Renovations at Phil Welch Stadium ready for Mustangs opener

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - After undergoing improvements dating back to Fall 2025, Phil Welch Stadium is ready for another full season of St. Joseph Mustangs baseball.

The renovation project saw new plastic seating, aluminum bleachers and layers of concrete installed to improve the comfort and safety for fans in attendance. The new seats are also three inches wider and the bleachers are spaced out for better walking lanes.

While the improvements may not appear to be a "showstopper," Mustangs Owner Ky Turner explained it was a needed addition.

"Getting new concrete for seating doesn't pop out to many people, but it will allow us to do some better stuff here," Turner said. "Since the stadium was built in 1939, it's been exciting to see the fresh facelift it's received. While guests may not necessarily see that, their safety and comfort is always a top priority."

Having been a longtime part of the stadium, the previous plastic seats are available to purchase for fans to have a different kind of Mustangs lore at home. All proceeds collected from the seats will go to the 1939 Club, a nonprofit dedicated to maintaining and improving Phil Welch.

"What's special for us is seeing everyone walk out of here with their own experience," Turner said. "They experience a Mustang's game in their own way, including the seat they seat in. Making the old seats available to purchase allows fans to take that memory with them. And by having the sales go towards the 1939 club we can continue to beautify, enhance and modernize to projects involving Phil Welch."

Some of the seats also are being set aside for a collaboration with Hillyard Technical Center, where the seats will be welded into a bench by students enrolled at the school.

"It's an exciting process to see local students at Hillyard weld the seats into the bench," Turner said. "It's really cool see it being built and at some point being put in my backyard. It's a way to capture the memories of people who have sat in these seats."

As Phil Welch is set to embark on a new chapter with the renovations now completed, a big focus will be capturing new memories in the new seats.

"Each summer at Phil Welch tells a different story," Turner said. "The new seats are one of the many things changing from last season to now. The whole experience for us is the memories made here. It's catching a foul ball, getting an autograph, attending a game with friends and family or coming back to your favorite seat. It's all about the memories."

The Mustangs will kick off their new season against the Kansas City Monarchs at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, at Phil Welch Stadium located on 2600 Southwest Parkway.

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