Rock Hill is packing up for a night at the ballpark. City leaders have organized “Rock Hill Takeover Night” for the Charlotte Knights game on September 10, 2026, with Mayor John Gettys set to throw the ceremonial first pitch before the Knights take on the Buffalo Bisons at Truist Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:04 p.m.
The event is being promoted jointly by the city government and its tourism brand, Visit Rock Hill SC, according to a post from the City of Rock Hill, SC on Facebook. The night includes “Thirsty Thursday” drink specials, live entertainment from the bases, and discounted ticket pricing, with tickets available through the city's ticket link. The Knights will host the International League's Buffalo Bisons, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, making for a matchup of two of the league's more storied franchises.
A Ballpark Rock Hill Once Called Home
The takeover carries some historical weight for York County. Before Truist Field opened in Uptown Charlotte, the Knights spent 24 seasons playing just across the state line at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, from 1990 through 2013, according to background compiled by Minor League Baseball. That stretch left a lasting connection between the franchise and the South Carolina communities that once hosted its home games, one that city leaders now appear to be leaning into with this promotional night.
Rock Hill sits roughly 25 miles south of Uptown Charlotte along Interstate 77, making it South Carolina's fifth-largest city and the primary South Carolina municipality within the Charlotte metro area. Truist Field itself opened in April 2014 at a construction cost of $54 million, is owned by Mecklenburg County, and seats approximately 10,200 fans, per background from Wikipedia.
Part of a Broader Regional Playbook
Rock Hill's outing isn't an isolated event. The Knights regularly host suburban community nights for municipalities across the Charlotte region, including dedicated 2026 promotional games for the Town of Matthews, Mint Hill, and the Town of Fort Mill. The format gives nearby towns a chance to rally residents around a shared regional attraction while promoting their own civic identities to a broader ballpark crowd.
The Knights have played as the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Chicago White Sox since 1999 and were acquired by private sports investment firm Diamond Baseball Holdings in June 2024, as Hoodline reported at the time. That ownership change came a couple of years before the franchise's push earlier this year for major public investment in its home ballpark.
Stadium Funding Request Still Looms
In March 2026, the Knights requested $40 million in public funding from the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to overhaul Truist Field's HVAC systems, concessions, and other venue infrastructure, according to Hoodline's earlier coverage of the $40 million ballpark funding ask. That request remains part of the broader backdrop as regional municipalities like Rock Hill continue investing in cross-border ties with the ballpark and the franchise that once called their own county home.
Sports tourism has become a central piece of Rock Hill's economic identity in recent years. The city oversees more than 1,250 acres of park land along with major regional facilities such as the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center and the Rock Hill BMX Supercross Track, according to reporting from South Carolina Public Radio. A city-sponsored night out at a professional ballpark fits neatly within that broader civic strategy of leaning into sports as an economic and community-building tool.
Fans looking to join Rock Hill's group outing can find discounted tickets through the city's promotional link for the September 10 matchup between the Knights and the Bisons at Truist Field.
