📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina
⚾ Home of the Winston-Salem Dash
Once called the Ballpark of the Year, Truist Stadium in downtown Winston-Salem has served as the reliable and lively home of the Dash since it opened in 2010. The venue replaced David F. Couch Ballpark, formerly known as Ernie Shore Field, as the home of minor league baseball in the city and offered fans a more modern, accessible gameday experience. The High-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, the Dash continue to draw some of the best crowds in the circuit, filling up their 5,500-seat ballpark all throughout summer.
A minor league baseball stalwart for over 80 years, the current Winston-Salem franchise joined the long-standing Carolina League in 1945. Over the next several decades, the High-A club took on many names, from the Red Birds to the Spirits to the Warthogs. Rebranded as the Dash in 2009, the team was reclassified to the South Atlantic League after MLB’s restructuring of the minor leagues in 2021. Placards and informational signs adorning the concourse walls highlight the long history of the Dash and their predecessors, enlightening fans on the impact that the game has had on the city of Winston-Salem.
A fan-first venue through and through, Truist Stadium has many quirky spots and unique hangout areas. In right field, the top of a refurbished shipping container doubles as the Foothills Brewing Flight Deck, a relaxing perch with string lights and comfortable wooden chairs. Inside the container itself, fans can grab some hand-poured ales. Another container on the third-base side serves up some more hard liquor, while the Lost World Brewing area in left field provides even more beer options along with a fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs. Nearby, fans can play some cornhole while the kids ride a full-blown carousel in dead center field. Keep walking and you’ll find a live chicken coop… because, why not?
In addition to these entertainment spaces, the ballpark is full of one-of-a-kind food options. Out-of-towners will appreciate the chance to try some local sweets such as Ava’s Cupcakes, who serve up a special purple cookie on game days, and the “walking donut” from Krispy Kreme. A small pretzel stand offers many salty and sweet snacks as well.
A hallmark of the Carolina League – and now the new South Atlantic League – the Winston-Salem Dash are one of the most exciting clubs in Minor League Baseball and fittingly play at one of the nicest ballparks at the High-A level. The team’s fan-friendly ways and chill gameday environment make Truist Stadium a worthy pit stop here in the Dash City.
Info Invasion
Must Eat: Grab some cinnamon sugar pretzel sticks 😋
Parking: $10 in several lots just a few blocks from the stadium
Nearby Venue(s): David F. Couch Ballpark, First National Bank Field
In the Area: Reynolda House Museum of American Art
Other Notes: Gates open just 45 minutes prior to first pitch
Stadium51 