Observation about college baseball stadiums

[PeteU]

Given that the regular season has not begun yet, and the limited availability of spring training games on television, I've seen a decent number of college baseball games to get my fix.

One thing that I find slightly odd, though. I've noticed a good number of college baseball stadiums don't have a lot of close, on field seating. The seats behind home plate are often times 7-8 feet up. Does anyone know why a lot of college baseball fields are like this?

[Astros]

Given that the regular season has not begun yet, and the limited availability of spring training games on television, I've seen a decent number of college baseball games to get my fix.

One thing that I find slightly odd, though. I've noticed a good number of college baseball stadiums don't have a lot of close, on field seating. The seats behind home plate are often times 7-8 feet up. Does anyone know why a lot of college baseball fields are like this?

Perhaps it provides more space under the stands for locker rooms and storage areas. I've seen some newer or renovated college parks where the seating is closer. Perhaps it was just something of the era in regards to those higher seated areas.

[mandrake]

When I was in college, way way back in the 1980's, my college team played at a rinky dink field (George Cole field or something like that). The seats , err benches, were very low and you were right next to the dugout. In fact, the dugouts were a few steps below field level. The field did not have lights until alum like Kevin McReynolds, Tim Lollar, Johnny Ray, Ronn Reynolds, etc got together and led a drive to pay for them. There was no charge for tickets, just show your college ID to sit on the benches. Non Students used to sit behind the fences and watch for free. Now, I guess the Hogs play in a "stadium", called Baum Stadium, designed by HOK stadium with a capacity of 10,737. (when I was in college, you could count the fans who showed up).
I saw on the college website that they now have luxury boxes !!!!! Luxury back then was stretching out across two benches !!!

I recall when the University of Texas came to town with a pitching staff of Roger Clemens, Calvin Schiraldi, and Greg Swindell. Not bad for a free college game , eh.

[Digitalballparks]

you should take a look at the photo gallery we did on www.digitalballparks.com for Monroe Louisiana's Warhawks Field at ULM. This is a good example of what you are talking about. The front row of the grandstand is about 10-12 feet in the air at least

[bandit12]

My best guess is that since many of the parks are limited in size...they have utilize as much space as possible. If the seats were near the field level...it would push the clubhouses, storage, maintenance, etc. even further away from the field. It would require the grandstand to be larger than needed.

[primetime62]

I guess I never realized that, I recall when going to the Minnesota State HS League AA State Tournament in 2006 at Joe Faber and Dick Putz fields in St. Cloud, MN they also had very high seating very similar to the LA location. I'm guessing cost is a large factor as colleges and very small minor league programs are begging for money and need to minimize the footprint to save costs, forcing the seats above all the concessions/locker rooms. I have a friend that plays for St. Scholastica at Wade Stadium in Duluth, they have pretty intimate seating their, but its an old stadium, and wasn't intended for college ball.

[Chevy114]

I went to Florida State and my brother was on the baseball team so I got to see the inside of the stadium a lot. I honestly think it was for storage, locker rooms, weight room, etc. Here is a good enough pic: http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/fsu/graphics/auto/howser2021009.jpg

Some could even argue that it was cheaper to build overtop of the dugouts or safer since most of us remember moments like albert bell mooning the crowd at msu.

When they renovated Dick Hoswer they tried to put almost like a luxary box behind homeplate, but I think the people being there got distracting, all though watching their faces when balls were fouled back at them was hilarious!

[JT7]

With regards to College Baseball stadiums, is it me or do most of them use Astro-Turf? I saw a college game on TV not to long ago where the entire field was astro-turf, including the infield, no dirt cut outs...Unless I am mistaken. Regardless, isn't that MORE of a safety hazard for college athletes since most of them have no multi-million dollar contracts and rely on "student health services" to care for them when they get injured...?

[primetime62]

Usually when artificial turf is used, the park is used for other purposes as well. I know they are putting in artificial turn at the New TCF Bank Stadium (Football I know), because they will also use the stadium for phy-ed classes and intramurals, and they can't afford to have the grass all torn up for game days.

