The construction of a new softball stadium in Missouri will start next week, on Monday. The softball stadium will be located east of the Hearnes Center. Tim Hickman, the MU’s executive associate athletic director, expects it to be ready for the season 2017.
The plans were approved in February 2015 by the University of Missouri Board of Curators. It is expected that the construction of the stadium will be completed at the end of December 2016 and it will be ready for the next season.
“We’re squeaking in under the wire. They’re still telling us we’re going to be ready for the 2017 season. We don’t have that schedule set yet, so whether or not that’s Game 1 or Game 3, I don’t know yet, because, well, I don’t know the schedule, but that is still the plan, is to get in for 2017,” Hickman said in an interview.
The stadium is going to cost at least $17 m. But it’s going to be one of the most modern softball stadiums. $13,5 m. of the total amount would come from private gifts.
There are a few changes from the very first construction plan. However, the design of the softball stadium was released by Lempka Edson Architects 7 months ago. There will be 1,700 seats + additional 1,000 seats. That’s more than 4 times over the capacity of the old Missouri’s home stadium (University Field has been the home of Missouri team since 1980 and there has been about 600 seating places). The new stadium’s orientation will be north.
Another point for discussion is the construction of parking lots southeast of the Hearnes Center. The Parking lots will be created to replace the parking places that will be lost by the stadium’s construction.
Missouri will host a major tournament in 2018 (Southeastern Conference Tournament) and the competition is expected to be held at the new stadium. So, if the construction is delayed for the opening of the season 2017, it for sure will be ready for this tournament.
“Two things: We want to fully vet the facility out before we do host the Southern Conference Tournament in 2018. And just the success of our program, we need that space, and we need that improvement. I’m really excited that we’re going to be able to get it for the 2017 season,” added Hickman.