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The original naming rights deal expired after 10 years, and United Wholesale Mortgage replaced Jimmy John's as the ballpark's naming partner under a new 10-year agreement announced January 13, 2026.
If you've driven past M-59 and Van Dyke Avenue in Macomb County anytime in the last decade, you've probably seen the ballpark that helped put downtown Utica back on the map. Since 2016, Jimmy John's Field has been the home of the United Shore Professional Baseball League, one of Metro Detroit's most beloved family entertainment venues. But as of mid-January 2026, that familiar name is officially retired. The Jimmy John's Field name change caught plenty of locals off guard, so here's exactly what happened.
The USPBL announced on January 13 that Pontiac-based United Wholesale Mortgage has signed a 10-year naming rights partnership, renaming the 4,500-capacity ballpark UWM Field. Along with the stadium rebrand, the league itself has a new official name: USPBL powered by Mortgage Matchup, replacing the previous "USPBL powered by UWM" branding.
A new marquee was unveiled at the ballpark the same day, and additional signage and branding will be installed before the 2026 season kicks off on May 15. The ballpark sits right on the Macomb County and Oakland County border, making it one of the most accessible entertainment venues on the M-59 corridor, with approximately 150,000 vehicles passing daily.
UWM Field, Facebook
Why Did the Jimmy John's Field Name Change Happen?
Jimmy John's 10-year contract expired naturally. The company shifted to national TV ads after a private equity acquisition, reducing local sponsorships across Metro Detroit.
According to USPBL owner and commissioner Andy Appleby, the transition was a natural one. The Jimmy John's agreement ran its full 10-year course, and the company's priorities had simply evolved.
"They've changed a lot over that 10 years," Appleby told the Detroit Free Press. "They were bought by a private equity firm that mostly does national television spots, and so they are not doing as much locally as they were 10 years ago."
Appleby emphasized there's no bad blood. He noted the USPBL may still partner with local Jimmy John's franchisees in a smaller capacity going forward, calling the relationship a positive one throughout its run.
Here's what most people get wrong about this story: they assume Jimmy John's pulled out. That's not what happened. The contract simply expired on schedule, and a different partner was ready to step in. UWM had already been the league's primary corporate partner since day one (the league's full name was originally the United Shore Professional Baseball League, named after UWM's former brand). This new deal simply deepens an existing relationship that's been building for a decade.
The UWM Field rebrand is just one piece of a massive wave of Metro Detroit development projects taking shape in 2026.
Who Is UWM, and Why Does This Deal Matter for Macomb County?
United Wholesale Mortgage is the nation's top mortgage lender by volume, headquartered in Pontiac, Michigan. Every employee works locally, making this a homegrown Metro Detroit company doubling down on community investment.
For anyone living in Metro Detroit, UWM is a significant local employer and economic presence. Every single UWM employee works out of the company's Pontiac headquarters, just a 20-minute drive west on M-59 from the Utica ballpark. There are no satellite offices, no offshore operations. That hyper-local commitment is part of what makes this naming rights deal feel different from a typical corporate sponsorship.
"Everyone at UWM comes to Pontiac, Michigan, every single day. We are hyper-local focused," said UWM Chief Marketing Officer Sarah DeCiantis. "We do not have another headquarters, we do not have another location and we don't offshore things. Every person that works here is from the metro Detroit area."
UWM's CEO, Mat Ishbia, is a former Michigan State University basketball player who has become one of the most prominent figures in American sports ownership. He's the majority owner of the NBA's Phoenix Suns and the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, and last year he attached the Mortgage Matchup brand to the teams' downtown Phoenix arena in a reported $115 million deal (now called the Mortgage Matchup Center).
Locally, UWM and its Mortgage Matchup brand serve as the Official Mortgage Partner of the Detroit Pistons and the Detroit Red Wings, and as one of three Proud Partners of Pine Knob Music Theatre. The USPBL deal adds another layer to what has become a comprehensive Metro Detroit sports marketing strategy.
For residents of communities surrounding the ballpark, including Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, Macomb Township, and Rochester Hills, the deal signals continued corporate investment in the M-59 corridor. Families zoned into the Utica Community Schools district (the second-largest school district in Michigan, serving over 29,000 students across Utica, Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, and parts of Macomb and Washington townships) now live near a ballpark backed by a decade-long corporate commitment from one of the state's largest employers.
If you're exploring homes in this part of Macomb County or considering what the area's growth means for your property's value, The Perna Team has been guiding families through Metro Detroit real estate for over 24 years, with more than 8,000 transactions and 110 agents serving the region. Call (248) 886-4450 or search homes near UWM Field.