[bandit12]

With regards to College Baseball stadiums, is it me or do most of them use Astro-Turf? I saw a college game on TV not to long ago where the entire field was astro-turf, including the infield, no dirt cut outs...Unless I am mistaken. Regardless, isn't that MORE of a safety hazard for college athletes since most of them have no multi-million dollar contracts and rely on "student health services" to care for them when they get injured...?

Since practices are in January and many of the games are in Feb-Apr. it is really hard to keep a college field game ready due to the weather. It is easier for maintenence and keeps costs down. Also, astro-turf of today isn't the same from the 70-80's. Injuries are not more likely on them than natural fields.

[Chevy114]

I think it's louisville that uses field turf (Fake grass that looks real) and they litterly spray paint everything except the mound and maybe the bases. The lines aren't calk they are painted white. The dirt is the same way. Its freaky. Im glad Florida Schools use real grass.

Is issue is usually that colleges can't afford to pay someone to keep up with the maintaince of a baseball field like the pros can? Because it shouldn't be that hard, but again I am basing this on the Florida teams I have seen.

[Bobby_Ayala]

Gotta love Les Murakami Stadium (formerly Rainbow Stadium) in Hawaii :thumbsup:

[Bulldog19]

Is issue is usually that colleges can't afford to pay someone to keep up with the maintaince of a baseball field like the pros can? Because it shouldn't be that hard, but again I am basing this on the Florida teams I have seen.

So in other words, you're basing as to whether it's hard or not on the near-perfect baseball weather you get in Florida? Guess what, in February, March, and April throughout the country, we don't have that weather.

BTW, I've seen what the University of Florida's field looks like in July-- absolute crap! Grass all burnt and brown..

As to the question about the seats being in the air due to club houses, concessions, etc... what are those? :p Our college field has none of that. It's two blocks to the locker rooms.

[burroughsmvp]

When I was in college, way way back in the 1980's, my college team played at a rinky dink field (George Cole field or something like that). The seats , err benches, were very low and you were right next to the dugout. In fact, the dugouts were a few steps below field level. The field did not have lights until alum like Kevin McReynolds, Tim Lollar, Johnny Ray, Ronn Reynolds, etc got together and led a drive to pay for them. There was no charge for tickets, just show your college ID to sit on the benches. Non Students used to sit behind the fences and watch for free. Now, I guess the Hogs play in a "stadium", called Baum Stadium, designed by HOK stadium with a capacity of 10,737. (when I was in college, you could count the fans who showed up).
I saw on the college website that they now have luxury boxes !!!!! Luxury back then was stretching out across two benches !!!

I recall when the University of Texas came to town with a pitching staff of Roger Clemens, Calvin Schiraldi, and Greg Swindell. Not bad for a free college game , eh.
Swindell did not play with Clemens and Schiraldi. They left after winning the title in '83. Swindell played 84, 85, 86.

The only dirt on the Longhorns' new field is the pitchers mound. No dirt on the basepaths or around home plate.

[Chevy114]

So in other words, you're basing as to whether it's hard or not on the near-perfect baseball weather you get in Florida? Guess what, in February, March, and April throughout the country, we don't have that weather.

BTW, I've seen what the University of Florida's field looks like in July-- absolute crap! Grass all burnt and brown..

As to the question about the seats being in the air due to club houses, concessions, etc... what are those? :p Our college field has none of that. It's two blocks to the locker rooms.

I know the weather is bad around the rest of the world, thats why opinion is bias and I was asking for other people's opinion.

Also go by FSU's field in July, still looking good, not burn and brown.

Sorry to hear about your crappy stadium not having locker rooms close.

[jnakamura]

I think it's louisville that uses field turf (Fake grass that looks real) and they litterly spray paint everything except the mound and maybe the bases. The lines aren't calk they are painted white. The dirt is the same way. Its freaky.

Yep. Astrodirt is just...wrong.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3432020629_e74b531360_b.jpg

[Bobby_Ayala]

Yep. Astrodirt is just...wrong.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3432020629_e74b531360_b.jpgOn the flip side it's easier on the laundry machines.