Baseball Stadium Help?

[MikeG]

I read this elsewhere.

Now I know GS was a Green Jacket guy etc-- but has he ever gotten this generous with the Bulls (prolly for Basketball).

Always looking to improve its facilities, McKethan Stadium underwent a $350,000 plaza development project in 1996 which produced a new main entrance, as well as created a plaza/courtyard atmosphere for fans surrounding the main grandstand. Construction over the previous summer added 1,000 seats to the main grandstand to replace seating lost through prior construction and press box expansion. The press box was rebuilt during the fall of 1996 with the aid of an additional gift of $300,000 from Mr. McKethan. The actual playing field, one of the best in the SEC, underwent an upgrade during the summer of 1997, with the field leveled and new grass planted. The most recent addition has increased the capacity to 5,000 fans with seats added along the left field line and beyond the left field fence.

Lights were first installed at the stadium in 1977 thanks to the generous contribution from New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, a Bull Gator booster.

McKethan Stadium is complemented by the $5 million Lemerand Athletic Center located on Stadium Road cornering up to Percy Beard Track and McKethan Stadium at Perry Field. It is a multi story 46,000-square foot building that provides locker rooms, equipment storage, training and sports medicine, along with coaches' offices for the baseball program.

[Brad]

Mike,

I think GS put the lights on USF's field if I remember correctly.  Also, the Yankees played some FSL games at the Red before Legends was built.  He paid for renovations then as well.  He has contributed to USF and specifically to baseball before.  To what extent? I do not have the numbers..

[Papa_Bull]

Baseball Almanac is pleased to present a comprehensive chart of every University of South Florida alumnus who played baseball at the University of South Florida AND made it to the Major League level.

University of South Florida

"Bulls"

Major League Baseball Player Alumnus

Name [Click for M.L. Stats]

Dates Played

Debut / Box

Chris Welsh

1974 - 1977

04-12-1981

Ben Hayes

1976 - 1978

06-25-1982

Tim Hulett

1979 - 1979

09-15-1983

Tony Fossas

1977 - 1979

05-15-1988

Dave Eiland (Florida)

1986 - 1987

08-03-1988

Scott Hemond

1984 - 1986

09-09-1989

Derek Lee

1987 - 1988

06-27-1993

Fred Rath, Jr.

1992 - 1995

07-29-1998

Jason Dellaero

1996 - 1997

09-07-1999

Ross Gload

1995 - 1997

08-31-2000

Name [Click for M.L. Stats]

Dates Played

Debut / Box

University of South Florida M.L.B. Player Alumnus

Fast Facts

The University of South Florida baseball program started in 1966 and Chris Welsh was their first player to make it to the Major League level.

The South Florida Bulls play their home games on Red McEwen Field and have since their first season. Their website had some interesting fast facts about their ballpark:

"Through the first 11 seasons the facility was known simply as the USF Baseball Field.

In 1976 New York Yankees George Steinbrenner donated lights for the facility and the current stands were also erected. The concessions stand and restrooms were added in 1982 while the press box was added a year later.

The field was dedicated in honor of James M. “Red†McEwen on March 30, 1977, prior to a game against the University of Florida. McEwen was a Tampa sportsman and civic leader in was active in the early efforts to establish USF in Hillsborough County in the 1950s. He died in the summer of 1976.

The plaque at the facility honoring McEwen reads: This facility stands and serves as a living memorial to the sports contribution made to this community by James M. 'Red' McEwen and the man himself a brilliant athlete, Red McEwen was a participant, coach, promoter and a major supporter of athletics in the state of Florida in general , in Tampa in particular. Dedicated March 30, 1977.

The first night game at Red McEwen Field was Feb. 26, 1977 against the University of Tampa. A new lighting system was installed in 1997.

The field's dimensions are 335 down the left- and right-field lines, 365 feet to left- and right-center field, and 390 to center field."

Source: Red McEwen Field (link) on University of South Florida Site

Did you know that there are ten (10) former University of South Florida players who made it to "the show"? Send corrections (with documentation) or updates to Baseball Almanac.

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/university_of_south_florida_baseball_players.shtml

[MikeG]

I think we have gotten our moneys worth out of what we've put into that current facility.

Nothing since 1982 (beyond new lighting)--- NOTHING? wow

[Brad]

I do not believe that is not accurate.  I believe GS funded renovations just before Legends opened, which if memory serves was not more than 8-10 years ago...There is no doubt that there have been renovations since 1982.

[Brad]

FWIW, the press box was redone since then as well as some field renovations and bleachers.

[Brad]

This is what is available on the official site..

Red McEwen Field

Red McEwen Field has been the home to USF baseball since the program’s first season in 1966.

