The Fayetteville Woodpeckers spent the previous two seasons playing as the Buies Creek Astros, who operated out of Campbell University's Jim Perry Stadium. The move to Fayetteville coincides with the opening of a new ballpark, scheduled to be completed in March. The Woodpeckers, a Class A Advanced Carolina League entity, are owned and operated by their parent Houston Astros. Fayetteville last hosted Minor League Baseball in the form of the South Atlantic League's Cape Fear Crocs, who relocated to Lakewood, New Jersey, following the 2000 season.

The road to the Woodpeckers began with an April 2017 "Name the Team" contest that received more than 1,300 entries. The front office -- headed by president Mark Zarthar -- narrowed that down to five finalists: Fatbacks, Fly Traps, Jumpers and Wood Dogs were the other four.