Lookouts' Freier Talks Skeptics, Cynics, and Opening Day Plans

Chattanooga Lookouts managing owner Jason Freier discusses the challenges of building Erlanger Park and his excitement for opening night.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:52pm

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Jason Freier, the managing owner of the Chattanooga Lookouts and CEO of Hardball Capital, discusses the unique challenges of building Erlanger Park, the team's new ballpark. Freier talks about facing community skepticism, dealing with cynics, and his plans to enjoy the opening night festivities despite the logistical challenges that come with a new stadium debut.

Why it matters

The opening of Erlanger Park marks a significant milestone for the Chattanooga Lookouts and the local community. Freier's insights shed light on the complexities of stadium development and the importance of engaging with diverse stakeholder perspectives to build community support.

The details

Erlanger Park is the third ballpark that Freier has guided to completion, and he says this project has been the most challenging due to the need to renovate historical buildings and integrate the ballpark with surrounding development. Freier notes that every market has skeptics and cynics who need to be won over, but he is confident that Erlanger Park will eventually have broad community support, just as the team's other stadiums have achieved.

  • Freier's company, Hardball Capital, bought the Chattanooga Lookouts team in 2015.
  • Erlanger Park will open 11 years after Hardball Capital purchased the team.
  • Freier says the team's previous ballparks in Fort Wayne and Columbia opened much faster, within 3 and 8 years respectively after the team was acquired.

The players

Jason Freier

The managing owner of the Chattanooga Lookouts and the CEO of Hardball Capital, which also operates the Fort Wayne TinCaps and the Columbia Fireflies.

Jim Irwin

The developer with New City Properties, who Freier says is an "amazing developer" and that the surrounding development at Erlanger Park will be "spectacular."

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What they’re saying

“We didn't do any of the polling here that we did back in Fort Wayne, but in every market, we find two types of people that we really have to work on to get behind something like this. Obviously there are plenty of people who are supportive from the start, and that's fabulous, but there are lots of people in the market who are skeptical, and there's nothing wrong with being skeptical. You want to make sure that public money is being invested in it in a smart way.”

— Jason Freier, Managing Owner, Chattanooga Lookouts

“If we do our job right, we will turn all of the skeptics and maybe even some of the cynics.”

— Jason Freier, Managing Owner, Chattanooga Lookouts

What’s next

Freier says the surrounding development at Erlanger Park will start "imminently" now that the ballpark construction is complete, allowing the private developers to move forward with their plans.

The takeaway

Developing a new sports stadium requires navigating complex community dynamics, from winning over skeptical residents to addressing the needs of diverse stakeholders. Freier's experience highlights the importance of thoughtful planning, community engagement, and a long-term vision to create a successful and impactful sports venue that serves the local community.