Through the first 11 seasons the facility was known simply as the USF Baseball Field.

In 1976 New York Yankees George Steinbrenner donated lights for the facility and the current stands were also erected.  The concessions stand and restrooms were added in 1982 while the press box was added a year later.  

The field was dedicated in honor of James M. “Red” McEwen on March 30, 1977, prior to a game against the University of Florida.    McEwen was a Tampa sportsman and civic leader in was active in the early efforts to establish USF in Hillsborough County in the 1950s.  He died in the summer of 1976.

The plaque at the facility honoring McEwen reads:  This facility stands and serves as a living memorial to the sports contribution made to this community by James M. “Red” McEwen and the man himself a brilliant athlete, Red McEwen was a participant, coach, promoter and a major supporter of athletics in the state of Florida in general , in Tampa in particular.  Dedicated March 30, 1977.

The first night game at Red McEwen Field was Feb. 26, 1977 against the University of Tampa.  A new lighting system was installed in 1997.  

The field’s dimensions are 335 down the left- and right-field lines, 365 feet to left- and right-center field, and 390 to center field.

[Papa_Bull]

Well, there is a $50 million+ expected improvement for all sports facilities including renovating the baseball stadium in the works, so it will get done over the next several years.

Right now, USF is setting its priorities. The AD has said he'd like to do them all at the same time, but that probably isn't feasible.

[Papa_Bull]

Flashback:

Saturday, February 19, 2005

 

News  

Stepping up and into the Big East

The athletic plan was partially approved by the Board of Trustees on Thursday.

By Chris Gardner

Staff Writer

February 18, 2005  

"Why not USF?" Doug Woolard, USF athletics director, asked the Board of Trustees yesterday. "Why can't we have the best athletic department in the Big East?"  

That is what Woolard said to the BOT as he laid out the master plan Thursday for the future of USF's athletic facilities. The plan, called the Athletic Land Use Plan, would first realign the "athletics district" in the southeast corner of campus. As it is now, the land allocated to Campus Recreation (such as the intramural fields) and the land used by athletics make a sort of checkerboard. The plan would reorganize the Campus Recreation land into more of a block and place it closer to the residence halls, and would group the athletics land together in the southeast corner of campus.  

While lobbying for the plan, Woolard also laid out the Athletics Department's overall plans for the future.  

He showed the BOT slides of facilities at other schools nationwide.  

"Pictures are indeed worth a thousand words," Woolard said.  

He then showed USF facilities in an attempt to demonstrate the need for renovations throughout the athletics district.  

Woolard's presentation included a hefty list of facilities he wants to build in the "athletic district" in the coming years, one of which is a new softball stadium.  

"We have a perennially ranked softball team that plays in, really honestly, one of the poorest facilities in Division-I athletics," Woolard said.  

A new soccer stadium and a new practice field for soccer were also on the list.  

"Our soccer field, which takes place inside the track, isn't even the right width or length," Woolard said.  

A renovated Sun Dome arena was also on the list.  

"The Sun Dome is a tired facility that needs renovation," Woolard said.  

A renovated baseball stadium, new men's and women's basketball practice facilities, a new football practice complex, a new tennis complex and a new artificial surface surrounded by a 400-meter track were also on the list.  

The BOT conceptually approved the Athletic Land Use Plan, which gives the Athletics Department the go ahead to do internal feasibility analyses and begin fundraising.  

Theoretically, costs will be enumerated in the feasibility analyses, as will the cost of facility maintenance. Following the construction of the new athletics training facility in 2003, the maintenance costs were higher than anticipated and a 58-cent increase in the flat athletic fee paid by students each semester was deemed necessary and passed by the BOT.  

The fee came as a surprise to students, who thought the facility's costs had already been covered.  

The BOT also approved a site for the new and unprecedented Joint Military Science Leadership Center just east of the Physical Education Building (PED), between it and parking lot 15, Thursday.  

The JMSLC is something that no other campus in the nation has.  

"We'll be looked at as a model for other universities," USF President Judy Genshaft said.  

Trustee Steve Burton closed out the meeting by talking about the SUPERKids program that he has been working on.  

The program is an after-school program for at-risk children from kindergarten to second grade. They provide nutritious meals and teach the children their basics like reading after school each day. It is currently still a pilot program and is in place at three area elementary schools.  

Burton thanked a large number of guests in attendance that had helped him with the project and had some of them gave short speeches about the program. Guests who spoke included State Attorney General Charlie Crist, State Senate President Designate Ken Pruitt, State Speaker of the House Designate Marco Rubio, and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Shelton Quarles.  

http://www.usforacle.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/02/18/4215efad53479

[MikeG]

The original point is that if we want to make some improvements to the USF baseball facilities-- George seems like a good guy to get involved.