Old Dominion University is close to raising $20 million toward Bud Metheny Ballpark renovations, leading to improvements both on the player side and the fan side.
The improvements will be overseen by Populous and Moseley, a Virginia Beach architectural firm. The plan is for Bud Metheny Ballpark renovations to be completed by the 2025 baseball season, encompassing a 5,400-square-foot renovation and 17,500-square-foot addition. According to a school press release, more than $18 million of the anticipated $20 million project budget has been raised.
The updated design will feature:
- a new player clubhouse, lounge and locker rooms;
- enhanced fan amenities, including chairback seating behind home plate;
- new concession spaces;
- premium club spaces with indoor and outdoor seating, facilitated by moveable windows behind home plate and access to a covered outdoor terrace complete with table seating and patio seating;
- new coaches’ offices and meeting spaces;
- a larger press box; and
- a revised configuration to allow ADA-compliant access, seating and support facilities for athletes and fans.
The renovations grew out of a very specific circumstance. The Old Dominion baseball program has been on the rise in recent years, culminating during a noteworthy 2021 season that saw the Monarchs win the Conference USA Tournament and a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Alas, the ballpark didn’t seat enough to host an NCAA Regional.
Also part of the overhaul: a renaming of the overall facility to Ellmer Family Baseball Complex, retaining the Bud Metheny Ballpark name as well.
Since this article first ran, Old Dominion announced the renovations would be pushed off to 2026, with construction beginning after the 2024 NCAA season. This means OD will be looking for a temporary home for the 2025 NCAA season; possibilities include Harbor Park, home of the Norfolk Tides (Triple-A; International League), and Hampton’s War Memorial Stadium, the former MiLB park now home to the Coastal Plain League’s summer-collegiate Peninsula Pilots.