KANNAPOLIS â The historic Gem Theatre is about to get back to business.
Several months after closing for renovations, it will reopen May 27 with the showing of Disneyâs âCruella.â The theater broke the news with its new marquee spelling out the announcement Friday afternoon.
âOur restroom project on the first floor is not completed yet, but we decided that we need to get back to business,â said Steve Morris, owner of the Gem Theatre, in a phone interview Friday. âOur new heating and air conditioning system is complete and operational. The marquee restoration has been completed, and we have our fingers crossed that the governor is going to increase capacity on June 1, so we are anxious to get back to business.â
Rain clears, Cannon Ballers open season in new Atrium Health Ballpark Heavy rain gave way to clearing skies on Tuesday night. (Source: David Whisenant-WBTV) By David Whisenant | May 4, 2021 at 8:43 PM EDT - Updated May 4 at 8:43 PM
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (WBTV) - The rain cleared much to the delight of baseball fans in Kannapolis who are finally getting to see their Minor League ballclub take the field in a brand new ballpark. Atrium Health Ballpark was ready to go last year, but the pandemic wiped out the season.
A loud cheer followed a military flyover, then the crowd cheered again as the first pitch of the season came over the plate as a strike. This was the moment that was years in the making.
By Thomas Lott
KANNAPOLIS â It took 614 days and a rainout scare, but after a lost season and a brand new ballpark sitting all but vacant for nearly a year, the Cannon Ballers finally celebrated their inaugural season opener at Atrium Health Ballpark on Tuesday.
While they would have liked to celebrate it with a win the team did fall to the Down East Wood Ducks 8-4, but that did not put a damper on the excitement throughout the stadium. Some of that might have come from the anxiety that thunderstorms bring to baseball.
The rain fell onto the field up to less than an hour before game time and there were certainly fears the first game at Atrium Health Ballpark would be pushed back one more day. But at about a quarter after 6 the skies started to clear. Baseball was going to be played and owner Andy Sandler was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.