“You get one chance to build these types of facilities … facilities that will change the landscape of a program for generations to come. It's exciting to think of the impact the new ballpark will have on future Gators players, coaches and fans."
| Construction Start |
February 2019 |
| Goal for completion |
June 2020 |
- 360 Degree Open Concourse & Seating
- Shade Structures for Fans
- Modern Student-Athlete and Staff Amenities
- Increased Capacity
- Multiple Seating & Game Experience Options
- High Definition Video and Sound
- Enhanced Concession Space and Food Options
- Philanthropic Support
- Bond Proceeds
- UAA Investment Earnings
- Field Orientation. Home plate will face Northeast and the sun will now be behind the stadium to make for a cooler atmosphere for the student-athletes and fans.
- 360 Degree Open Concourse & Seating. The concourse will be connected across the entire stadium with open views to the field, as seen in Omaha, Neb. at TD Ameritrade and many Major League Ballparks
- Shade Structures for Fans. Multiple sections of seats will be shaded from the sun to make for a more comfortable environment for fans
- Modern Student-Athlete and Staff Amenities. Student-athletes will have a private nutrition area/team lounge, film/team meeting room, expanded locker room, indoor pitching and batting cages, enhanced training and rehabilitation area, while the staff will have individual office space for all coaches and lobby/reception area celebrating the program’s accomplishments.
- Increased Capacity. All permanent seats will feature chair backs and there will multiple premium seating options along with grass berms and non-traditional seating that will bring capacity to more than 7,000 with ability to add seating for up to 10,000. Chair back seating options will increase from 2,408 to more than 4,000 and 700-plus fans will be able to enjoy club seating.
- Multiple Seating & Game Experience Options. Fans will have the ability to purchase chairbacks, a variety of premium seating options, club lounge tickets and family zone seating.
- Parking. In addition to other parking options that will be available on game days, the project will provide an additional 400-500 parking spots adjacent to the ballpark, along with moped parking.
- High Definition Video and Sound. Florida’s new baseball stadium will be equipped with a state of the art video board and sound system
- Enhanced Concession Space and Food Options. Concession stands and food trucks will provide a wide array of food options
- Enhanced Fan Experience. All the aforementioned amenities above will make for a much better fan experience for Gator Nation, including an area to focus on activities for children and young fans
- Prominent and welcoming entrances. Florida’s new baseball stadium will feature prominent and inviting entrances, including some key areas that will highlight program accomplishments including championships and Gator greats
The new Florida baseball ballpark broke ground on Friday, February 8 on the southeast part of campus, at the intersection of Hull Road and Natural Area Drive. It marked the first step toward building a state-of-the-art ballpark for the Gators program that will provide a much improved gameday experience for the team and the fans. In addition, the new support facilities will allow for more efficient training and practice for the team year round. In the coming months, the site will be prepped for construction with a target completion date of June 2020. The first season of play at the new ballpark will be 2021.
Progress is coming along at the new Florida Ballpark. In the month of June, steel is being placed and concrete poured for the grandstands and both dugouts. Fans driving by the location will start to get a feel for the layout of the new ballpark. Soon the construction team will be ready to pour the concrete slab for the main concourse level. Both dugouts are already in place with concrete poured by the end of the month. The Gators’ will use the first base dugout in the new ballpark.
Gallery: (6/24/2019) June 2019 Construction Update
Fans driving by the new Florida Ballpark can get a glimpse of the magnitude of the new stadium, as most of the steel framework has been completed on the grandstands. The structure will be the primary source of shade for the new stadium, allowing fans to sit comfortably for most home games beginning in 2021. In addition, the main concourse is starting to get some concrete poured and the walls for the berms have been poured. The concrete frames for both the home and visiting dugouts are also complete. The framework for the batter’s eye in center field and the new scoreboard are also in place.
Gallery: (7/31/2019) Ballpark July 2019 Construction Update
On Tuesday, September 24, the University Athletic Association, Brasfield & Gorrie and its subcontractors, and officials from the University of Florida celebrated the topping out at the new Florida Ballpark. Topping out marks the completion of the building's concrete and steel structure.
