Spending for the planning and design of a new Boise State ballpark was approved on Thursday, allowing the university to move the process forward.
Boise State announced last year that it would add a baseball program in the future, with plans for the team to begin play in the 2020 season. To accommodate the upcoming baseball program, the university is considering the construction of a new ballpark at a site near football’s Albertsons Stadium.
With the baseball program’s first season drawing closer, Boise State is taking some key steps to continue planning the new ballpark. One of the latest actions occurred on Thursday, when the university received approval from the state Board of Education to spend $500,000 for the planning and design of the proposed facility. More from the Idaho Press:
The new stadium will include an NCAA regulation baseball field with an artificial turf outfield, team dugouts, spectator bleacher seating with press box, restrooms, perimeter fencing and some on-site parking. Future additions could include expanded grandstand-style seating, visiting and home team locker rooms and coaches’ offices, an indoor hitting facility, covered bullpens, concession stands and more parking.
At one point, it was anticipated that Boise State’s baseball program could occupy a downtown ballpark that has been proposed by the Boise Hawks (Short Season A; Northwest League). While the owners of the Hawks are still pursuing the downtown ballpark, Boise State revealed last October that it would not share the proposed venue with the Hawks and instead look to construct its own facility. Baseball was last offered at Boise State in 1980, the final season before it was dropped from university’s varsity sports offerings.
RELATED STORIES: Boise State Ballpark Planning Underway; Boise State to Pursue On-Campus Ballpark; Boise State Making Plans for Baseball; Boise State Will Need to Spend More on Women’s Sports to Add Baseball; Boise State to Add Baseball