New Stadium tidbits

[CliffDweller25]

I was fortunate enough to get a tour of the new digs with the 1988 team. The baseball building which will house offices, indoor pitching and hitting cages, locker rooms, nutrition, trainers area, etc., will be ready to move in by August 12th. Everything else by September 12th.

Dimensions will be 335 to LF 375 to LF Power alley, 400 to CF and 325 to RF line. They did a study that showed prevailing winds were straight out to LF, thus the decision to make it longer than RF.

Playing surface will be turf, except for Pitcher's mound which will be dirt.

Some standing areas on the concourse will have heaters blowing down.

Lighting will be state-of-the-art LED lights. No warm up time needed. They can actually do a celebratory light show with them if they want. (After a win, or big HR)

There are plans to build an indoor infield facility right next door to the Baseball building. It would be large enough to have a full infield inside. They are looking to raise $3 million for this project. This is separate from the $49 million.

Right now the name is UK Baseball Stadium. (I expect that will change)

 

[sluggercatfan]

Thank you CD25!! Sounds like some great facilities for the bb guys. Being old school and believing you should get dirty in bb, I would like to see HP, areas around bases and pitchers mound all be dirt. Was there any word on expansion when needed? GOCATS!!!

 

[CliffDweller25]

Thank you CD25!! Sounds like some great facilities for the bb guys. Being old school and believing you should get dirty in bb, I would like to see HP, areas around bases and pitchers mound all be dirt. Was there any word on expansion when needed? GOCATS!!!

No expansion discussion. They did say that with the terraces, berms, standing areas completely around the field and additional portable bleachers in the outfield that they thought they could get up to 8,000 people in.

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

I was fortunate enough to get a tour of the new digs with the 1988 team. The baseball building which will house offices, indoor pitching and hitting cages, locker rooms, nutrition, trainers area, etc., will be ready to move in by August 12th. Everything else by September 12th.

Dimensions will be 335 to LF 375 to LF Power alley, 400 to CF and 325 to RF line. They did a study that showed prevailing winds were straight out to LF, thus the decision to make it longer than RF.

Playing surface will be turf, except for Pitcher's mound which will be dirt.

Some standing areas on the concourse will have heaters blowing down.

Lighting will be state-of-the-art LED lights. No warm up time needed. They can actually do a celebratory light show with them if they want. (After a win, or big HR)

There are plans to build an indoor infield facility right next door to the Baseball building. It would be large enough to have a full infield inside. They are looking to raise $3 million for this project. This is separate from the $49 million.

Right now the name is UK Baseball Stadium. (I expect that will change)

Just curious, do you remember the RF power alley distance ? Also, with a turf field, what do they do for a warning track ?

 

[DubyaT]

Any discussion on where they anticipate students being and what sort of arrangements will be in place to encourage a good and lively turnout of students for big games?

 

[sluggercatfan]

No expansion discussion. They did say that with the terraces, berms, standing areas completely around the field and additional portable bleachers in the outfield that they thought they could get up to 8,000 people in.

If i lived in Lexington or surronding area this ole boy would have season tickets.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Just curious, do you remember the RF power alley distance ? Also, with a turf field, what do they do for a warning track ?

U6 has one and it's turf , but brown like dirt

 

[RogerIndy]

Right now the name is UK Baseball Stadium. (I expect that will change)

Well, I guess some rich, baseball loving alum is going to get their name attached to the new stadium. (EJ Nutter and his son were both members of my fraternity) Any takers out there?

 

[CliffDweller25]

Just curious, do you remember the RF power alley distance ? Also, with a turf field, what do they do for a warning track ?

Tour guide skipped over RF power alley measurement. 370ish would be my guess.

I believe similar fields use a different compound under the warning tracks so the players can feel the difference.

 

[CliffDweller25]

Any discussion on where they anticipate students being and what sort of arrangements will be in place to encourage a good and lively turnout of students for big games?

While we were inside, he said they were doing something and he would discuss it when we got outside. He never talked about it outside, unless he was referring to standing room around the outfield. Pretty vague. It may have been a subject he didn't want to talk about.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Well, I guess some rich, baseball loving alum is going to get their name attached to the new stadium. (EJ Nutter and his son were both members of my fraternity) Any takers out there?

What ever happened to the Nutters and their involvement with UK?

 

[RogerIndy]

What ever happened to the Nutters and their involvement with UK?

EJ passed away some years ago. He made his money from doing business with the Air Force. They are from the Dayton, OH area even though they both went to UK. The basketball arena at Wright State is also named for EJ Nutter. The son (who I think prefers to remain somewhat anonymous) is still in the Dayton area. I haven't talked to either in 40 years since I was a student.

 

[bigbluegrog]

Tour guide skipped over RF power alley measurement. 370ish would be my guess.

I believe similar fields use a different compound under the warning tracks so the players can feel the difference.

This is similar to my understanding as well. Not sure if it is a different compound or some kind of change in density with the rubberized pellets but players are able to tell that they are on the warning track vs. the rest of the field.

 

[bigbluegrog]

If i lived in Lexington or surronding area this ole boy would have season tickets.

Slug, I live in Louisville too and have had season tix for about 10 years but only attend 8-10 or so games due to weather and work schedule. Try to go to at least once every 3-game SEC home stand.

Maybe we can work something out next year.

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

Im just wondering the process for season tickets. Ive had them since 2009. Any word on that process?

 

[chill133]

Just curious, do you remember the RF power alley distance ? Also, with a turf field, what do they do for a warning track ?

When we had our tour they said....
LF 345
LF gap 365
CF 400
RF 340
RF gap 355

we had 2 different gentleman conducting tours that day....

 

[chill133]

Im just wondering the process for season tickets. Ive had them since 2009. Any word on that process?

they told us they were looking to do that process right before football season starts....