What Is Mortgage Matchup, and How Does It Connect to UWM Field?
Mortgage Matchup is UWM's consumer-facing website that connects homebuyers with independent mortgage brokers. The UWM name leads locally, while Mortgage Matchup brands national partnerships.
This distinction matters for understanding why the stadium is called "UWM Field" while the league carries the "Mortgage Matchup" branding. DeCiantis explained the strategy to Crain's Detroit Business: for local deals, the UWM name takes center stage because it supports hiring and community recognition. For national partnerships (like the Phoenix arena), the consumer-facing Mortgage Matchup brand leads.
The goal isn't necessarily to drive consumers directly to UWM. It's about building brand awareness with Metro Detroit residents, both as a potential employer and as a recognizable name in the mortgage space.
"Brand awareness is really the goal," DeCiantis told Crain's, adding that the company regularly benchmarks the performance of its naming rights deals to ensure they deliver results.
For Metro Detroit homebuyers, the practical takeaway is simple: if you see the Mortgage Matchup name on the outfield wall, the team jerseys, or a billboard on Hall Road, it's pointing you toward a tool that helps connect you with a local mortgage broker rather than going through a direct-to-consumer lender. That's UWM's entire business model, and now it's woven into one of Macomb County's most visible entertainment venues.
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UWM Field, Facebook
What Upgrades and New Development Are Coming to UWM Field?
The USPBL invested $10 million in facility upgrades (including synthetic turf) and is building a new headquarters with a restaurant across the Clinton River from the ballpark.
The rebrand isn't happening in isolation. The USPBL has been on an aggressive growth trajectory over the last few years, and the ballpark itself has seen significant investment.
The league recently completed a $10 million renovation that included new synthetic turf and various facility improvements, according to Crain's Detroit Business. Sponsorships were up 15% heading into the 2025 season, and ticket sales climbed about 10% over the previous year. Appleby estimated similar gains heading into 2026.
Perhaps the most exciting development for the surrounding community is the new USPBL headquarters currently under construction. The two-story, 10,500-square-foot building sits across the Clinton River from UWM Field, adjacent to the Clinton River Trail (part of the Macomb County hike and bike trail network that connects to over 70 miles of regional trails). The building will house the league's offices (previously based in Rochester), a team store, a memorabilia room, conference and event space, and a gourmet hot dog restaurant called JJ's Doghouse, named after the league's beloved bat dog, JJ. The building was constructed with help from a nearly $1 million state grant.
For downtown Utica, this represents a meaningful expansion of the entertainment and community gathering footprint that the ballpark has created since its 2016 opening. The site was once a capped brownfield landfill, an unlicensed dump for household waste that sat vacant for 80 years. Its transformation into a thriving sports and entertainment venue has been one of Macomb County's most compelling redevelopment stories. That revitalization energy is now extending across the river into new commercial development, strengthening downtown Utica's identity as a walkable destination.
Baseball fans in the area know how special a summer night at this ballpark can be. If you enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere at UWM Field, you might also love catching a Detroit Tigers game at Comerica Park with the kids.
How Many Players Has the USPBL Sent to the Majors?
The USPBL has had 52 players sign MLB contracts and seven reach a Major League roster since the league's founding in 2016.
For those unfamiliar, the USPBL is an independent developmental baseball league that gives talented players, mostly those who slipped through the cracks of the traditional MLB draft and farm system pipeline, a shot at being scouted by Major League teams. It's worked. Since the league's founding in 2016, 52 players have signed contracts with MLB organizations, and seven have made it all the way to a Major League roster. That includes Jared Koenig, who debuted with the Oakland Athletics during the 2022 season.
The four teams (the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers, Eastside Diamond Hoppers, Utica Unicorns, and Westside Woolly Mammoths) play a 45-game regular season schedule from May through September, with a mid-season all-star game and a championship game.
Is the USPBL Expanding Beyond Utica?
Yes. The league is in talks with East Coast cities including Providence and a location near Philadelphia, with a goal of reaching 10 teams within four to five years.
Appleby has been vocal about his expansion ambitions. In a 2025 interview with Crain's Detroit Business, he said the league is in talks with several cities on the East Coast, including Providence and a location outside Philadelphia, with a goal of confirming a second ballpark location and opening it in 2027. The expansion would add two teams at the new stadium, bringing the total to six.
"I would imagine, over the next four to five years, we would have probably upwards of 10 teams in the league," Appleby said.
