Utica's UWM Field is trading fastballs for festival lights this September, hosting the inaugural USPBL Fall Music Classic from Sept. 18 to 20. The three-night run pulls together country, hip-hop and classic rock, with headliners Chris Janson, Rick Ross and Gene Simmons on the bill. Organizers plan to turn the ballpark into a full-on concert setup, with a stage on the field, assigned seating in the stands, general-admission field access and VIP pits close to the action.
Three nights, three genres
According to USPBL, the league announced the Fall Music Classic in June, framing it as a new post-season tradition for the park. The festival opens Sept. 18 with country star Chris Janson, joined by Julia Cole and Michigan native Mac Watts.
Full lineup and local openers
As reported by The Detroit News, Rick Ross takes over on Sept. 19, with Detroit rap veterans Esham, Ishii Qash and Trick Trick listed as support. Kiss frontman Gene Simmons closes things out on Sept. 20, backed by locally based rock band Kaleido and guest singer Derek St. Holmes. The Detroit News notes the shows will be staged directly on the field and will use assigned seats, general-admission field sections and VIP pits to separate ticket tiers. That reporting fills in the full lineup and production details that USPBL kept under wraps when the festival was first announced.
Tickets, capacity and where to buy
Tickets for individual nights start at about $75, and the league’s event page says they went on sale June 23, available through the festival page or at the UWM Field box office. Wikipedia lists UWM Field’s capacity at roughly 4,500, which makes this a relatively intimate setup by big-tour standards but a sizable draw for downtown Utica. Buyers can expect a mix of grandstand seating, general-admission field access and VIP pit upgrades when they lock in their spots.
Local reaction and what to expect
Local outlets are treating the weekend as a small turning point for the ballpark. ClickOnDetroit notes UWM Field will be fully reworked into a concert venue for the festival, bringing a different crowd and sound to downtown Utica. Promoters and radio partner 99.5 WYCD are already pushing the Sept. 18 country night, signaling strong media buy-in around the launch. Businesses in the surrounding area can reasonably look for heavier weekend traffic and a noticeable bump in foot traffic on show nights.
Whether you are there for Chris Janson’s country set, Rick Ross’ hip-hop bill or Gene Simmons’ classic-rock closer, the USPBL Fall Music Classic will flip a familiar neighborhood ballpark into a three-night pop-up festival that will be hard to miss this September. For the full lineup and additional details, see The Detroit News.
