The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(03-27-2019 08:05 AM)BlazerGreen Wrote:  

(03-27-2019 07:57 AM)blazerjay Wrote:  

(03-26-2019 05:29 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(03-26-2019 04:20 PM)CourtsideBlazer Wrote:  One of the problems with baseball crowds is that we don't draw but a couple hundred (at best) for any game at Young Memorial Field on campus but we're good for 1200 or so at Regions Field (and 4000 or so for the Auburn & Bama games). BUT...we have to pay a substantial sum (well upwards of $1k) per game played at RF and we get no concessions revenue. It turns out to be a break-even proposition.

It would seem that the best course for UAB baseball would be to negotiate a better deal for the use of Regions (which has a designated Blazer locker room) and then build a Young Memorial academic building on campus. Having both fields makes as much sense as renting the new BJCC Stadium while also having a smaller OCS.

The Young Memorial site can be used for nothing other than athletic facilities or park land. It sits on a former Birmingham park (Behrens Park) that, as all Birmingham parks were dedicated for that purpose by a vote of the city during the early 20th century. Even though the ownership changed hands, the land use restrictions remain and can only be removed by another city wide vote.

Even if baseball hosted all their games at Regions, they would still need somewhere to practice. So the new football stadium and our football facility is probably more analogous. We have some great facilities on or bordering campus now. Need that basketball practice facility but we've made some big strides in a short time. BBVA Compass field is fantastic.

Agreed. I would work out a deal to play all games at Regions Field and have Young Memorial solely as a practice field. Otherwise, we'll eventually need to spend a few million dollars upgrading YMF if we're going to continue to play there because it's one of the worst facilities in the state & CUSA. But that cash seems like it could be better used elsewhere when Regions Field is so close to campus and far nicer than anything UAB could build.

Upgrading YMF is an upcoming project. ICYDK we are currently fundraising for that project.

We could nit play all our home games at Region if we wanted to. We play all we can now due to scheduling conflicts with the Barons. YMF renovation is a much needed project.

Most of the city has no idea we play baseball in Regions Field. I have told a few guys at work who are baseball fans and they have gone and enjoyed it but had no idea before I said anything. I have also been asked by people at Good People while I was leaving a game what is going on over there.

In what building does the baseball team dress for practices and YF games? The FB team used to dress in Bartow Arena and walk over to the practice fields. There should be locker room facilities built at Young Field if so. Are there plans for a Baseball Operations Bldg?

We are currently raising money for a multi use baseball/softball facility that will have locker rooms and players lounges for both teams. Neither team currently has this so it is much needed! We just redid the field at YMF as far as re-leveling and putting in new grass. New bleachers and dugouts need to be addressed desperately but I think that is the last thing on the list for renovations.

(03-27-2019 05:03 PM)WhatIsThisFeeling Wrote:  We are currently raising money for a multi use baseball/softball facility that will have locker rooms and players lounges for both teams. Neither team currently has this so it is much needed! We just redid the field at YMF as far as re-leveling and putting in new grass. New bleachers and dugouts need to be addressed desperately but I think that is the last thing on the list for renovations.

UAB just celebrated the 9th anniversary of "raising money" for the baseball/softball facility. I'm not sure it is any closer now, than it was in 2010.

(03-27-2019 10:31 AM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  Upgrading YMF is an upcoming project. ICYDK we are currently fundraising for that project.

We could nit play all our home games at Region if we wanted to. We play all we can now due to scheduling conflicts with the Barons. YMF renovation is a much needed project.

UAB baseball schedule only had one common home date as Barons this season. UAB is also playing series at Lawson State and Barons are out of town. Barons don't want UAB at Regions.

Nobody watches college baseball

Tell that to all of the Ole Miss fans who were bitching due to a lack of video stream of a game of ours.

(03-27-2019 11:30 PM)Blazer88 Wrote:  Nobody watches college baseball

Attendance to Alabama and Auburn baseball is better than UAB basketball.

(03-27-2019 11:30 PM)Blazer88 Wrote:  Nobody watches college baseball

That used to be true, but it is not any more. There are a couple of dozen D-I schools who average more than our men's basketball team does in attendance, including at least one in our conference. It is actually a revenue-producer for a few schools.

We drew more people to UAB games the first few years of the program, when we were playing at Rickwood, before the Barons came back to B'ham. We were "Birmingham's team" then. Since the move to campus in '83 (?) attendance has largely been player family members, a few students who want to get a tan, and a handful of die-hards. We draw a little better at Regions Field, especially against in-state opponents.

