Since 1969, the University of Kentucky baseball program has called Cliff Hagan Stadium home. However, the Wildcats will soon have a new home. On March 2, the UK Athletics Department broke ground on the construction of a new baseball stadium. Among those at the groundbreaking ceremony were UK President Eli Capilouto, athletic director Mitch Barnhart, and baseball head coach Nick Mingione.

“We’re excited,” Mingione said. “I do believe this: We’ll by far have the best college baseball facility in the state of Kentucky and it will be one of the premiere college baseball facilities in all of our country. Will it be the biggest? No, it won’t be the biggest, but it’ll be the right one.”

Construction for the new stadium is expected to take 18-20 months and should be completed in the fall of 2018 in time for the 2019 baseball stadium. The cost of the stadium will be $49 million, and will have a permanent seating capacity for 2,500 fans. Additional space on grass berms will allow the new stadium to accommodate more than 4,000 fans for regular-season games. For NCAA tournament games temporary bleachers can be installed beyond the outfield wall to bring the seating capacity to 7,000.

Fan amenities will include suites and a club area, while new player amenities will feature a team lounge, locker rooms, indoor hitting and pitching areas, and coaching offices.

 

Source:scout.com

 

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