GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Days like Friday are made for groundbreaking ceremonies. The sun splashed rays from above, a gentle breeze blew across the open field, and the smell of burgers and hotdogs permeated the air.
Days like Friday are perfect for baseball, too.
On a gorgeous February afternoon, 150 guests gathered on the southwest part of campus as University of Florida President Kent Fuchs, Athletic Director
Scott Stricklin and baseball coach
Kevin O'Sullivan broke ground on the Gators' new baseball stadium along with other notables.
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More than two dozen former UF players turned out for the event, as did former UF Athletic Director
Jeremy Foley and many others who have played instrumental roles in turning a vision into a soon-to-be $65 million reality, the future home of the UF baseball team and, for now, referred to as Florida Ballpark.
Stricklin said the site, currently grounds used for research by UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), is scheduled to start being cleared by construction crews in the next couple of weeks. The site is adjacent to Dizney Stadium, home of the Gators lacrosse team.
"It represents a great opportunity,'' said Stricklin, who has spent a large portion of his two-plus years on the job fund-raising to revamp the softball stadium and build a new baseball stadium and football facility. "You don't get the chance to do these things often and when you do you have to do it right."
The cheerful ceremony served as the first pitch toward what is expected to be a 16-month project with a planned completion in June 2020. The Gators will play the next two seasons at McKethan Stadium and as soon as the 2020 season is complete, Stricklin said construction will commence on Florida's stand-alone football facility at the site currently occupied by McKethan Stadium.
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A group of former UF baseball players join Coach Kevin O'Sullivan for a group photo during Friday afternoon's groundbreaking ceremony. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Florida's longtime baseball home opened in 1988 and has been upgraded over the years, but Florida Ballpark will turn the page to a new era in the program's history.
"This day, 31 years later, is a huge step forward,'' Fuchs said. "What a great day for Florida Baseball, Gators Athletics and the University of Florida."
Under O'Sullivan's guidance the past 11 seasons, the Gators have joined the game's elite at the collegiate level. Florida has made it to the College World Series a school-record four consecutive seasons and won the program's first national title in 2017.
Over that span, Florida has produced more than 90 MLB draft picks and 14 of those players have played in the big leagues. Three former Gators who reached the big leagues – Matt LaPorta, Paco Rodriguez and current Atlanta Braves pitcher Darren O'Day – were on hand at the groundbreaking.
O'Day,
who made a significant financial contribution toward building of a new stadium, shared stories with other former Gators as they mingled with O'Sullivan, UF officials and boosters. He is eager to see the stadium rise from what is now a sandy field surrounded by orange trees.
"It's time for this program,'' O'Day said. "It's very exciting to be here and see all my old buddies who helped make this happen."
The new stadium is going to be much more fan-friendly than McKethan Stadium and its limited footprint. Stricklin did say the McKethan name will continue to be attached to the program in some capacity at the new ballpark.
The future home of the Gators will feature a 360-degree open concourse, shade structures for fans, grass berms and non-traditional seating, premium seating options, high-definition video and sound, enhanced concession and food options, prominent entry gates and more than 4,000 chairback seats, an increase of more than 1,500 from McKethan Stadium.
The team areas will feature state-of-the-art technology and modern amenities.
Once the groundbreaking ceremony ended, O'Sullivan made the rounds visiting with those in attendance, focused on the start of the season Feb. 15 but with an eye toward the future.
"I see the pictures,'' O'Sullivan. "It looks incredible. This is an exciting day. There is not a day that goes by that I don't pinch myself. I'm very fortunate to be a part of something this special."
It was that kind of day.
A day made for a groundbreaking ceremony.
Better yet, a day made for baseball.
A lot of words were spoken Friday at the site of the Gators' future ballpark. The two most important ones are left to be said.
Play Ball.
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