A new stadium would cost an estimated $30 million (up from the approximately $20 million original cost of the Utica facility, adjusted for inflation). The expansion would introduce travel-based rivalries, something the current single-stadium model lacks.
Even with national expansion on the horizon, the league is clearly rooting itself deeper in Utica. The new headquarters, the 10-year UWM naming rights commitment, and the ongoing facility investment all confirm that the M-59 corridor ballpark isn't a stepping stone. It's the anchor.
What Does the UWM Field Rebrand Mean for Fans and Homeowners?
For fans, the game-day experience stays the same. For homeowners, sustained investment in the ballpark and surrounding development supports long-term property values in the Utica corridor.
Let's be real: the average family heading to a USPBL game on a Saturday evening in June is not going to notice much of a difference beyond the new signs. And that's a good thing.
The games will still be affordable, family-centered, and packed with the between-innings entertainment and community vibe that has drawn over two million fans to the Utica ballpark since it opened. The four teams aren't changing. The schedule structure isn't changing. The fireworks, the bat dog, the suites, the grass berm, the kids' play area with the wiffle ball field: all still there.
What does change is the corporate identity behind the venue. And in this case, swapping a national sandwich chain's branding for a homegrown Michigan mortgage company's name arguably makes the stadium feel more local, not less. UWM is headquartered 20 minutes away in Pontiac. Every dollar they invest in the ballpark stays in the Metro Detroit ecosystem.
For homeowners in Utica, Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, and the surrounding Macomb County communities, the bigger story isn't the name on the building. It's what the name represents: a 10-year financial commitment from a Fortune 500-level company, $10 million in recent facility upgrades, a new commercial building under construction, and a league exploring national expansion with Utica as home base. That kind of sustained investment supports neighborhood stability and long-term property values along the M-59 and Van Dyke corridors.
Curious what your home near UWM Field is worth in today's market? Even in February, Metro Detroit's real estate market stays active, and development news like this is exactly the kind of factor that influences buyer interest. Get a free home valuation from The Perna Team to see where you stand.
The 2026 season opens May 15 with updated branding across all platforms, uniforms, and signage. If you're planning a visit, the ballpark is at 7171 Auburn Road in Utica, accessible from I-75, I-94, and M-59. Parking is free, and the venue features 2,000 box seats, seven Founder's Level suites, five dugout suites, 12 patio suites, and multiple picnic areas.
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UWM Field, Facebook
And if the ballpark has you craving more stadium food experiences across Metro Detroit, check out this guide to the best food stops at Comerica Park. Game-day eating is practically a sport of its own around here.
How Does the UWM Field Deal Compare to Other Metro Detroit Naming Rights?
Quick Answer: UWM Field joins Comerica Park, Little Caesars Arena, and Ford Field among Metro Detroit's major named sports venues, and Comerica Park itself may rebrand by 2027 following a bank merger.
The UWM Field rebrand fits into a broader wave of naming rights activity across Metro Detroit and the sports world. Comerica Park (home of the Tigers since 2000) is itself facing a potential name change, as Comerica Bank announced plans in October 2025 to merge with Fifth Third Bank, which reportedly could result in the stadium being rebranded before the 2027 season.
Little Caesars Arena, Ford Field, and now UWM Field: Metro Detroit's sports venues are corporate billboards, and the names on those buildings tell you something about which companies are investing in the region. In this case, UWM's decision to put its name on a Macomb County ballpark, and to back it with a 10-year commitment, sends a clear signal about the company's long-term roots in Metro Detroit.
For the communities around the ballpark (Utica, Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills), the deal brings stability. A 10-year naming rights commitment, combined with the $10 million in recent facility upgrades and the new headquarters under construction, means the USPBL isn't going anywhere. If anything, the league is doubling down on Utica as its home base while it pursues national expansion.
Key Takeaways
- Jimmy John's Field in Utica is now officially called UWM Field after a new 10-year naming rights partnership with Pontiac-based United Wholesale Mortgage.
- The original Jimmy John's naming deal expired naturally after 10 years, with the sandwich chain shifting its focus to national advertising.
- The league is now called USPBL powered by Mortgage Matchup, and updated branding will appear across all signage, uniforms, and platforms for the 2026 season.
- UWM is the nation's top mortgage lender and a major Metro Detroit employer, with every employee working out of Pontiac. The deal strengthens their local visibility.
- The USPBL has invested $10 million in facility upgrades and is building a new headquarters and restaurant along the Clinton River adjacent to the ballpark.
- Expansion plans are underway, with the league targeting East Coast cities and aiming for up to 10 teams within four to five years.
