New Iowa Baseball Stadium: The $27.4 million Renovation Was Supposed to Start after 2024 Season & Be Done by 2025 Season
- Thread starter Franisdaman
- Start date
Surprised more has not been publicized about this. It’s going to be a big boost for the program.
we are going to have money to burn so might as well do it right
A new softball facility is discussed near soccer and field hockey off Mormon Trek in the current strategic plan. Under Dahm, there was talk of building a new baseball facility in the Iowa River Landing. Suffice to say that did not happen.
If only even a nickel of this was coming from our brilliantly led athletic dept. but it’s not.
A NEW CHAPTER FOR IOWA BASEBALL
The University of Iowa baseball team announced a facility upgrade to Duane Banks Field on Friday, April 21, 2023.
These renovations will significantly improve the game day experience at Duane Banks Field with renovations to the press box, bleachers, concourse, dugouts and stadium entrance. The upgrades will increase stadium seating capacity, provide improved ADA access and seating, and enhance the fan experience with premium seating opportunities, additional concessions, and restrooms.
Over the past decade, there have been substantial enhancements to Duane Banks Field — adding an on-campus hitting facility, Sharp Family Videoboard and new AstroTurf field. Even with great progress, Duane Banks Field remains the second-oldest facility in the Big Ten.
Iowa’s only Division I baseball program has seen success in Iowa City because of a growing fan base, hard-working student-athletes, and a top-notch coaching staff. Over the past nine seasons, Iowa baseball is 134-42 in Iowa City under Heller.
Fans can make a tax-deductible gift of any amount today to support the revitalization of Iowa Baseball Stadium and Duane Banks Field. A $1,000 contribution will get your name on a seat in the revitalized facility, while donors who give $10,000 will receive recognition on a donor wall.
Banks Field was originally built in 1974. The stadium had dimensions of 330 feet down the lines, 375 in the power alleys and 400 to center field. That has decreased slightly and currently sits at 329 down the lines and 395 to center field.
In 2002, former Hawkeye and former Major Leaguer Cal Eldred donated $245,000 to fund the installation of lights at Banks Field.
The complex at Banks Field currently features locker rooms for both teams and umpires and a press box that was initially built in 1989 and renovated in 2002.
Pictures of what is to come:
Entrance from Left Center:
Down the 1st Base Line Entrance:
The Full Story:
A New Chapter for Iowa Baseball
hawkeyesports.com
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Hard not to love it. Pairing a new stadium with the indoor hitting facility and indoor football facility adjacent is a massive win.
Spring in Iowa is not a great time for outdoor sports. Our boys played HS soccer in the spring and a nice day was pretty rare. Nothing you can do about it though.
Fall baseball would be pretty great, but competing against football doesn't work.
And the southern schools don't seem to have any interest in starting the season later
Feb 17 was our first game this year; luckily it was in Florida.
Feb 28 was the home opener this year, where we played Loras (not exactly an exciting opponent). And way too cold, way too early for fans.
Things are really looking up for Iowa baseball. In the B1G Tournament semi-finals. Heading to the NCAA Tournament. New baseball stadium coming. Eventual NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! @EvilMonkeyInTheCloset
That’s a random question.
It might be kind of cool? Gives people something to do while ISU plays conference games against teams named after cities and directions.
if the seating is only 3000 fans they will never host a regional. to host a region they will need to hold 7500 fans. why 7500? simple, there are 4 teams in a regional and there must be room for the fans that travel with their team.
swimming was a casualty of covid and a cash shortage. the university ended up losing over $50,000,000.
so minor sports were cut. hopefully if they get these monies recovered it would not surprise me if they didn't revive in the future
Pretty sure that’s not a rule. They can definitely host a regional.
Not all four teams are playing at the same time. Just two teams per game.
its not a rule its just a simple matter of money. more seats more money. when you think about it a few years ago against Michigan there were 10,000 Iowa fans there.
this year there is around that many again.
There are several reasons why it would be stupid to build a baseball stadium that large. One being, it would almost always look empty.
Last year, less that 14k fans attended the B1G tournament. Not for the finals. For the entire tournament spanning several days.
A 7,500 seat stadium would make it a VERY large college baseball stadium. Especially considering they don’t share it with a minor league. I don’t think you have a grasp on the size of college only baseball stadiums. That would make it a fairly large SEC baseball stadium. Definitely top half.
The amount of money they would spend on making the stadium that large to sit 2/3 empty for most games would not be recouped on regional games for 100 years.
I look forward to where you move the goalposts.
you want to results that improve attendance. look no further than the women's BB team. this fall Carver all 15,500 seats will be sold out.
now if the Baseball teams has half as much success the BaseBall stadium as it is and a trivial increase to 3000 is/will be a joke.
these are the cities with minor league team
Cedar Rapids
Dubuque
Des Moines which hosts the Cubs Triple A farm club
Waterloo
these are the ones that come to mind, Waterloo once was a Farm Club of the KC Royals. there's more than enough BB fans to come and watch.
The problem isn't the number of baseball fans the problem is home games in April and early May can be freezing cold. The game I went too, a Friday night game against MSU, the place was almost packed. But it was a perfect night for baseball.
to bad there is not enough space to build a indoor stadium, then the stadium will be packed. maybe they will be able to host their own preseason event.
having a indoor base ball stadium opens the doors to other opportunities. to better recruits.
having a indoor base ball stadium opens the doors to other opportunities. to better recruits.
Would be really nice if they'd start college baseball season a month later. Baseball is meant to be played in warm/hot summer days. Not winter
now we wait to see where they go to now,
I didn't like changing pitchers like they did, Iowa had one of the deepest benchs. Morgan could gave gone 6-7 innings with Brecht being the weekend starter, and then Morgan would have gotten a 5 day rest just like did all season long.
I didn't like changing pitchers like they did, Iowa had one of the deepest benchs. Morgan could gave gone 6-7 innings with Brecht being the weekend starter, and then Morgan would have gotten a 5 day rest just like did all season long.
No, Morgan couldn't have gave 6-7 innings.
I think he is saying tat Morgan did not have the arm for 6 to 7 innings, regardless of when he pitches again.
Which brings up the question- What will the rotation look like assuming Iowa makes the tourney?
@AuroraHawk
