BAKERSFIELD, Calif.- CSU Bakersfield Athletics Director Jeff Konya has announced plans for a new baseball seating solution on-campus at Hardt Field, to be completed in time for the season opener on Feb. 15 vs. Nebraska.
The first phase of the plan calls for 750 gold chair back seats to be installed in a grand stand that will be constructed behind home plate spanning the area between the home and visitor's dugout. That phase will be completed by opening day of 2013 using private donations with the help of multiple six-figure major gifts among other contributions from longtime supporters.
"Having an on-campus home for CSUB baseball was an important issue for several of our key boosters and we are very grateful for their contributions," Konya said. "This is just the first phase but it will be a tremendous upgrade from the past and the first step in the right direction for Hardt Field."
The second phase of the project includes a press box and two donor suites located at the top of the main grand stand, fundraising for that portion will continue. Upon completion, total cost of the project will range between $700,000 to over $1 million.
"We still have a lot of work to do before things are finalized at Hardt Field, but this is a great upgrade for our fans," said Senior Associate Athletics Director Ziggy Siegfried. "We have several more aspects of this project we want our fans and supporters to be a part of and we hope making these seats available encourages the community about the direction of CSUB baseball and CSUB Athletics as a whole."
With this new project, Hardt Field will remain the primary home for Roadrunner baseball, but CSUB remains open to partnering with the Bakersfield Blaze to play marquee opponents, the WAC Tournament or host an NCAA Regional at the minor league team's new facility when construction is complete two years from now.
"That will obviously be a wonderful facility in its own right," Konya said. "People tell me Bakersfield is a baseball town well now the city will have two new baseball facilities constructed in two years to meet the needs of fans."
Ticket sales will open shortly with priority seating being offered to current season ticket holders and donors. More information will become available in the coming weeks. Along with the 750 chair back seats, additional bleacher and grass seating will continue to be available, putting capacity around 1,500 for the facility.
The Roadrunners open 2013 with a historic opening weekend slate featuring Nebraska on Feb. 15, USC on Feb. 16 and concluding with Cal State Fullerton on Sunday, Feb. 17. Other home opponents this season include Fresno State, UNLV along with Western Athletic Conference series' vs. New Mexico State, UT San Antonio, Dallas Baptist, and Seattle University.
