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uabaseballdad

BamaNation Citizen
Aug 8, 2009
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I'm new to the forum, first post: My son is a freshman baseball player at UA.

I am interested to know if there are any initiatives to upgrade the baseball facilities.
If so, is anyone aware of the time line?

Also, when can we expect the 2010 schedule to be released?
 
Facility upgrades were promised, but those promises haven't been met due to the "lack of funding." And with the economy being like it is I really don't see them updating baseball facilities anytime soon. As far as the schedule, I would guess that it would be released to the public anywhere from the end of October to the middle of November.
 
Can't help with the facilities discussion, but I emailed the media team earlier in the week and they are working on finalizing the schedule and hope to release it mid-late Sept. Complete roster and bio info soon, too.
 
Last edited:
oops! I read about the plans to build a practice gym for the basketball team and thought about the baseball facilities; however, after looking at some prior posts, maybe this thread needs no more discussion. Sorry!

Thanks for the information on the 2010 schedule.
 
Baseball has been promised new/updated facilities for several years now....hey we got a scoreboard out of it...... It is ultimately why Wells retired and ultimately why he came back. Promises, promises, promises. They have not delivered as of yet and probably will not anytime soon....sorry for that, but it is blunt honesty.


CK
 
I agree that the baseball facillities need to be upgraded. Should have been done along time ago, but Bama being a football school no one seemed to care, and for the most part the PTB still don't.
 
Whether you believe that we need new facilities or not, the fact is that football and men's basketball are the only two sports that make money. All other sports are heavily subsidized, including baseball. That being the case, where do you think improvements go first? It's not some conspiracy against baseball.
 
Baseball is a revenue generating sport now. I'm not trying to be a smart butt about it, but I would like to see documents on whether UA loses money or not every year. We know they aren't upgrading facilities so they can't be losing money there haha.
 
RAM - I agree that there is not a conspiracy against baseball at UA and disagree that Alabama Baseball does not produce a positive revenue source for Bama athletics. I am also aware of several large donors to the baseball program and I am confident that we will begin to see a renewed emphasis on upgrading the baseball facilities upon the completion of the football stadium. Probably by the same construction company??
I reaffirm my belief that Coach Saban is a constant and consistent voice for all athletics at UA and this will become more evident during his tenure.
A Rising Tide will Raise All Boats!
 
Don't know if this will happen but IMHO I believe the athletic department is waiting for the university to aquire the Bryce property. I have heard and it has been written that this could take upwards of 5 years to aquire. Maybe less. And if this is true, do you make a short term investment in expanding, or renovating Sewell-Thomas Stadium? I have to believe the athletic department knows that Sewell-Thomas is not up to par with the other 75% in the SEC.

Hopefully if the university aquires the Bryce property, they can build the baseball program a new stadium that we can all be proud of. In reality, Sewell-Thomas Stadium where it sits now needs to be one big parking area (parking deck) because of the expansion to the south endzone at Bryant-Denny. If the expansion is to have an additional 10K seats then where do the 4K to 4,500 extra vehicles on campus park?

To shore up even more room to park, you might even see them build a new swimming facility and track stadium on the Bryce property. Those two facilities have become eye sores and rank close to the bottom in the SEC and the space at those locations would help out a lot.

I don't know guys, thats just my opinion. But we do need a new baseball stadium in the worst way.


Diamond Tide :biga:
 
Well DT, you know more than me and I have no idea what this Bryce property is, but if it takes a few years to get but it gets a new ball park with perks, I all for waiting. The few times I have been to The Joe, I have enjoyed it. It has a good atmosphere IMO and not all ball parks can say that even if they are new ones. Besides if leveling it can help increase football attendance (and basketball for that matter) it sounds like a win win situation for the University.
 
My wife just retired from Bryce, and most employees at Bryce think that eventually the sale of the property will go through. However, even when it does, the University will not get the property for 3-5 years. A new hospital will have to be built in order to move the patients and that will take time. There are also areas that will require quite a bit of work cleaning up the property. There was a dry cleaning facility on site, and I have read articles saying there would be a lenghty clean up of the property.

