- Salt Lake Bees announced 2026 game times, including big changes to Sunday games.
- Sunday games in April and May start at 2:05 p.m.; others will start at 6:05 p.m.
- Changes aim to improve fan comfort by avoiding heat, direct sunlight during games.
SOUTH JORDAN — Sundays are about to look drastically different for Salt Lake Bees fans.
The team unveiled its game times for the 2026 season on Friday, including a new plan for Sunday games. The team will continue to have Sunday afternoon matinees in April and May, with slightly different times. First pitch will be at 2:05 p.m. for those games, two hours later than Sunday home games last season.
First pitch will then move to 6:05 p.m. for the rest of the season, ending the team's tradition of Sunday afternoon games. The decision was made in coordination with the Pacific Coast League, and took into account player and fan feedback from the Bees' first season at The Ballpark at America First Square, said Nate Thompson, the team's communications manager.
It got hot during many of last year's afternoon games, especially during the summer months. By starting at 6:05 p.m. during the state's hottest months, the sun will be mostly blocked by the stadium's backstop, making the conditions a little more bearable.
"Shifting those Sunday games will just allow fans to avoid sitting in direct sunlight and sitting in the heat, and they can be in a more comfortable environment," he told KSL. "Really, it just came down to creating more of a welcoming and enjoyable experience for our fans. ... We believe this adjustment is going to be a positive step in that direction."
The Bees plan to continue their "Sunday Brunch at the Ballpark" promotion, a staple on Sunday afternoons in past seasons, for the 2:05 p.m. starts. The team is eyeing to add more "Bark in the Park" promotions for the rest of the Sunday games this year.
A few other changes are included in the 2026 season schedule. First pitch will be 6:35 p.m. for all games on Tuesdays through Saturdays, which is typical for the start of the season, but a half-hour earlier than starting times for games in the middle of the summer.
This will allow for fewer late nights at the ballpark, which is a win for fans and players alike, Thompson said. He said it should also help families on school nights for games held during the school year.
The Bees' 2026 season begins at Las Vegas on March 28, before its home opener against Sacramento on March 31.
