Construction on the University of Florida‘s new ballpark is on track, as the project approaches its expected completion this summer.
Almost exactly a year ago, the university broke ground on a new $65-million ballpark that is expected to feature several notable amenities, including a mixture of seating options such as fixed seats and grass berms, a 360-degree concourse, shade structures, modern team facilities, and more. At the time, it was anticipated that the facility would be completed in June 2020, with the Florida Gators baseball program playing its first season at the ballpark in 2021.
Ultimately, the project has been able to maintain that timeline, as several finishing touches will start to be placed at the ballpark over the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, the facility continues to come together, helping to build anticipation for its opening. More from The Gainesville Sun:
“I drive by every morning and every night,” [Florida head baseball coach Kevin] O’Sullivan said. “It’s kind of a baseball superstition. I have to drive by it every morning and night regardless of the traffic.
“It’s coming along, it looks really nice. I just went by the other day and they’ve got the brackets in for the seats, and they’ll start putting in the seats now and I think the grass goes down next month. So, it’ll be done here before we know it.”
Where just a year ago stood an open, grassy field with some scattered scrub brush and trees, a shiny new stadium is rising.
It’s not complete, yet. But you can see it now, the structure, and can tell what it’s going to be. It’s a visible glimpse into the future — and the future is right on schedule. The $65 million stadium should be complete by the end of June, putting the wraps on one of the two major projects in Phase 3 of UF’s 10-year Master Plan for facility upgrades.
The 2020 college baseball season will be the Gators’ last at their long-time home, McKethan Stadium at Perry Field. For Florida, the fact that the ballpark has been able to stay on schedule is significant on multiple levels, as its completion will allow for the launch of work on a new football training complex. The $85-million standalone football facility will be built on the site of McKethan Stadium, which will be demolished after it has been vacated by the baseball program, and is currently expected to be finished in late 2021 or early 2022.
RELATED STORIES: Ground Broken on New Florida Ballpark; New Florida Gators’ Ballpark to Open 2021; After Strong 2018, Florida Looks Forward to New Ballpark; Florida Gators Make Case for New Ballpark; Details Emerge on Proposed University of Florida Ballpark; Gators Eye Upgrades to Baseball, Softball Facilities