Baseball/Softball complex

[una04]

What does everyone think about this? Does anyone know what the plans are for the size and look for the new stadium will be?

www.timesdaily.com/news/local/city-gives-una-land-for-baseball-softball-complex/article_dd82e479-ba22-5993-a891-69c684068966.html


City gives UNA land for baseball/softball complex


FLORENCE — The City Council on Tuesday conveyed land at Cox Creek Park to the University of North Alabama for a baseball and softball complex.

The council unanimously approved the ordinance, which paves the way for UNA to begin the process of moving its baseball stadium from its existing on-campus location off Pine Street.

The softball field and beach volleyball court already are at Cox Creek Park but the ordinance means UNA now will own that property, rather than lease it.


"It's a good fit for UNA and the city of Florence, to consolidate those into one location," Council President Dick Jordan said.

Councilman David Bradley said he initially was hesitant about the idea of giving away property, but when he went to the site and saw how it would be used, he agreed to it.

Mayor Steve Holt said that is good use of property that the city has available.

"It's a win-win for everybody," Holt said. "It allows UNA to put multiple sports there, and that's not an area we're using. That should work out well for all of us."

Florence resident Bill Smoak asked the council to deny the request, saying the land should be sold at fair-market value and voiced concerns about several matters including how it would impact other areas of the park.


During the work session before the meeting, city attorney Bill Musgrove said a state statute allows a city to give property to a university if the city does not need the property and considers it in the best interest of the public to do so.

Musgrove said a restriction in the deed gives the city the option to reclaim the property if a project is not completed within five years.

He said the skate park and farmer's market at the park will remain. The city and UNA have a shared-use agreement for parking.

Musgrove told the council that providing UNA the land would help the university move forward with any fundraising efforts it may want to conduct for the stadium construction.

[unafied]

I've never been able to really get into college baseball, even though I enjoy watching major league games. Maybe I shouldn't really comment for that reason, but what the heck. This is what I'd like to see from a fan's perspective.

I'm guessing the money won't be there for an "entertainment destination" like they're doing in Madison for the Trash Pandas, and the location probably wouldn't work for something like a micro-scale version of the "Battery" like Atlanta has around SunTrust Park. But I think you could take inspiration from both. Assuming some elements of Cox Creek Park remain, that's a good start. You want to bring families out to the stadium. Keep a playground there, but maybe go heavy on some Lion/UNA theming for it. If they could make the field visible from the playground, in case the kids get bored during the game and parents need to take them there for a while... that would be great. Water features are more and more popular at baseball stadiums (the Trash Pandas will have a lazy river in the outfield). Maybe you could add a splash pad or something.

It wouldn't be quite like the Battery, but could you allow food trucks on the property for big games, or on weekends? Or vendors of some sort? People like variety.

Can I mention beer? I'm gonna mention beer. Beer makes baseball better, period. With the stadium off-campus, would they be allowed to sell it? That would DEFINITELY make me more likely to come to a game. I doubt I'm alone.

And to go along with the previous point, make sure to provide an area for the students to tailgate. Make them feel welcome. Put them in the outfield if you must, just do something for them.

[brandon]

From a person who loves college baseball, I would like to see something symmetrical first off. The current stadium looks like they had a good idea, started it, then ran out of money.

I would like to see no bleachers, all seatback chairs. I would like to see good architecture in and around the stadium and upgrade the Softball stadium to match.

Reference JSUs new stadium on what we need to compete with.

I would like a big HD video board, and reference Texas Longhorns on what I would love the playing surface to look like.

Whatever they do, they need to make it extremely nice, and unique. It has to be able to attract recruits, we do play in a serious baseball conference. And we have to be able to lure athletes from JSU, Liberty, and some from the SEC.

[tuna85]

I like that thought of having a place for the kids/grands to play with a bire of the game. Family friendly destination.

[brandon]

I also think they should redo the entrance when the stadium is built. Have a major corridor connecting both baseball and softball, kinda like two parks in one building.

Kinda hard to explain with words.