- For Macomb County homeowners, the sustained investment in the M-59 corridor supports long-term neighborhood stability and property values.
- The 2026 USPBL season opens May 15 at UWM Field, 7171 Auburn Road, Utica, Michigan.
People Also Ask
Is Jimmy John's Field still open?
Yes. The ballpark at 7171 Auburn Road in downtown Utica, Michigan, is still open and fully operational. It has simply been renamed UWM Field as of January 13, 2026. The venue, the teams, and the USPBL season schedule remain unchanged, with the 2026 season starting May 15.
Why was Jimmy John's Field renamed to UWM Field?
The original 10-year naming rights agreement between Jimmy John's and the USPBL expired at the end of 2025. Jimmy John's shifted its marketing strategy toward national television advertising after being acquired by a private equity firm, and United Wholesale Mortgage stepped in with a new 10-year deal.
What does UWM stand for in UWM Field?
UWM stands for United Wholesale Mortgage, a mortgage lending company headquartered in Pontiac, Michigan. UWM is the largest home mortgage lender in the United States by total volume and originates all of its loans through independent mortgage brokers.
Who owns UWM Field in Utica, Michigan?
The ballpark is owned by General Sports Entertainment (GSE), founded by Andy Appleby. The City of Utica's Downtown Development Authority owns the land and leases it to GSE for $1 per year under a 30-year agreement. UWM holds the naming rights, not ownership of the physical facility.
What teams play at UWM Field?
Four teams play at UWM Field as part of the USPBL: the Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers, the Eastside Diamond Hoppers, the Utica Unicorns, and the Westside Woolly Mammoths. The league operates from May through September each year.
How much did UWM pay for the UWM Field naming rights?
Financial terms of the 10-year naming rights deal were not publicly disclosed. For context, UWM's separate naming rights deal for the Phoenix Suns and Mercury arena (now Mortgage Matchup Center) was reported at $115 million, though a smaller independent baseball venue would command a significantly different price point.
Has the USPBL produced any MLB players?
Yes. Since the league's founding in 2016, 52 USPBL players have signed contracts with MLB organizations, and seven former players have made it to a Major League roster. Notable alumni include Jared Koenig, who debuted with the Oakland Athletics in 2022.
Is the USPBL expanding to other cities beyond Utica?
Yes. USPBL owner Andy Appleby has confirmed the league is in talks with several East Coast cities, including Providence and a location outside Philadelphia. The goal is to confirm a second ballpark and open it in 2027, eventually growing the league to 10 teams over the next four to five years.
What is Mortgage Matchup?
Mortgage Matchup is a consumer-facing brand operated by United Wholesale Mortgage. The website MortgageMatchup.com connects prospective homebuyers with independent mortgage brokers. The brand is also attached to the Phoenix Suns and Mercury arena (Mortgage Matchup Center) and is the Official Mortgage Partner of the Detroit Pistons and Detroit Red Wings.
Where is UWM Field located, and how do I get there?
UWM Field is located at 7171 Auburn Road in downtown Utica, Michigan, near the intersection of M-59 and Van Dyke Avenue in Macomb County. The ballpark is accessible from I-75, I-94, and M-59, approximately 21 miles north of downtown Detroit, with free parking available on-site.
When does the 2026 USPBL season start at UWM Field?
The 2026 USPBL powered by Mortgage Matchup season begins on May 15, 2026. Games run through September, and the ballpark also hosts various community events, corporate outings, and group entertainment packages throughout the year.
Does the UWM Field rebrand affect home values near the ballpark?
While a naming rights change alone doesn't directly impact property values, the broader story matters for homeowners. The 10-year corporate commitment, $10 million in recent facility upgrades, new commercial development along the Clinton River, and league expansion plans all signal sustained investment in the Utica and Shelby Township corridor, which supports long-term neighborhood stability and buyer demand.
Whether you're moving to Metro Detroit and looking for communities near great family entertainment, or you're a longtime local curious about what's next for the Utica ballpark you've been visiting for years, the UWM Field rebrand signals growth, not change. The games, the community energy, and the affordable family fun aren't going anywhere. The name on the building just happens to belong to a company that's been part of the story from the very beginning.
Have questions about buying or selling a home near UWM Field or anywhere in Metro Detroit? The Perna Team has been helping families find their perfect neighborhood for over 24 years, with more than 8,000 transactions closed and 110 agents serving communities across Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, and Livingston counties. Call (248) 886-4450, get a current home valuation, or explore homes for sale across the region.
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