Philippine baseball is about to get the home it has long awaited. The Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium, open since 1934, is undergoing a major facelift ahead of the East Asia Cup 2026 on Dec. 7-13.

Six nations, including host Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand, will converge on the capital for the weeklong tournament. Organizers expect the event to boost sports tourism in Manila.

Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium Facelift: What Is Changing

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick Gregorio said the goal is to finish the facelift as soon as possible and bring the venue to global standards. The grandstand will be retrofitted to seat 10,000.

Plans also include a digital scoreboard on the historic outfield wall and all-weather artificial turf built to international specifications. The upgrades are meant to restore the venue’s past grandeur.

“This is about giving Filipino baseball a true home worthy of its history and future,” Gregorio added. The stadium’s history adds weight to the project.

Its inaugural exhibition game in December 1934 is part of baseball lore. Lou Gehrig is credited with the first home run there, followed by Babe Ruth, and their feats remain etched on the stadium’s walls.

Hataw Pilipinas Eyes East Asia Cup 2026 Glory

Hataw Pilipinas, the 24-man national team that won Southeast Asian Games gold against host Thailand, enters the tournament with confidence. Captain and pitcher Romeo Jasmin, who will soon pass the baton to the next generation, leads the squad.

Ferdinand “Bong” Liguayan Jr., catcher Mark Steven Manaig, leadoff hitter Jenald Pareja and Mark Beronilla anchor the squad. Head coach Lando Binarao, batting coach Ricardo “Iking” Jimenez and former pitcher Joseph Orillana guide the team.

The Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA) organizes the tournament, which is sanctioned by the Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA). An umpire clinic runs Dec. 3-5, and teams arrive two days before play begins.

PABA Secretary General Mike Asuncion called the renovation “a turning point for Philippine baseball.” He said the PSC partnership extends beyond the stadium, with plans for more fields nationwide to nurture young talent and expand grassroots development.

The scoreboard clock, famously stuck at 11:05, has long been a silent witness to decades of waiting. Organizers hope the renewed energy of Philippine baseball will soon resonate across Asia.