[unafied]

Posting this again since I put it in the other thread. From the Flor-Ala:

City of Florence gives UNA land to relocate Mike D. Lane Field

Couple of points here the TD article didn’t have. First, the City can reclaim the property if the stadium isn’t completed in five years. That’s a pretty aggressive timeline and motivation for the University to get it done. Second, Linder is quoted as saying they already have diagrams of what the stadium will look like.

[brandon]

So, with my weird OCD, I had to email Linder to ask about a design for the baseball stadium and how it would coexist (for lack of a better word) with the softball facilities.

In my opinion, they should not build the baseball stadium to match the softball, but should upgrade the softball stadium to match the baseball stadium. There needs to be common architecture around both, and not block painted, it needs to be a nice brick with a common concourse area. Both need to be chair back seats on the grandstands and have luxury boxes as well.

I expressed all that in the email, he promptly replied and said they have looked at baseball and softball facilities around the state and region and assured me that I would not be disappointed. He said the we will ultimately have the best facilities in the state and region for the fans and athletes. Note, he said best, not biggest.

I also inquired about money being spent and how as far as facilities vs coaching pay, he said that the coaches understand and are in agreement that facilities improvements need to come first, not only for recruiting, although that is the major factor, but for fans, si ultimately, hopefully more ticket sales will help increase athletic budgets to pay coaches more.

[tuna85]

Great facilities draw great players. Great players make the coaches lives easier and help with their longevity and negotiating skills as time goes by.
Glad there is an emphasis on having a great ballpark.

[brandon]

Just out of curiosity, what would yall like to see, design wise, not beer sales and powdered soap, in the design of the ballpark?

I would like to have things that will make it unique.

One thing would be artificial turf, and an infield design like the Blue Jay's, Texas, and Houston has. And have real dirt, dont make the dirt areas turf like way too many are doing these days.

[una04]

I have been looking around at new stadiums opening and what they offer and I think Boston college hit a homerun with the new facility that they built that has the baseball and softball complexes combined with a concourse for fans and an easy view from baseball to softball and vice versa. I would like to see us build something with a goal of “one” day having a chance to host a regional. I know that’s a long shot but we have saw it happening more and more the last few years and if we are going to build it let’s build it to be able to grow and be successful. If we build the stadium to hold around 1000, we would still rank at the bottom of stadium size in the ASun but we will have the nicest place in the league.

www.intheballparks.com/ncaa/brighton

[brandon]

Apr 14, 2019 20:32:54 GMT -6 una04 said:

I have been looking around at new stadiums opening and what they offer and I think Boston college hit a homerun with the new facility that they built that has the baseball and softball complexes combined with a concourse for fans and an easy view from baseball to softball and vice versa. I would like to see us build something with a goal of “one” day having a chance to host a regional. I know that’s a long shot but we have saw it happening more and more the last few years and if we are going to build it let’s build it to be able to grow and be successful. If we build the stadium to hold around 1000, we would still rank at the bottom of stadium size in the ASun but we will have the nicest place in the league.

www.intheballparks.com/ncaa/brighton

I like it. I would want something similar. But I would have the grandstands covered, mid day games get hot, keeping the elements off of you is a cheaper, nice touch. But that's probably the size we need. Dont look like much more seating than we currently have, if it is more.

[unafied]

I shared some ideas up the thread, so I won't repeat those. I really hope/think we'll get a combined concourse area. It would honestly be unwise to not build concessions/restrooms/other (Merchandise store? A display of past champions/great players?) in the same area and have them serve both fields and the volleyball court. Do a plaza coming off the entry gate and make it resemble Harrison Plaza on campus, with a scaled-down fountain.

On the seating, I think a cover over at least some of them would be nice. Even with temps in the 70s, a bright, sunny day can leave you sweating and sunburned. I sat in the outfield at a Braves game two Sundays ago and my arms were slightly burned, even after putting on some sunscreen. I'm a pretty pasty guy, so I can sympathize with anyone that doesn't want to sit in direct sunlight for two+ hours.

Otherwise, just focus on player amenities. Fans want to come to see winners. Do whatever it takes to attract top talent.