Designed by renowned global architectural design firm HKS Sports and Entertainment, in association with Steinberg Architects, the stadium will be reshaped and upgraded to be on par with any other collegiate baseball stadium in the US.
The original cost by Long Beach State to renovate Blair Field, which has served as the Dirtbags home field since 1958, was between $8 million to $12 million. The revamp plans include a new practice infield down the left field line, new modern batting tunnels, and shortening of part of the right field wall to accommodate a new bullpen. Installation of new lights to solve shadows in the gaps and centre field during night games is also included in the project. The new report states that the expected cost is closer to $20 million.
The work will be spread across several stages. The first stage will demolish a party area down the left-field line and will replace it with a practice diamond. A new batting tunnel and bullpens will be installed down the left-field line. The second stage will see creation of a two-storey clubhouse and concession space, as well as a party deck on the building’s second storey. More bathrooms and expanded dugouts are also on the plans. The final phase involves creation of fan amenities.
Overall renovation work will also include improvements to the current grandstands, including a doubling of bathroom facilities, expanded dugouts on both sides, visiting locker room and storage facilities. More than a dozen pillars will be built around the outside of the grandstands to support a new concourse that will provide for the building of a new press box twice the size of the current one, six luxury suites, and a large open-air HomePlate Club behind the plate with additional concession and beverage counters.
Beneath the new concourse, the concession area will be expanded out toward the front gate. A larger walkway entry will also be built to expand the park’s coverage out to Park Avenue, with new ticket offices and special vendor booths.
