MLB affiliate faced with losing team ‘shocked and confused’ with stadium renovation hit by setback

In May 2025, the Madison City Council approved plans to renovate Toyota Field, home of the Rocket City Trash Pandas, to comply with new MLB guidelines.

The league requires a separate locker room for female coaches and umpires, and the Trash Pandas are the last team in all of baseball to comply.

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If the city of Madison, where the Trash Pandas play, didn’t follow the mandate, they risked losing the team, according to WAFF 48.

They were given three options, and told to act fast.

The options were: to renovate an old building, build a one-story locker room in left field, or do the same thing, but adding three additional stories to generate revenue.

By a vote of 5-2, The city decided in favor of the second option – the one-story locker room.

Trash Pandas vice-president Lindsey Knupp was left baffled by the city’s decision.

“It was a no-brainer, it’s confusing, it’s surprising. It doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense.” Knupp told the Alabama news outlet.

She said that the plan will cost the city $13 million, with no added revenue streams.

But the four-story building would have cost just $7 million and would have created opportunities to generate jobs and revenue.

“It’s surprising and confusing as to why they wouldn’t vote for the option that will make additional revenue for everybody and cost the city less money,” Knupp added.

A financial advisor hired by the city recommended starting the construction on the one-story building, while continuing to draw plans for option three.

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GM uncertain whether construction will meet deadline

As the minor league season draws closer, it is getting closer to crunch time for the Trash Pandas to have the renovation completed.

The construction of the new locker room was given a deadline of opening day by major league baseball.

Madison began construction in the later half of 2025, but general manager Garrett Fahrmann said he is not certain the facility will be ready by the deadline.

“There are a lot of people working out there. We’ve had some great weather days, and we’ve had some not-so-great weather days,” Fahrmann told WAFF 48. 

“But I know they’re out there, they’re making a lot of noise, which means progress.

“We’re still shooting for that April 1 deadline that they were given. And we’ll see how that goes.”

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He also said he does not expect a harsh penalty if the deadline is missed, citing the visitor’s locker room as an alternative if construction is still taking place.

The MLB has extended some grace in the past. The memo on the need for private spaces for female umpires and coaches was sent out years ago.

But the hard deadline was set in 2025, and it’s not known whether the MLB could punish them for a potential delay.

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