MADISON, Ala. (WAFF) – It’s crunch time for construction at Toyota Field, as the Trash Pandas are the only team yet to comply with MLB standards.
Construction on a new locker room at Toyota Field may not be finished before the Rocket City Trash Pandas’ Opening Day deadline set by Major League Baseball.
MLB requires all 120 minor league teams to have dedicated facilities for female umpires and coaches.
To comply with the requirement, the City of Madison began construction in the latter half of 2025 on the roughly $7.5 million, one-story locker room located in left field. The facility will be reserved exclusively for female coaches and umpires.
General Manager Garrett Fahrmann says construction crews have been working since then but are running behind schedule.
MLB has already extended some grace in the past. The league first sent a memo several years ago about the need for private spaces for female coaches and just set the hard deadline in 2025.
Fahrmann said he is not certain the locker room will be ready by Opening Day.
“There’s a lot of people working out there. We’ve had some great weather days, and we’ve had some not-so-great weather days. But I know they’re out there,” Fahrmann said. “They’re making a lot of noise, which means progress. And we’re still shooting for that April 1st deadline that they were given. And we’ll see how that goes.”
WAFF 48 reached out to MLB about possible consequences for missing the deadline but had not received a response as of this report.
Fahrmann said he does not expect a harsh penalty if the deadline is missed. He said the visitor’s locker room would serve as an alternative until construction is complete.
Opening Day is April 3.
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