Construction has begun on a multi-million dollar renovation project at Trenton Thunder Ballpark, home of the Trenton Thunder Baseball Team since 1994. The renovation promises significant improvements for both players and fans.
The Thunder say that the project, slated for completion before the 2026 season, underscores Mercer County’s commitment to bringing affiliated minor league Baseball back to Trenton.
Trenton hosted a team at the AA level of minor league baseball from 1994 to 2020. For most of those years, the club was affiliated with the New York Yankees.
The renovations will be rolled out in two phases. In 2025, the focus will be on enhancing the player experience with modernization and expansions of the home and away clubhouses, the addition of a dedicated female locker room, and upgrades to the batting cages.
The 2026 component will bring upgrades to the fan experience, including a brand-new playing surface installed shortly after the conclusion of the 2025 season; new high-definition video boards with next-generation Fan Cam capabilities; an enhanced sound system throughout the ballpark; and a new hospitality & performance area overlooking the Delaware River.
Mercer County Executive Dan Benson has been instrumental in the planning and approval of these improvements, highlighting the importance of these projects to the community.
During the Project Labor Agreement signing on Monday, Feb, 3 for the first stage of ballpark renovations, Benson stated, “This $5M+ project is really key to the revitalization of one of the County’s prized assets, which is now over 30 years old. For more than three decades, this ballpark has been a cornerstone of the Capital City of Mercer County.”
The Thunder have 30 million people within a 20 mile radius of the ballpark.
Mercer County, along with the State of New Jersey, is investing around $25 million in ballpark upgrades. Trenton Thunder President Jeff Hurley emphasized the team’s ongoing commitment to exceed Major League Baseball ballpark standards.
“We are really excited about this project and the continued projects throughout the next year or so. We can’t wait to see the finished product, and looking forward to our 2025 season,” Hurley said in a media release.
In a September interview with the Trentonian, Hurley told reporters: “We want to make sure we are not only meeting the PDL (Player Development League) standards, but we are above.
“Mercer County and the Trenton Thunder are making sure we review the documents and the projects that are ongoing over the next few years are getting us to the standards and above and making sure we’re ready to go.”
“We can’t thank County Executive Dan Benson enough for the support that he has shown along with the rest of the leadership at Mercer County,” Trenton Thunder General Manager Jon Bodnar said. “2025 is right around the corner, but this investment here today is about the next 30 years of the Trenton Thunder.”
The Trenton Thunder Ballpark is a property of the Mercer County Parks Commission. The work will be managed by Shorelands Construction and Jingoli Inc.
Also present for the signing of the renovation agreement were Trenton Thunder co-owners Joseph Caruso and Joseph Finley, county commissioners Sam Frisby, Nina Melker and Lucy Walter, Trenton City Council members Crystal Feliciano and Teska Frisby, and president of the Mercer County Central Labor Council Michele Liebtag.
Trenton Thunder Ballpark was originally named Mercer County Waterfront Park from its inaugural season in 1994 through 2012, when it was renamed Arm & Hammer Park as part of a 20-year sponsorship deal with the brand’s owner, Church & Dwight.
The ballpark was built as part of an effort to revitalize the city’s waterfront and attract fans to the burgeoning minor league team, which had relocated from London, Ontario, in 1994.
The venue has a seating capacity of approximately 6,440 and has also played host to numerous non-baseball other events, including concerts, community gatherings and charity events.
The Thunder started as the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers for one season and then the Boston Red Sox from 1995-2002. The team was then the AA affiliate of the New York Yankees from 2003 to 2020.
Over the years, the ballpark saw the rise of numerous future Major League Baseball stars, including Nomar Garciaparra, Robinson Cano and Aaron Judge. Major league stars such as Derek Jeter, Bernie William, Alex Rodriguez and Roger Clemens also had rehab stints there.
In 2021, the Yankees moved their AA team affiliation to the Somerset Yankees in Bridgewater following MLB’s restructuring of its minor league system. Since then, the Thunder has been a member of the MLB Draft League, a collegiate summer league for draft-eligible players.
The team won the Eastern League Championship in 2007, 2008, 2013, 2019 and 2021. It also won 12 division titles.
The 2025 Trenton Thunder season will kick off on June 4 at 7 p.m. against the Williamsport Crosscutters. Ticket memberships and group outings are available for purchase now, with single-game tickets going on sale in April.
Boomer, the mascot of the Trenton Thunder, surveys the locker rooms at Trenton Thunder Ballpark, currently undergoing a complete renovation.,
