As Elon University’s baseball team continues its spring season, renovations have started on the team’s facilities.
These renovations are taking place now partly due to Elon hosting the Colonial Athletic Association baseball conference tournament in May. According to Athletic Director Dave Blank, Elon wants to make the viewing experience as pleasant as possible for new visitors.
The renovations have been made possible due to unique fundraising opportunities realized over the last year. Elon’s bid to host the tournament was deliberately timed with the renovations.
Blank said the renovation plan will also maintain a safe environment for fans, as well as increase ticket sales. He also said the updated branding on the field will continue to raise awareness for Elon.
“Elon prides itself on providing first-class facilities in which to watch, practice and compete in all sports,” Blank said. “These enhancements will improve Elon’s ability to attract the best student athletes and represent Elon in a positive manner.”
Construction has begun on a new indoor performance facility directly adjacent to Latham Park. The building will include a locker room for the team, indoor batting cages, an equipment room, a training room and offices for coaches.
Further renovations are mostly for replacing any equipment that is at the end of its life expectancy cycle, including Latham’s infield turf, pitching mound and seats throughout the stadium.
They are replacing the dirt mound with synthetic turf and the mounds in the bullpen to match.
Head coach Mike Kennedy said he is excited to see the new facility being built after years of waiting for the project to be funded.
“This has obviously been a dream of mine, not so much for me, but for our players,” Kennedy said. “When I got word of this gift, it was a couple different emotions. One was amen, thank God, this is really exciting. The other was relief because we’ve been pushing at this for so long.”
Elon’s baseball team currently shares a facility with men and women’s soccer and women’s lacrosse. Kennedy said the baseball-specific amenities of the new indoor facility will help Elon develop players, as the team will no longer have to worry about dealing with weather affecting practice plans.
“Player development is in the forefront of what we try to do and this building will provide that right off the bat,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy also believes the facility will be attractive for recruits that visit Elon.
“Something like this immediately gets the attention of the kids you’re trying to bring to campus,” Kennedy said. “They see the commitment from the university in terms of a facility, and I’m not going to say it makes our job easier, but it certainly gives us something to create some excitement.”
The total for all the renovations will reach nearly $2 million. According to Blank, the majority of the cost will be funded by donations.
All renovations and construction are scheduled to be complete by the time Elon’s regular season ends on May 21.