A trip to the Natural State

http://espn1420.com/rating-the-sun-belt-...irds-nest/

Wow.. GSU's field must be pretty bad to be worse than this...

(05-11-2018 08:41 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  Wow.. GSU's field must be pretty bad to be worse than this...

Good thing we got our new park in 2008. He'd have a field day with the old one.

Wish I could find that picture again.

The neighborhood isn't that bad for one that is south of 630. During the day really nothing to worry about. The problem is the really bad neighborhoods aren't far to the east. That said, UALR can't store anything at the stadium they can't afford to replace.

I've heard nothing about Conque's fund-raising for a stadium on the Coleman property since the football study came out.

Jay isn't joking about how the turf once was. There were spots on the artificial turf so worn that there appeared to be nothing left except the base carpet and tears that you could see from the stands. Gary Hogan, the former coach, probably spent more time trying to hustle support than he did recruiting just to get it in some decent shape.

I started in 2009 so fortunately I never saw the old one. Interestingly, I believe one of my cousins played fall ball for a semester at SWT in the 90s before dropping out. I tried finding something about it in the archives but they don't go back that far.

Bobcat Field

Here are the best pics I can find of the old Bobcat Field. Swipe left and right for multiple pics. Last season played here was 2008 before Bobcat Ballpark was constructed for the 2009 season.

The one I remember seeing was completely wooden bleachers and someone said the "press" people had to hold their papers, etc., down with rocks, sticks...anything they could find. It was a reverse shot, looking at the back of the stands.
Maybe it was this in black and white but not sure because there was no press box....older still?

I got to San Marcos in 2005. What's in the photos is exactly what we had from '05-'08. Couldn't tell you anything prior to '05. I always assumed that's how it looked for many years prior though.

(05-11-2018 12:41 PM)_x_ Wrote:  I got to San Marcos in 2005. What's in the photos is exactly what we had from '05-'08. Couldn't tell you anything prior to '05. I always assumed that's how it looked for many years prior though.

I couldn't tell you. My daughter started in '03. I didn't go to baseball until '09. We always tailgated on the east side of BCS so I never paid attention to what was beyond the football stadium, as far as athletics goes, not even when she got her BA in '04 or her MA in '07. Both were night time graduations.

It's not a major crisis. I just remember that picture and know I had it on my PC at one time. It was probably the first one they built back in the 80's.

quite certain stAte is on deck. for UALR, location, location, location. It would actually be a nice setting if not for the surrounding hood. It's too bad. Same park in a different location would be worth the investment in upgrades.

It's a good thing they weren't ranking the football stadiums... we would be at the bottom.

(05-11-2018 04:24 PM)kevinwmsn Wrote:  It's a good thing they weren't ranking the football stadiums... we would be at the bottom.

We would be ahead of UALR, but behind UTA.

(05-11-2018 08:41 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  Wow.. GSU's field must be pretty bad to be worse than this...

We are going to be building a new one, so meh, who cares.

(05-11-2018 09:32 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  The neighborhood isn't that bad for one that is south of 630. During the day really nothing to worry about. The problem is the really bad neighborhoods aren't far to the east. That said, UALR can't store anything at the stadium they can't afford to replace.

I've heard nothing about Conque's fund-raising for a stadium on the Coleman property since the football study came out.

Jay isn't joking about how the turf once was. There were spots on the artificial turf so worn that there appeared to be nothing left except the base carpet and tears that you could see from the stands. Gary Hogan, the former coach, probably spent more time trying to hustle support than he did recruiting just to get it in some decent shape.

I agree, it is not a "terrible" neighborhood. It is the neighborhood the university is in, for better or worse. I would call it a lower middle class neighborhood. It is not the "hood". There are not crack houses or abandoned houses around the park. I have never felt uncomfortable going there. No it is not in the wealthy suburbs of West Little Rock, but it is no worse than the neighborhoods within 5 miles of downtown that you'll find in most southern cities. Not much different then the neighborhoods you drive through heading to the UNO campus for the Sun Belt tournament.

(05-13-2018 01:03 AM)mjs Wrote:  

(05-11-2018 09:32 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  The neighborhood isn't that bad for one that is south of 630. During the day really nothing to worry about. The problem is the really bad neighborhoods aren't far to the east. That said, UALR can't store anything at the stadium they can't afford to replace.

I've heard nothing about Conque's fund-raising for a stadium on the Coleman property since the football study came out.

Jay isn't joking about how the turf once was. There were spots on the artificial turf so worn that there appeared to be nothing left except the base carpet and tears that you could see from the stands. Gary Hogan, the former coach, probably spent more time trying to hustle support than he did recruiting just to get it in some decent shape.

I agree, it is not a "terrible" neighborhood. It is the neighborhood the university is in, for better or worse. I would call it a lower middle class neighborhood. It is not the "hood". There are not crack houses or abandoned houses around the park. I have never felt uncomfortable going there. No it is not in the wealthy suburbs of West Little Rock, but it is no worse than the neighborhoods within 5 miles of downtown that you'll find in most southern cities. Not much different then the neighborhoods you drive through heading to the UNO campus for the Sun Belt tournament.

I just looked back at the Bird's review. Saying it is in the "worst" neighborhood in Little Rock is a ridiculous. Maybe it is nothing to be proud of, but there are many worse neighborhoods in Little Rock; places I would not go to after dark. Curran Conway Park is not in one of those neighborhoods. It is a "mixed" neighborhood with mostly working class folks and some university employees mixed in (I doubt it is more than about a mile from the actual campus). The area where a new ballpark would be built, is actually in a worse area, although it would be within the confines of the extended campus. UA-Little Rock is not in the best part of town, as most of the wealthy folks have moved further out west. There have been talks of improving the university area to give it more of a college town feel, but I'm not sure how you do that, and it won't happen overnight.

OK, I get it. There are worse places to be in LR. But there's no denying there is gang activity in the area. I've seen the kids wearing their colors. I've heard the gunshots. And, a former assistant coach was robbed leaving his office at the ballpark...in broad daylight.

(05-11-2018 08:41 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  Wow.. GSU's field must be pretty bad to be worse than this...

Worst in America easily


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Agreed, our ballpark is awful. Not remotely close to the worst neighborhood in LR though. Kinda sad to say that, though.

(05-13-2018 09:56 AM)panama Wrote:  

(05-11-2018 08:41 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  Wow.. GSU's field must be pretty bad to be worse than this...

Worst in America easily


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Have you seen UTSA's? https://www.google.com/maps/search/utsa+...a=!3m1!1e3