No surprise: The University of Minnesota Board of Regents gave the green light to a new ballpark for the Golden Gophers, with a groundbreaking scheduled for Monday.
The new ballpark will replace Siebert Field, which opened in 1971 and was named for former longtime coach Dick Siebert.
“It’s obviously a very exciting time for the Golden Gopher baseball program,” head coach John Anderson said. “It’s something we’ve been putting together for many years and it’s time to plan for the future. With this facility, it will help us prepare the next generation of Gopher baseball players. We want to continue the tradition that was laid before us, remember the past and prepare for years to come. With this announcement we celebrate our history as we build a new home for Golden Gopher Baseball and its continued success.”
The 1,400-seat, $7.134-million facility is scheduled to begin construction June 18, with a complete demolition set in July. With additional berm seating, Siebert Field Phase 1 will also include provisions for future expansion that includes additional seating, locker rooms and training facility. The synthetic turf is scheduled to be completed in September, with an estimated facility completion of December 2012. Constructed at the current site, the field will be lowered four feet from the original field level with home plate angled 35 degrees, which is currently between first and second base.
The DLR Group is overseeing design; PCL Construction is the contractor.
RELATED STORIES: Gopher ballpark vote set for Thursday; Siebert Field is falling down; Goodbye, Siebert Field; DLR lands Golden Gopher design gig; U of Minnesota issues RFP for Siebert Field replacement; Gophers still short on fundraising for new ballpark; Metrodome roof to be raised
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