About Us
About the Bristol Pickin' Chickens
Launching in 2027, the Bristol Pickin' Chickens are bringing a new era of summer baseball and entertainment to Bristol and the surrounding Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee region.
The Pickin' Chickens join the Blue Ridge League with a mission to combine highly competitive collegiate baseball, creative ballpark fun, and a little of the musical personality that makes Bristol such a special place.
The team will play its home games at historic Boyce Cox Field at DeVault Memorial Stadium, with approximately 20 home dates each summer featuring theme nights, local food and drink, family activities, and plenty of surprises. Games are designed to feel like a minor league experience, paired with the relaxed charm of a summer evening at the ballpark.
Why "Pickin' Chickens"?
Bristol is known around the world as the Birthplace of Country Music, thanks to the legendary 1927 Bristol Sessions that helped launch the careers of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers and shaped the future of American music.
The Pickin' Chickens embrace that musical heritage with a playful twist. "Pickin'" is a nod to the guitar players, banjo pickers, and generations of musicians who have made this region famous, while the chickens bring a little humor and personality to the ballpark.
The name reflects what we want the team to be: something unmistakably Bristol, with a fun identity that families, baseball fans, and the entire community can embrace.
It's especially fitting that the Pickin' Chickens will make their debut in 2027, exactly 100 years after the historic Bristol Sessions.
What is the most exciting thing about bringing a team to Bristol?
We're incredibly excited to bring summer baseball back to historic Boyce Cox Field and become part of a baseball tradition that runs deep in this community.
For more than 50 years, the stadium hosted affiliated minor league baseball, including the Bristol Tigers, Bristol White Sox, and Bristol Pirates. Generations of fans watched future Major Leaguers take the field here, making Boyce Cox Field one of the region's most recognizable baseball landmarks.
The opportunity to bring a new team to this historic setting is something we're especially proud of. We want to honor Bristol's baseball history while creating a fun, welcoming experience for a new generation of fans.
And with Bristol's rich musical heritage, we think there are plenty of opportunities to make a night with the Pickin' Chickens a little different from your typical baseball game!
About the Blue Ridge League
The Blue Ridge League brings together some of the top summer collegiate baseball programs in the Southeast, blending established clubs with ambitious new markets.
Following a successful inaugural season in 2026, the league is continuing to expand across Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, bringing competitive college baseball and affordable summer entertainment to communities throughout the region.
League teams include the Carolina Disco Turkeys, Marion Hungry Mothers, Queen City Corndogs, Uwharrie Wampus Cats, Davie Crocketts, Greenwood Flying Monkeys, Spartanburg County Peaches, and Joanna Hornets.
The Bristol Pickin' Chickens will make their Blue Ridge League debut in May 2027.
Learn more at blueridgeleague.com.
