| Golden Park's longevity as a home for professional baseball is truly remarkable, having hosted the sport through the 2008 season. The Red Stixx, who left in 2002, were essentially a "lame duck" in their final year, and by the time the Catfish took the field, it was clear the franchise had been on a downward trajectory for several seasons. Despite the owners' attempts to relocate to Columbia, SC, and build a new ballpark, those plans never came to fruition. Golden Park did receive a significant renovation in 1996, when it served as a venue for the softball competitions during the Olympics. Following these updates, the stadium remained a decent place to watch a game, though it began to show signs of aging. The ballpark features a covered grandstand, but much of the seating area is now occupied by luxury boxes. The reserved and box seating are individual folding chairs, while general admission seats are metal benches. Beneath the seating area, a spacious concourse hosts a few concession stands and a small gift shop. While the selection of food and drinks is fairly limited, prices are reasonable. The ballpark’s exterior, however, is one of its strongest features. The red brick facade is charming, and the surrounding sidewalks are well-landscaped, contributing to an inviting atmosphere. But when I visited in 2002, the "lame duck" nature of the team was painfully obvious. Attendance was low, the grounds crew struggled with even basic tasks like unrolling the tarp, and the outfield wall was dotted with empty advertising spaces. It was clear that management wasn’t putting much effort into the game-day experience. Despite these issues, the park’s size and layout still seemed to have potential for pro baseball. However, it’s possible that after hosting the Olympics in '96, Columbus had shifted its sports focus to softball. Though the South Atlantic League (SAL) had seen the construction of several new stadiums, Golden Park remained serviceable, but with attendance numbers not improving, the move to a new location seemed inevitable. In 2009, the Catfish were relocated to a new stadium in Bowling Green, KY. Golden Park’s legacy wasn’t over, though. In 2025, the ballpark—now known as Synovus Park—reopened with the arrival of the Columbus Clingstones (formerly the Mississippi Braves), bringing professional baseball back to Columbus after a seventeen-year hiatus.
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