CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga residents had the chance to leave their mark on the city’s future today during a topping off and community signing ceremony at Erlanger Park.
The event marked a visible milestone in the construction of the Lookouts’ new stadium.
Neighbors, families, and local leaders gathered at the South Broad site, lining up to sign steel plates with their names and messages.
Those plates will later be installed into the stadium’s framework, permanently embedding the community’s presence into the ballpark’s foundation.
The ceremony also featured the symbolic raising of steel as part of the “topping off” tradition, a celebration that takes place when the highest beam of a new structure is set in place.
Developers say the community’s participation is a reminder that Erlanger Park is not just about baseball, it’s about building a destination the city can take pride in.
From children writing their names in marker to longtime fans sharing their excitement for opening day, the event brought the project closer to the people who will fill its stands.
The stadium is scheduled to open in April 2026, with the Chattanooga Lookouts set to host the Montgomery Biscuits in the first home game.
Until then, the steel beams signed today will serve as a lasting reminder that the park is being built both for, and with, the community.
