Florida’s new baseball ballpark will be located on Hull Road, near the Donald R. Dizney Stadium and Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium on the southwest part of campus.
Gators Getting a New Ballpark
Friday, March 23, 2018 | Baseball
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By: Daniel Apple
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida Athletic Department announced significant facility plans Friday and the Florida baseball program will be getting a new home.
The plans outlined include program-changing upgrades to its current softball stadium, a new baseball ballpark on the southwest part of campus and a new stand-alone football training complex in the location of the current baseball stadium. These projects, which combined are estimated to cost $130 million, are part of phases 2 and 3 of the University Athletic Association's Facilities Master Plan.
Original facility plans called for the UAA to renovate the baseball stadium and build a football training complex north of the Percy Beard Track, but after an extensive review with contractors and architects, it was determined that building a new baseball ballpark and locating the football training complex on the current baseball stadium site is a better long-term solution for the athletic program.
"We want to invest wisely in our infrastructure to enhance our student-athlete and fan experiences," said Athletics Director Scott Stricklin. "And we want to make sure that we are making the best long-term decisions to create championship experiences with integrity for all of those that touch our programs. Our athletic department is consistently among the top five in the nation, and it is our intent that all three of these facilities mirror that.
"With the change in facility locations for both baseball and football, we will now adjust the sequencing for these projects. Baseball will need to be built first, which will allow us to repurpose the current baseball site and put the stand-alone football complex in that space."
In addition to chairback seating, the new ballpark will have non-traditional and premium options for fans to enjoy baseball games.
Construction for the estimated $50 million baseball ballpark, with an overall capacity of 10,000, will begin in the fall of 2018 with a completion goal prior to the 2020 season. Home plate will face northeast with the sun behind the stadium for a cooler atmosphere for the student-athletes and fans. A 360-degree open concourse will give fans constant field views and multiple seating options will be under shade.
Permanent chairback seats will increase from 2,408 to approximately 5,000, while fans will also be able to choose from premium seating and non-traditional seating options to bring overall capacity to approximately 10,000. Enhanced concession space with new food options will also be available for fans, while student-athletes and staff will enjoy modern amenities and increased spaces.
Florida's new baseball ballpark will be located on Hull Road, near the Donald R. Dizney Stadium and Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium on the southwest part of campus.
"We are really excited about this project. Once it is completed, our student-athletes and staff will have first-class facilities that rival any program in the country," said Kevin O'Sullivan, "In addition, the new stadium will be much more suited to provide an outstanding experience for our fans. The administration has some unique ideas to ensure that the fan experience will be like nowhere else."
The baseball stadium will utilize 13.63 acres of land previously occupied by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences (UF/IFAS).
The UAA will contribute $3 million to UF/IFAS, which will then invest these funds in redeveloping research and instructional facilities to benefit College of Agricultural and Life Sciences students in horticultural sciences, plant pathology, environmental horticulture, and agronomy programs. Activities previously located on this property will continue in a different campus location nearby.
"This is a win-win for UF/IFAS, our students, faculty and the university community," said Jack M. Payne, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources. "Teaching and research activities will continue and students will continue to learn in facilities and agricultural sites appropriate to the level of a top 10 public university."
"We are fortunate to have a great partnership on campus between academics and athletics," Stricklin said. "Collaboration with a focus on excellence enables the University of Florida to be a top 10 program academically and one of the premier athletic departments in the nation."
"Phases 2 and 3 of our Facilities Master Plan will greatly improve efficiencies and operations in softball, baseball and football," Stricklin said. "We've all seen the impact that Phase 1 made with the Indoor Practice Facility, Otis Hawkins Academic Center at Farrior Hall and the renovation of Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center and we expect the same in these phases. We are very thankful for the support of our donors during Phase 1 and I am enthusiastic about the momentum from Gator Boosters moving into phases 2 and 3."
The projects will be funded through private gifts, bond proceeds, and UAA investment earnings, with no state or university funding. The University of Florida Board of Trustees approved Friday a bond resolution for $50 million for Phase 2 of the UAA's Facilities Master Plan.
Per state of Florida debt management guidelines, the Board of Governors still has to approve the bond resolution at the end of June.
