San Jose has inked a new deal with a Single-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants that will see the club make significant investments to modernize Excite Ballpark and allow it to continue playing in Silicon Valley through 2050.
Under the terms of the agreement, Diamond Baseball Holdings — the parent company of the San Jose Giants — will pay an annual rent of $40,000 per year and make up to $20 million in capital improvements to comply with Professional Development League standards.
“I think what is so special about the San Jose Giants is that they’re really the best of San Jose,” Mayor Matt Mahan said. “You look around, and it is accessible, family-friendly, fun, and people just having a good time … It’s just a great experience that’s an important part of our history here, and it’s important that we upgrade the facility.”
The Giants have called Excite Ballpark, located at 588 E. Alma Ave. in District 7, home since 1988.
The ballpark, which was formerly known as San Jose Municipal Stadium, opened in 1942 and has also served as the host venue for the San Jose Red Sox, the San Jose State baseball team and regional high school championship games.
But while the Giants’ existing lease, which included rental payments of $20,000 annually, ran at least through 2027, Major League Baseball informed the club’s ownership that it could not continue using the stadium without making substantial improvements in line with new league standards.
Among the changes coming to the stadium: the construction of a 17,900-square-foot building for new clubhouses, training rooms and offices, netting and shade to improve the fan experience and provide better safety, and the renovation and remodeling of the field and dugouts.
Although San Jose has agreed to reimburse the club’s ownership up to $5 million for the improvements related to the playing field and dugouts, the Giants are responsible for all of the facility’s maintenance costs beyond the structural elements.
Ben Taylor, president of the San Jose Giants, said the team’s goal is to complete construction by the opening day of the 2026 season.
During the offseason, it plans to allow the community access to indoor facilities like the batting cages as the region has seen a number shutter over the past few years, he said.
“For the San Jose Giants organization, and our ownership Diamond Baseball Holdings, today marks a watershed moment in our partnership with the City of San Jose,” Taylor said. “In the over 80-year history of Excite Ballpark, never before has a lease extension of this length and investment been agreed upon. This action not only ensures a better and safer place for baseball players of all ages to chase their Major League dreams but, most importantly, solidifies the ballpark as a memory-making place for San Jose families for decades to come.”
While the Giants may be the marquee attraction at the park, Taylor said the City Council should keep in mind the various community functions the stadium has hosted and that the stadium’s importance transcended just baseball.
Taylor referenced a survey conducted by minor league baseball more than seven years ago that found that 10% of fans knew the final score, meaning that 90% of people were going for some other reason than baseball.
Several members of the City Council could relate to the study and recalled past and present memories of going to the ballpark with their families.
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District 5 Councilmember Peter Ortiz remembered getting free tickets from Lucky’s, going to games with his mother and siblings and getting churros with his grandmother – a tradition he has continued with his partner and her children.
District 4 Councilmember David Cohen described how excited he was when his son spent summer camp with the Giants and hit a triple on the field.
“There’s no better family entertainment in San Jose than the San Jose Giants and it’s an amenity, not just for District 7 and certain parts of the city, but the whole city,” Cohen said.
