GESA Stadium to Get $2 Million in Improvements-Upgrades

On the heels of being named the BEST Class "A" short-season baseball park in America, the City of Pasco Wednesday announced $2 million in renovations and improvements are coming to the stadium in West Pasco.

The Pasco City Council will allocate some of what is called the Lodging Tax to improve, refurbish and upgrade a number of amenities at the stadium. The tax will be repaid at a rate of $160,000 over the next 20 years.

Ballpark Digest recently voted GESA the #1 place to watch a minor league Class "A" baseball game.  Short-season A ball is the entry point for most pro players. GESA and the Dust Devils (Sand Diego Padres) are part of the Northwest "A" league, which also includes the short-season (76 games) Spokane Indians (Texas), Everett Aquasox (Mariners) Vancouver Canadians (Toronto), Eugene (Chicago Cubs), Boise (Colorado) and Salem-Keizer (SF Giants). The difference between short and long season A is simply the number of games.  Major league teams send the majority of their signees and draft picks to short season A.

The Ballpark Digest contest resulted in GESA competing against dozens of similar parks across America, and eventually beat out Avista Stadium in Spokane. GESA has not only been the home of MLB affiliated minor league baseball since 2001, but it's also hosted numerous Washington State High School (WIAA) state tournaments at the 3A and 4A level, and has been viewed as one of the best places to play on the West Coast.

No timetable was initially listed for when the renovations will begin but it's expected soon.