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New El Paso ballpark set for April 11, 2014 opening

New El Paso ballpark

The new Triple-A Pacific Coast League El Paso ballpark for the relocating Tucson Padres is set for an April 11, 2014 opening, according to team and city management.

The season opener for the new franchise is scheduled for April 3, giving team officials some precious time to make sure operations are set. Ballpark construction moves right along — concrete was poured this weekend on the concourse, for instance — and the public will be able to see the progress on a daily basis:

City officials said that 51 local workers, with Concrete Specialties of El Paso, are working on the concourse project. Currently, there are more than 100 construction workers from the El Paso-area working on the entire stadium.”The concourse is like the family superhighway,” said Brad Taylor, general manager of the Triple-A baseball team that will play at the ballpark. “It’s where families will enter the stadium, go buy food, take the kids to the play areas or the team store.”

The concourse level will take about 30 days to lay along the first base and third base lines, said Bill Studer, deputy city manager.

Other levels of concrete, such as the second level, third level and the outfield structures, will be laid later.”People will begin to see the shape of the ballpark come together,” Studer said. “The majority of the seats will be along the left field line (western side of the stadium).”

“The downtown ballpark remains on schedule to be completed by April 2014,” Studer said. “There are many variables which could impact the construction between now and then; the City of El Paso will complete the city-owned facility as expeditiously, safely, and efficiently as possible. Furthermore, we will continue to work with MountainStar Sports Group to ensure this community’s new Triple-A team has a world-class ballpark to call home.”

Rendering courtesy Populous.

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