That said, this would be a beautiful place for a baseball stadium. Many of the trees on the property are around 100 years old! Photographers are regularlly using an old Magnolia tree on the property for wedding photos. You could build a new facility surrounded by old stately trees, with adequate parking for the fans.

Even though it would be a while coming, I would love to see a new facility built in the Bryce area.

RTR
 
BamaBaseballFan, no offense taken. In fact, the reason I know (or knew -the numbers I saw are circa 2003 and may have changed since) what I am talking about is that I was just as skeptical as you until I was handed the sheet of paper with all the numbers on it; this all arose from disbelief that the women's gymnastics team was not self-supporting in spite of the crowds, and the numbers I saw showed that program with a long way to go on that front. Again, based on what I saw, football and men's basketball were the only two programs making money at that time.

As far as CrimsonKelly's post, I have no idea what sport is the fastest growing, but I will assume from the context of this discussion that it may be college baseball. I do know that baseball is likely still not a revenue sport, and the UA has spoken loudly, clearly, and consistently over the years that, outside of Title IX compliance, it will take care of football (working on the third stadium expansion since 1997 or so, $4 million coaching salary) and to some extent basketball. With limited resources as a given, what does that tell you about the current priorities, regardless of what might be "right" or what others of us might wish for?
 
Diamond Tide said:
Don't know if this will happen but IMHO I believe the athletic department is waiting for the university to aquire the Bryce property. I have heard and it has been written that this could take upwards of 5 years to aquire. Maybe less. And if this is true, do you make a short term investment in expanding, or renovating Sewell-Thomas Stadium? I have to believe the athletic department knows that Sewell-Thomas is not up to par with the other 75% in the SEC.

Hopefully if the university aquires the Bryce property, they can build the baseball program a new stadium that we can all be proud of. In reality, Sewell-Thomas Stadium where it sits now needs to be one big parking area (parking deck) because of the expansion to the south endzone at Bryant-Denny. If the expansion is to have an additional 10K seats then where do the 4K to 4,500 extra vehicles on campus park?

To shore up even more room to park, you might even see them build a new swimming facility and track stadium on the Bryce property. Those two facilities have become eye sores and rank close to the bottom in the SEC and the space at those locations would help out a lot.

I don't know guys, thats just my opinion. But we do need a new baseball stadium in the worst way.


Diamond Tide :biga:
Click to expand...

If you are right about starting from scratch at the Bryce site, then I have no reason to believe they won't do it in style. I've been critical of them for refusing to do anything of significance to 'keep up with the Jones'' thus far. But, in building a new ground-up facility, I don't think they'd disappoint. If that is indeed the case, I'm all for waiting!
 
You may be correct but I would be concerned with the Title IX and making equal improvements to the female sports. A new stadium would would be a huge expense on top of the football and basketball improvements. Also, as we grow, where are we going to build additional academic buildings?
The Joe has such a rich tradition and still a very good facility (with new upgrades), I would hate to see it removed. I am still hopeful for added improvements at the existing facility and keeping the major athletic complexes in close proximity. It is a great atmosphere. JMO!
 
uabaseballdad said:
You may be correct but I would be concerned with the Title IX and making equal improvements to the female sports. A new stadium would would be a huge expense on top of the football and basketball improvements. Also, as we grow, where are we going to build additional academic buildings?
The Joe has such a rich tradition and still a very good facility (with new upgrades), I would hate to see it removed. I am still hopeful for added improvements at the existing facility and keeping the major athletic complexes in close proximity. It is a great atmosphere. JMO!
Click to expand...

I agree completely.
 
Still nothing on the 2010 schedule or bio updates. I was told a month ago there were just a couple of dates to be confirmed before releasing the info and they would both be up before now. Anyone else have info? I think uabaseballdad said he was told the info should be up by scrimmage time today, so they are cutting it close. I can't get info to make reservations except from other team sites. If AU and LSU can post theirs, surely we can get ours out, too. :) Anyone with influence with BA who could help us all out?
 
A movement in the last coupld of years has been to build softball and baseball stadiums at the same time. It keeps the Title IX requirements satisfied and upgrades facilities.

Not saying that 'Bama will go that way, just saying it's something that's been going on around the country in different spots.
 
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