The University of Minnesota Board of Regents is expected to approve a $7.134 million replacement for Siebert Field at Thursday’s meeting.
The project has already passed muster by the regents’ facilities committee, and work of a sort has already begun: with one support for the center-field batters eye literally rotting away and falling down, University officials went ahead and cut down the remaining supports.
If approved by the regents, work on the new ballpark would begin immediately, with a new field and artificial turf slated to be installed by September and the first phase of construction completed by December. The DLR Group is overseeing design; PCL Construction is the contractor.
The ballpark won’t sit in the same exact spot as the current Siebert Field: it will move slightly to the north. The facility, in its first phase, will contain seating for 1,400 and feature a raised concourse and second-level press box. So far the Siebert name is being used for the new ballpark; Dick Siebert was a longtime baseball coach for the Golden Gophers and took the team several times to the College World Series.
RELATED STORIES: 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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