Fly Through (9/12/19)
With the concrete and steel structure completed, the construction team has moved on to more detailed work in the new Florida Ballpark. Drywall is beginning to go up in places and foundations are being completed for installation of chairback seating. The new berms on both the left field and right field sides are being filled in and graded to be ready for grass. Underneath the stadium, framing is being installed and prepped for drywall installation.
Gallery: (6/24/2019) Florida Ballpark Construction
On their first day of practice ahead of the last season at McKethan Stadium, Coach O'Sullivan and Scott Stricklin took the team to see the progress on their future home.
The field drainage system has been installed, and seating installation is well underway. Infield clay has nearly all been placed, with sod and field turf (to line foul territory) set to go in next month.
Dr. Fuchs and Scott Stricklin visited the new ballpark.
Installation of light towers, sod, and field turf have all been completed. As part of our partnership with Daktronics, installation of a high-quality LED video display scoreboard – which features the highest quality of brightness and resolution in the industry – was recently completed as well.
Installation of ribbon boards begins in early May.
Thanks to the continued generosity of the family of Alfred A. McKethan, the University Athletic Association will carry the namesake of McKethan Stadium, as the University of Florida Board of Trustees approved that Florida Ballpark’s playing surface will be known as Alfred A. McKethan Field.
More details.
Work on Florida Ballpark is expected to conclude later this month, and demolition of
McKethan Stadium is tentatively scheduled for July.
A little over a year and a half after the project's initial announcement, construction of Florida Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field reached its conclusion earlier this month. While subcontractors will continue applying branded graphics, signage, and other aesthetic touches to the ballpark in the coming weeks, Brasfield & Gorrie, the University Athletic Association's construction partner for the project, is celebrating the completion of their work on the new home of Gators Baseball.
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A $1.1 million project providing permanent outfield restrooms and concessions is set to take place throughout the current offseason. Equipped with a bar, the concessions addition will be located within Dizney Grove behind the batter’s eye in center field with the new restrooms situated in close proximity. The project will be funded directly from the remaining balance of the original $65 million Florida Ballpark budget.
Populous is a global architecture and design firm that designs the places where people love to be together, like Yankee Stadium, the London Olympics, and the Super Bowl. Over the last 35 years, the firm has designed more than 2,500 projects worth $40 billion across emerging and established markets. Populous' comprehensive services include architecture, interior design, event planning and overlay, branded environments, wayfinding and graphics, planning and urban design, landscape architecture, aviation and transport design, hotels and hospitality, and sustainable design consulting. Populous has 14 offices on four continents with regional centers in Kansas City, London and Brisbane.
Walker Architects is an experienced group of creative leaders and craftspeople. We design buildings not for ourselves or awards but for people and places with complex needs. We've done our job if the design of a space exceeds its potential. Through empathy, humility and passion, we're able to connect with clients on a deep level, resulting in useful, smart and transformative design.
The creative design team at Walker Architects makes old spaces new, new spaces timeless, and thinks beyond the limits of architecture. Walker Architects is focused on building relationships throughout the communities where we work. We believe in the team approach and collaborate with owners, user groups and other professionals to deliver practical, budget conscious solutions with lasting appeal. Our clients know us as the architect of choice for quality design and exceptional customer service.
Founded in 1964,
Brasfield & Gorrie is one of the nation’s largest privately held construction firms, providing general contracting, design-build, and construction management services for a wide variety of markets. We are skilled in construction best practices, including virtual design and construction, integrated project delivery, and lean construction, but we are best known for our preconstruction and self-perform expertise and exceptional client service. Brasfield & Gorrie has 12 offices and approximately 3,000 employees. Our 2018 revenues exceeded $3.2 billion.
Engineering News-Record ranks Brasfield & Gorrie 27th among the nation’s “Top 400 Contractors” for 2018.
