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THE FORECAST COMING UP FOR YOU IN JUST ABOUT THREE MINUTES. BUT WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH THE LATEST RENOVATIONS OUT AT RICKWOOD FIELD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE ON BRITTANY DECKER. AND I’M IAN REITZ. SO AMERICA’S OLDEST BALLPARK HAS CERTAINLY GONE THROUGH SOME CHANGES SINCE IT WAS BUILT 114 YEARS AGO, BUT NOTHING LIKE WHAT WE’RE SEEING RIGHT NOW. IN 2024, THE SPOTLIGHT WILL BE SQUARELY ON THE MAGIC CITY FOR A FULL WEEK THIS JUNE. �������� 13 S EMMA OWEN IS REPORTING FROM RICKWOOD TONIGHT. THOSE RENOVATIONS TAKING A BIG STEP FORWARD WITH SHOVELS IN HAND AND BOBCATS IN MOTION, CREWS ARE HARD AT WORK PREPARING FOR THIS SUMMER’S TRIBUTE TO THE -- LEAGUES. GERALD WATKINS, CHAIRMAN AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FRIENDS OF RICKWOOD FIELD, SAYS CREWS ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND ONCE FINISHED, HE SAYS IT WILL BE THE EQUIVALENT OF ANY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FIELD. SO AFTER ONE OF OUR HARD THUNDERSTORMS IN THE SUMMER, WE CAN PLAY BALL IN 30 MINUTES. IT’LL BE THAT GOOD. ADDITIONAL. WATKINS SAYS THEY’RE PUTTING IN A NETTING SYSTEM TO PROTECT FANS FROM FOUL BALLS AND THE DUGOUTS ARE PRETTY MUCH FINISHED. WATKINS SAYS THEY’RE JUST MISSING THE BENCHES AND AN OUTSIDE DRESSING. LIKE THE TEAM LOGOS. THESE UPGRADES COMING AS BIRMINGHAM PREPARES TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE -- LEAGUES JUNE 18TH. WE HAVE THE BIRMINGHAM BARONS AND THE MONTGOMERY BISCUITS PLAYING A MINOR LEAGUE BALL GAME THAT WILL BE KIND OF A REBIRTH OF THE RICKWOOD CLASSIC ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE THE 19TH. THERE IS POTENTIALLY A CELEBRITY SOFTBALL GAME. I CAN’T GIVE YOU ANY MORE DETAILS, BUT THAT COULD BE A REALLY A REALLY GOOD EVENT AS WELL. AND THEN ON THURSDAY THE 20TH, WE’LL HAVE THE MLB GAME BETWEEN THE GIANTS AND THE CARDINALS. WHILE THE PARK’S FUTURE IS VERY EXCITING, THESE RENOVATIONS ARE REALLY ABOUT PRESERVING THE FIELD’S PAST. ACCORDING TO WATKINS, IF YOU LOSE A HISTORIC PLACE LIKE RICKWOOD FIELD, YOU DON’T. YOU NOT ONLY LOSE THE CONCRETE AND STEEL AND THE WOOD, BUT YOU LOSE THE MEMORIES AND SO BY KEEPING THE BALLPARK UP TO DATE, WE’RE SAVING THE MEMORIES AND WE’RE GOING TO CREATE NEW MEMORIES. WITH THE I