Atlantic City Reopens Revamped Pop Lloyd Stadium as Multipurpose Youth Sports Hub

ATLANTIC CITY — Pop Lloyd Stadium reopened Tuesday following a $5.6 million renovation project that transformed the historic baseball venue into a state-of-the-art multipurpose sports complex for youth and the wider community.

Mayor Marty Small Sr., along with city officials, community leaders, and project partners, gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand reopening of the facility, which now features upgrades designed to support a wide variety of sports beyond baseball.

“This is another promise made, another promise kept for the Small administration,” said Mayor Small. “I had a vision for a very long time to turn this baseball field into a multi-sport stadium, and I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish. This field looks better than it ever has, the residents of Atlantic City deserve that, and we are looking forward to creating memories for our community on this new field that will last a lifetime.”

Renovations began in June 2024 and included the installation of blue and red artificial turf, new dugouts, locker rooms, bleachers, restrooms, lighting, fencing, a scoreboard and a modern sound system. The facility can now accommodate baseball, softball, T-ball, flag football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and other activities.

The project was funded through a combination of American Rescue Plan funds and 2022 Supplemental Transitional Aid. Atlantic City-based Weatherby Construction Company served as the contractor, and Arthur Ponzio & Associates provided consulting services.

Pop Lloyd Stadium is named in honor of John Henry "Pop" Lloyd, a legendary shortstop in the Negro Leagues and a Baseball Hall of Fame inductee who lived and worked in Atlantic City. Built in the late 1940s, the stadium last underwent major renovations in the 1990s.

Former Negro League standout Pedro Sierra was among the guests at Tuesday’s ceremony. According to a structural study conducted by the city’s Planning and Development Department, the stadium’s original structure was preserved as part of the project.

The stadium will host its first game on the newly renovated field at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 1, 2025, when Atlantic City High School takes on Oakcrest High School. The city’s Recreation Division manages the stadium and oversees event scheduling.

Upcoming events include the Benfica Soccer Camp, the Atlantic City Adult Softball League, and a youth baseball clinic. For scheduling inquiries, contact Atlantic City Recreation at 609-347-5643.

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