If you were to ask any athletics director in California to name the schools with the top athletic facilities, UCSD would certainly be among the most frequently mentioned.
“”If you take a look at our facilities, I would put them against those of any other school in the nation,”” said UCSD Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards. “”When I came into this position, one of my goals was to assess our athletic facilities. We found that the only one lacking was our baseball field. We began to make plans to fix that.””
Specifically, Edwards has initiated a capital campaign to raise $4 million to make renovations to the current baseball field. The hope is that these enhancements will be enough to catapult UCSD’s baseball field to the elite status the rest of the Triton athletic facilities now hold.
Edwards said this campaign will be beneficial for the athletic department as a whole as well as the baseball program.
“”This will be a major project,”” Edwards said. “”The money that we raise in this campaign will also help the entire athletic program.””
This capital campaign will be the first in school history to use private funds.
“”In the past, we have been able to build some of the nation’s top athletic facilities with internal funding sources, including student fees,”” Edwards said in the summer issue of The San Diego Union-Tribune. “”We are now calling upon the alumni, community and friends of the program to help identify major contributors who can assist with the funding of this project.””
Those who donate money to the campaign will have the opportunity to be involved in the naming of the new stadium.
The commitment to excellence of Triton athletic facilities began with the construction of Canyonview Pool in 1985. The pool is still a top-notch home to both men’s and women’s waterpolo as well as the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams.
It was not until the opening of the $35 million RIMAC Complex in 1995 that UCSD asserted itself, however. The state-of-the-art facility included a 5,000-seat arena for basketball and volleyball, a track and field stadium, a 13-acre multi-purpose playing field for soccer, a softball diamond and a six-court tennis center. All-in-all, it was an amazing accomplishment.
Two years ago, a committee consisting of UCSD staff, coaches, alumni, community members and representatives of the San Diego Padres explored the possibilities of adding on to the current ballpark. The eventual design that came out of that committee is what the program plans to build with this $4 million campaign.
Anyone who has visited the current baseball field can attest to the fact that it is not exactly what one would consider a luxury ballpark. All of those sentiments should change with the new additions.
With Major League Baseball teams spending hundreds of millions of dollars on new stadiums, just how much better can the new stadium actually be with a relatively miniature price tag of $4 million? Surprisingly better.
Upon completion of the new park, fans will see the difference as soon as they approach the stadium.
The new baseball facility will sport an entrance marquee, reminding visiting fans just where they are. They will then proceed to the new ticket window to purchase a seat from various locations, each specifically designed to give fans a real sense of intimacy as they watch the game.
There will also be stadium-style seating that will hold between 500 and 1,000 fans. Two hundred bleacher-style seats will located just above the home dugout. For fans wishing to casually watch an afternoon game, there will be a grassy hill located along the third-base line. There is also room for additional bleacher seating. An elevator will be available to take all fans to different levels of seating.
For fans wishing to watch the game in further luxury, there will be two VIP suites that come equiped with restrooms and stadium-style seating.
An announcer’s booth and media viewing area will also be located behind home plate.
There will be wheelchair access to all levels of seating.
For in-game enjoyment, a full-service concession stand will serve any eating and drinking cravings experienced by the Triton faithful. Restrooms will also be available to fans as well as a first aid center.
In an effort to help out UCSD’s baseball team, a team room will be attached to the home dugout that will include lockers and showers. Batting cages and a bullpen area will be added on as well.
The stadium will feature reserved parking for coaches, officials and VIPs attending the game.
When games aren’t going on, the field will still be maintained courtesy of a field maintenance equipment room located on-site.
The baseball coaches will also have offices and storage space available at the park instead of having to share the Canyonview Athletic Complex with the waterpolo and swimming and diving coaches as they currently have to do.
When the dust clears, UCSD will be home to one of the top baseball parks in Division II athletics, something this campus should be very proud of.
According to Edwards, this campus may not have to wait long to feel that pride.
“”My major focus this year will be leading a successful capital campaign,”” Edwards said. “”In the numerous meetings we have already had with key members of the community, I have been impressed by their desire to support what we represent in UCSD athletics. I believe there are many people and corporations who are eager to align themselves with a collegiate athletic program that puts the welfare of the students first, but maintains a very high level of success.””
Anyone interested in making a contribution to the campaign should call (858) 534-4211.