The UAA has made significant progress to date and already identified funding for $73 million of the $130 million needed for the three projects (including $50 million in bonds, $13 million in philanthropic support and $10 million in UAA investment earnings). The remaining funds needed will be dependent upon the generosity of the Gator Nation as Scott Stricklin and the Gator Boosters staff continue to involve key constituents to support these important initiatives.
The full Facilities Master Plan, which will significantly impact the experience for all Gator student athletes in all 21 programs, as well as the fan experience in Ben Hill Griffin stadium, will be announced at a later date.
The new ballpark will include shaded chairback seats the field.
Information on Baseball Ballpark:
Estimated Timeline: Construction Start: Fall, 2018
Goal for completion: Prior to the 2020 Season
Estimated Budget: $50 Million
Funding: Philanthropic Support, Bond Proceeds, UAA Investment Earnings
Partners: Architects and Engineering – Populous and Walker Architects; Construction Manager – TBA
Notes:
Field Orientation: Home plate will face Northeast and the sun will now be behind the stadium to make for a cooler atmosphere for the student-athletes and fans.
360 Degree Open Concourse & Seating: The concourse will be connected across the entire stadium with open views to the field, as seen in Omaha, Neb. at TD Ameritrade and many Major League Ballparks
Shade Structures for Fans: Multiple sections of seats will be shaded from the sun to make for a more comfortable environment for fans
Modern Student-Athlete and Staff Amenities: Amenities include a locker room, player's lounge, training room, batting cages, practice field, etc.
Coaches Offices, Video Editing Room, Training Room with Hydrotherapy, Equipment Room, Locker Room and Player's Lounge
Increased Capacity: All permanent seats will feature chairbacks (no bleachers), and there will be multiple premium seating options along with grass berms and non-traditional seating that will bring capacity to an estimated 10,000. Chairback seating options will increase from 2,408 to approximately 5,000.
Multiple Seating & Game Experience Options: Fans will have the ability to purchase chairbacks, a variety of premium seating options, club lounge tickets and family zone seating.
Parking: On- site parking for approximately 400-500 vehicles, along with moped parking
High Definition Video and Sound: Florida's new baseball stadium will be equipped with a state of the art video board and sound system
Enhanced Concession Space and Food Options: Concession stands and food trucks will provide a wide array of food options
Enhanced Fan Experience: All the aforementioned amenities above will make for a much better fan experience for Gator Nation, including an area to focus on activities for children and young fans
Prominent and welcoming entrances: Florida's new baseball stadium will feature prominent and inviting entrances, including some key areas that will highlight program accomplishments including championships and Gator greats
About IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS works to bring science-based solutions to the state's agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. Visit the UF/IFAS web site at ifas.ufl.edu and follow us on social media at @UF_IFAS.
For more information contact: Ruth Hohl Borger Assistant Vice President, UF/IFAS Communications at rborger@ufl.edu; 352-294-3329 or 517-803-7631 (cell)
About Populous
Populous is a global architecture and design firm that designs the places where people love to be together, like Yankee Stadium, the London Olympics, and the Super Bowl. Over the last 35 years, the firm has designed more than 2,500 projects worth $40 billion across emerging and established markets. Populous' comprehensive services include architecture, interior design, event planning and overlay, branded environments, wayfinding and graphics, planning and urban design, landscape architecture, aviation and transport design, hotels and hospitality, and sustainable design consulting. Populous has 14 offices on four continents with regional centers in Kansas City, London and Brisbane.
For more information visit www.populous.com, follow @Populous on Twitter or contact Rich Polzin at Rich.Polzin@populous.com.
About Walker Architects
Walker Architects is an experienced group of creative leaders and craftspeople. We design buildings not for ourselves or awards but for people and places with complex needs. We've done our job if the design of a space exceeds its potential. Through empathy, humility and passion, we're able to connect with clients on a deep level, resulting in useful, smart and transformative design.
The creative design team at Walker Architects makes old spaces new, new spaces timeless, and thinks beyond the limits of architecture. Walker Architects is focused on building relationships throughout the communities where we work. We believe in the team approach and collaborate with owners, user groups and other professionals to deliver practical, budget conscious solutions with lasting appeal. Our clients know us as the architect of choice for quality design and exceptional customer service.