 

[sluggercatfan]

Slug, I live in Louisville too and have had season tix for about 10 years but only attend 8-10 or so games due to weather and work schedule. Try to go to at least once every 3-game SEC home stand.

Maybe we can work something out next year.

Sounds good. I'm retired.

 

[sluggercatfan]

EJ passed away some years ago. He made his money from doing business with the Air Force. They are from the Dayton, OH area even though they both went to UK. The basketball arena at Wright State is also named for EJ Nutter. The son (who I think prefers to remain somewhat anonymous) is still in the Dayton area. I haven't talked to either in 40 years since I was a student.

The Nutter family has been very generous to UK athletics in the past . Just wondered what had happened

 

[CliffDweller25]

When we had our tour they said....
LF 345
LF gap 365
CF 400
RF 340
RF gap 355

we had 2 different gentleman conducting tours that day....

Our tour was given by Asst AD in charge of facilities. I trust him.

 

[CliffDweller25]

Im just wondering the process for season tickets. Ive had them since 2009. Any word on that process?

I’m interested too. I’ve had them since 2005. I hope they consider the long time fans.

 

[chill133]

Our tour was given by Asst AD in charge of facilities. I trust him.

You must have had Kevin Saal...we had him and another gentleman in charge of capital projects, but when we broke into groups, we went with the capital projects guy.

My main concern was parking.

 

[Kybluedude]

Well, I guess some rich, baseball loving alum is going to get their name attached to the new stadium. (EJ Nutter and his son were both members of my fraternity) Any takers out there?

Sluggercat might be the taker... retired... loves the Cats. Name has a ring to it. You know it’s in the back of his mind. Legacy stuff

 

[DubyaT]

Thanks for the info, Cliff Dweller.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Sluggercat might be the taker... retired... loves the Cats. Name has a ring to it. You know it’s in the back of his mind. Legacy stuff

If I had it ...Kentucky Slugger Park. Sounds great

 

[cats1068]

Thank you CD25!! Sounds like some great facilities for the bb guys. Being old school and believing you should get dirty in bb, I would like to see HP, areas around bases and pitchers mound all be dirt. Was there any word on expansion when needed? GOCATS!!!

I like natural grass fields. But if you have a stadium in KY between Feb-May, it makes sense to have an all turf field. There will be less delays and PPD games for sure with the new surface.

 

[bigbluegrog]

I like natural grass fields. But if you have a stadium in KY between Feb-May, it makes sense to have an all turf field. There will be less delays and PPD games for sure with the new surface.

I agree 100%. With all the rain we had, imagine how difficult it must have been to even practice at the Cliff for days at a time. While I much prefer natural grass, turf does makes sense for UK. Will also cut down on need for huge grounds crew.

 

[RogerIndy]

I like natural grass fields. But if you have a stadium in KY between Feb-May, it makes sense to have an all turf field. There will be less delays and PPD games for sure with the new surface.

I can see for northern schools like us, uavel, Indiana, Vandy, etc. having turf. But I noticed that Louisiana - Lafayette Rajun Cajuns have an artificial turf field. It's pretty warm there in February. Why wouldn't they have grass? I guess they get a lot of rain in the late winter/early spring? Seems like a shame.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I like natural grass fields. But if you have a stadium in KY between Feb-May, it makes sense to have an all turf field. There will be less delays and PPD games for sure with the new surface.

Only want dirt on the hump, HP and "around" the bases for sliding, the rest can be all turf. I'm sorry, but us nothing sacred anymore

 

[Big_Blue_1018]

I can see for northern schools like us, uavel, Indiana, Vandy, etc. having turf. But I noticed that Louisiana - Lafayette Rajun Cajuns have an artificial turf field. It's pretty warm there in February. Why wouldn't they have grass? I guess they get a lot of rain in the late winter/early spring? Seems like a shame.

Oklahoma plays on turf as well.

 

[Comebakatz3]

There are a lot of places that do it because it allegedly is cheaper than maintaining actual grass.

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

Only want dirt on the hump, HP and "around" the bases for sliding, the rest can be all turf. I'm sorry, but us nothing sacred anymore

Mound only in the new stadium, don't have dirt at HP now at the Cliff.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Mound only in the new stadium, don't have dirt at HP now at the Cliff.

I know and I don't like that either!!

 

[RogerIndy]

There are a lot of places that do it because it allegedly is cheaper than maintaining actual grass.

I think us and Vandy will be the only SEC schools to play on artificial turf.

 

[CliffDweller25]

I think us and Vandy will be the only SEC schools to play on artificial turf.

Missouri has a turf infield. Outfield might be grass. It's hard to tell.

 

[Comebakatz3]

I hope we can find a good color of "dirt." The Vandy color is too dark and looks bad. I think the Louisville turf looks kind of orange. So, hopefully we find the right color of brown. Lol

 

[RogerIndy]

What's the deal with the mound? uavel and we will have a dirt mound, Vandy and Indiana have an artificial mound. I remember the regional we played at uavel a few years ago in the rain when they kept having to put kitty litter or something on the mound so the pitcher's shoes wouldn't get clumps of dirt on them.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I hope we can find a good color of "dirt." The Vandy color is too dark and looks bad. I think the Louisville turf looks kind of orange. So, hopefully we find the right color of brown. Lol

Don't like Vandy or u6 "dirt"!!

 

[Black Diamond Cat]

I hope we can find a good color of "dirt." The Vandy color is too dark and looks bad. I think the Louisville turf looks kind of orange. So, hopefully we find the right color of brown. Lol

Hopefully the same color as the mound dirt !

 

[sluggercatfan]

Hopefully the same color as the mound dirt !

Vandy dirt looks purple on TV and u6 dirt looks like worn out carpet.