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WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the House Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development, led by Ranking Member Hillary Scholten (D-MI), held a hearing titled “Beyond the Ballpark: The Role of Minor Leagues in Economic Growth.” The hearing examined how minor league teams support local economies and boost small businesses in communities across the country.
 

“Minor leagues provide so many benefits to our communities: their players participate in local volunteer activities, their teams are a source of pride for their hometowns, their stadiums serve as community gathering spaces, and their games are an affordable entertainment option for families,” said Ranking Member Scholten.
 

Minor League Baseball (MiLB) has long supported economic growth in small and mid-sized American cities. Stadiums and team operations often drive revitalization efforts, spark local investment, and provide hundreds of jobs. In 2024 alone, minor league games attracted 31 million fans nationwide. 
 

Joe Chamberlin, CEO and Managing Partner of the West Michigan Whitecaps and Traverse City Pit Spitters, testified on the critical connection between minor league teams and the vibrancy of local economies.
 

“To this day, both the Whitecaps and the Pit Spitters are hyper-local, small- to medium-sized companies that have an incredibly symbiotic relationship with their communities,” Chamberlin said. “If you want a barometer of the health of a community’s small businesses, look no further than its stadiums.”
 

The hearing also explored the need for careful planning and sustainable development around minor league teams. Economists have warned that stadiums are not a guaranteed driver of new economic activity and may displace existing businesses if not integrated into broader development strategies.
 

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