I attended the Samford game on Tuesday night with a friend that enjoys baseball and attending his first UAB game this season. We spoke about problems UAB encounters with the Barons. There are typical weather delays, poor weather forecasts and obvious bad weather in February and March. It seems like if a drop of rain falls or if game times are adjusted, the game is relocated to Young Field.
I find this disturbing with the Barons staff.
My friend had an idea that might help UAB baseball. Why not play all home games at the Hoover Met. They host multiple games on the same day and don't seem to have a problem with overuse of the field. Maybe UAB baseball could find a niche in the suburbs?
I think Regions Park is the best place for the players. The program could flourish with promotions just like the Barons. But there has got to be a better option than Young Park once the Barons start in April. I prefer college baseball over AA minor league games too. If every UAB game was Thirty Thursday promotion, games might be well attended.
Maybe Hoover might be the best option and play all home games there.

(03-28-2019 02:59 PM)bigdunks Wrote:  I attended the Samford game on Tuesday night with a friend that enjoys baseball and attending his first UAB game this season. We spoke about problems UAB encounters with the Barons. There are typical weather delays, poor weather forecasts and obvious bad weather in February and March. It seems like if a drop of rain falls or if game times are adjusted, the game is relocated to Young Field.
I find this disturbing with the Barons staff.
My friend had an idea that might help UAB baseball. Why not play all home games at the Hoover Met. They host multiple games on the same day and don't seem to have a problem with overuse of the field. Maybe UAB baseball could find a niche in the suburbs?
I think Regions Park is the best place for the players. The program could flourish with promotions just like the Barons. But there has got to be a better option than Young Park once the Barons start in April. I prefer college baseball over AA minor league games too. If every UAB game was Thirty Thursday promotion, games might be well attended.
Maybe Hoover might be the best option and play all home games there.

Count me out of going to Hoover. Regions Park is conveniently located to campus, is a great venue and close to many eateries, etc.

(03-28-2019 04:08 PM)BlazrDawg Wrote:  

(03-28-2019 02:59 PM)bigdunks Wrote:  I attended the Samford game on Tuesday night with a friend that enjoys baseball and attending his first UAB game this season. We spoke about problems UAB encounters with the Barons. There are typical weather delays, poor weather forecasts and obvious bad weather in February and March. It seems like if a drop of rain falls or if game times are adjusted, the game is relocated to Young Field.
I find this disturbing with the Barons staff.
My friend had an idea that might help UAB baseball. Why not play all home games at the Hoover Met. They host multiple games on the same day and don't seem to have a problem with overuse of the field. Maybe UAB baseball could find a niche in the suburbs?
I think Regions Park is the best place for the players. The program could flourish with promotions just like the Barons. But there has got to be a better option than Young Park once the Barons start in April. I prefer college baseball over AA minor league games too. If every UAB game was Thirty Thursday promotion, games might be well attended.
Maybe Hoover might be the best option and play all home games there.

Count me out of going to Hoover. Regions Park is conveniently located to campus, is a great venue and close to many eateries, etc.

I agree with Regions. But UAB is not playing there enough and the Barons staff is not making UAB welcome. So I guess we should be happy playing at Young especially during the conference season? You completely missed the point.

Blazers have lost the first two games of the series this weekend vs. Louisiana Tech. Pitching is hurting. We are 12-16 on the season, 1-7 in CUSA.

We need to get some things turned around soon, or we're heading for the league cellar.

Barring post season play, the college regular season and Baron early season play could probably be scheduled around each other - if the desire is there on both sides. What is the date of the last Blazer regular season game compared to the Baron's season schedule? A little willingness to work together can eliminate a lot of the conflicts over a few home games.

I have it on good authority that this will be most likely be Shoop's last season

Do we know for a fact that the Barons are stopping us from playing more games at RF?

The Barons are the primary tenant and they are a professional team. They SHOULD have the right to exclude other teams, including UAB, from using their field, as overuse of the field can degrade their on-field product.

It all depends on what the rental agreement says and I don't have a copy of it to review. I noticed others blaming the Barons for UAB's limited access to RF and I am curious whether or not anyone actually knows this is true or if it is just speculation.

Pro and college teams in the area have shown us all that baseball can draw a large crowd with nice facilities. If UAB can't play more games at RF they really should try to get a nicer stadium. YMF is unacceptable.