next three years.
• Big Top will have lease fees commensurate with the current lease fees and increasing annually at a similar rate to the current agreement.
• Big Top would be eligible to receive $800,000 in capital improvement credits tied to the construction of the permanent locker room/concession building. 
• Over the 21-year agreement, Big Top would be eligible to receive an additional $1.25 million in capital improvement credits for any additional capital improvements mutually agreed upon and approved by the Board of Park Commissioners.

Virtual Public Information Meeting 

Big Top and Parks staff are hosting a virtual Public Information Meeting on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 6:00PM to share information about the project, including a preliminary concept layout and the proposed design and construction timeline. This will be followed by an opportunity for public comments.

Register to Attend