Louisiana Tech has released details on a rebuilt baseball facility at the J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park site for the 2021 college baseball season, part of an effort to address facilities damaged by an April tornado.
Following extensive damage to the ballpark as a result of the tornado, the university stated over the summer that it would rebuild J.C. Love Field at is current site in time for the 2021 NCAA baseball season. The exact scope of that project was not known until Thursday, when Louisiana Tech unveiled future plans for its baseball facility along with new venues for its soccer and softball programs.
The ballpark is currently expected to be rebuilt with an approximate capacity of 2,500, featuring chair-back seating, plus, student, berm, and general admission areas. A new structure will be built down the third base line and adjacent to the ballpark, housing facilities such as a players’ lounge, clubhouse, meeting room, an indoor practice facility, coaches’ offices and locker rooms, an athletic training satellite room, and equipment/laundry rooms.
While there are still some areas of the project that need to be pinned down, Louisiana Tech’s announcement on Thursday provides insight on the design and timeline for rebuilding at the J.C. Love Field site. Funding is expected to come through a variety of sources, including FEMA disaster relief. More from The News Star:
Nearly seven months after an EF-3 tornado claimed two lives in the Ruston community and decimated the athletic facilities for baseball, softball and soccer, LA Tech University President Les Guice and athletics director Tommy McClelland provided details of what the new stadiums look like and the what new features each site will highlight.
“Intention is for all three teams to be in their facility by the start date of their season next year,” McClelland said. “So that’s baseball and softball by 2021 season and soccer by the 2020 season.
“It’ll be a challenge. That’s why we’ve got to get started as soon as possible. That is the goal and objective.”
Funds for the projects will come through a combination of FEMA disaster relief, school insurance, Louisiana state appropriation funding as well as philanthropy and donations. Louisiana Tech was given permission by the state to hold the press conference unveiling the new plans, but McClelland said the university was “not at liberty to say (what it’ll cost) because we’re walking through some very formal steps and process through federal and state.”
J.C. Love Field originally opened in 1971 and was known as Tech Stadium until 1982, when it was renamed J.C. Love Field honor of Ruston businessman J.C. Love.
Renderings by TBA Studios, courtesy Louisiana Tech athletics.
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