new stadium-8 to 12 $mil needed

[UCONNJACK]

I remember seeing something about building a new softball field where the turf is behind the field house and then building the new baseball field where the softball field used to be. Or maybe even putting in a new soccer field there and putting the baseball field where the soccer field currently is. Something along those lines. Not sure if that was a real plan or just a random fan/alum's idea.

Its the plan. The plans were recently released by the university.

 

[mets1090]

I saw the drawing months ago so I wasn't sure if it was the official plan. If it is the case, I assume they will build the softball field first, then build the new soccer field on top of the old softball field, then finally build the new baseball stadium. I would imagine that some sort of training facility would go where the current baseball field is. New batting cages/indoor pitching mounds perhaps.

 

[IMind]

I'm always a little surprised that college baseball doesn't do better attendance wise... look how well minor league baseball does. I guess the direct affiliation with the major league clubs really does work. That being said Connecticut is such a strong baseball state... if the team continues to win consistently and markets effectively you probably could do quite well with attendance.

On an aside, I'm hugely impressed with Pendergast as a fund raiser. I'm glad he's staying on in that position after the new AD is hired. I mean how many years did the basketball facility wallow in limbo? And now we've got the basketball facility moving forward as well as new soccer, softball, and baseball projects being announced... in an economic downturn. Night and day compared to Hathaway.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I'm always a little surprised that college baseball doesn't do better attendance wise... look how well minor league baseball does. I guess the direct affiliation with the major league clubs really does work. That being said Connecticut is such a strong baseball state... if the team continues to win consistently and markets effectively you probably could do quite well with attendance.

On an aside, I'm hugely impressed with Pendergast as a fund raiser. I'm glad he's staying on in that position after the new AD is hired. I mean how many years did the basketball facility wallow in limbo? And now we've got the basketball facility moving forward as well as new soccer, softball, and baseball projects being announced... in an economic downturn. Night and day compared to Hathaway.

Panciera retired around the same time as BE Membership and it was allowed to be a .500 program for more than a generation, Eastern had more buzz( and rightly so) with their success.

 

[TouchdownHusky]

Yup - unfortunately, the NCAA added baseball to the 'year in residence' requirement for transfers.

Really excited about the new facility's potential.

Yeah the Southern and Western "Big Boys" just hated the idea of parity in college baseball. Better to have a talented kid languishing on their benches rather than having that kid in an opponents uniform coming back to maybe beat them.

Guessing that very few kids from UConn, UMass, URI or other northern schools transfer to ACC or SEC or Big Twelve or PAC12 programs (so no big deal to them about sitting out a year). But in the other direction. . . now suddenly it's a problem.

 

[Yonick]

Yeah the Southern and Western "Big Boys" just hated the idea of parity in college baseball. Better to have a talented kid languishing on their benches rather than having that kid in an opponents uniform coming back to maybe beat them.

Guessing that very few kids from UConn, UMass, URI or other northern schools transfer to ACC or SEC or Big Twelve or PAC12 programs (so no big deal to them about sitting out a year). But in the other direction. . . now suddenly it's a problem.

Believe it, or, not, Tabakman, the UNC transfer obtained a waiver and has pitched twice for us. The first in relief, the second, he started, and won vs Lipscome. Sounds like we got ourselves a good one @ UNC's expense.