Saints, CHS Extend Naming Rights Deal for CHS Field in Saint Paul

The Saint Paul Saints and CHS announced Wednesday they have extended the naming rights partnership for CHS Field, preserving the global agribusiness cooperative's brand throughout the downtown Saint Paul ballpark and reaffirming both organizations' investment in the Lowertown neighborhood.

Saints President Derek Sharrer framed the early renewal as a reflection of what the 7,210-seat ballpark has meant to the city since it opened in 2015. "It's hard to believe that we're already nearing the end of the original CHS Field agreement, but the motivation on behalf of both CHS and the Saints to extend this partnership early is a true testament to the vision behind building this beautiful ballpark — a regional sports and entertainment jewel, a place for connection and community, and Saint Paul's front porch," Sharrer said. "For over a decade, it has been evident that CHS Field is special and that its impact on the community it serves has exceeded all expectations."

The original naming rights deal, under which Inver Grove Heights-based CHS purchased rights to the city-owned, $65 million ballpark for an undisclosed sum, was reported to run 13 years when it was announced. Financial terms of the 2026 extension were not disclosed.

Jay Debertin, president and CEO of CHS, described the renewal as an extension of shared values between the cooperative and the Saints. "CHS and the Saints share a common belief in the power of collaboration to strengthen communities. By extending this partnership, we're reaffirming our commitment to working alongside the Saints, the City of Saint Paul and the broader community to build momentum and support a vibrant future for the city," Debertin said. He added that the ballpark gives CHS a platform to reach employees who live and work nearby while communicating the cooperative's agricultural mission: "It also provides a unique opportunity to share how CHS connects America's farmers to the products and services they need to feed and fuel the world."

CHS was formed in 1998 through the merger of Cenex and Harvest States Inc. and is described as the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative. When the original naming rights deal was struck, a study by Maryland-based naming rights consulting firm Team Services found that naming rights for minor league ballparks with roughly 7,000-seat capacities averaged $3 million over a 13-year period. Under the original lease terms between the city and the Saints, any naming rights revenue above $500,000 annually was directed to the city to pay down a $1.2 million balance on a $6 million loan St. Paul made to itself to close a last-minute funding gap during construction; once that loan was retired, naming rights revenue was to revert to the Saints. Whether those financial arrangements carry into the extended term has not been disclosed.

CHS Field, which sits at 360 N. Broadway in the Lowertown neighborhood, features a 360-degree concourse, cedar wood roofing that supports a second level appearing to float above the main deck, and dark masonry exterior walls that echo the architectural character of the surrounding district. Its dimensions run 330 feet to left field, 405 to center, and 320 to right.

The Saints, established in 1993 and now in their 33rd season of operation, became the Minnesota Twins' Triple-A affiliate in 2021 following the reorganization of Minor League Baseball. CHS Field sits just 13 miles from Target Field, making it the closest parent club-affiliate pairing in all of Minor League Baseball. The Saints' original ownership group sold the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings in 2023, a portfolio company that owns nearly 50 minor league franchises.

The ballpark has accumulated its own layer of history in the decade since it opened. The City of Baseball Museum, added to CHS Field and recognized by Ballpark Digest as the Best Ballpark Improvement over $1 million in 2019, remains a centerpiece of the fan experience, alongside the team's well-documented promotional identity: themed nights, giveaways, and the annual naming contest for the pig that delivers baseballs to the umpire each game.