Last I heard is that the studies came back this past week. Initial tests indicated that the land is clear (it is going behind the softball field). The delay is that Marshall doesn't own that property and it has to be approved by the legislature. Designs then have to be finalized and approved for the new location and the contract has to be posted for bids.

As it stands now, it is two years away if things happen quickly. This is what I have heard.

(03-24-2022 09:55 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Last I heard is that the studies came back this past week. Initial tests indicated that the land is clear (it is going behind the softball field). The delay is that Marshall doesn't own that property and it has to be approved by the legislature. Designs then have to be finalized and approved for the new location and the contract has to be posted for bids.

As it stands now, it is two years away if things happen quickly. This is what I have heard.

I thought they already started demolishing ACF. I've seen photos somewhere online.

(03-24-2022 11:41 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-24-2022 09:55 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Last I heard is that the studies came back this past week. Initial tests indicated that the land is clear (it is going behind the softball field). The delay is that Marshall doesn't own that property and it has to be approved by the legislature. Designs then have to be finalized and approved for the new location and the contract has to be posted for bids.

As it stands now, it is two years away if things happen quickly. This is what I have heard.

I thought they already started demolishing ACF. I've seen photos somewhere online.

They did but that was being done anyway. The only place I know for certain is that it WAS going to be between 5th and 3rd down from the IPF. I haven't seen a set location since then once they figured out the cost was too high in the other spot. This shouldn't cost much more than the soccer field with more seating. I don't see how it becomes 10s of millions. If they spend that much I hope it's because it's got some extra features and not because they get ripped off.

Good, I hope it gets done, sooner than later. Me and my family enjoy watching baseball and we got to Charleston for a few games a year. Will likely start going to Marshall games instead and probably increase the number of times we go. I get the arguments against it with the issues with the sport and the like but for selfish reasons I hope they do it, do it right, and do it soon.

The new AD met with the same firm that has done a few projects at EMU and Pitt while he was at both places. This was done like 2 days into him being on the job. He says there are many locations that are candidate sites but a few are really impractical. One site would require a water main be moved and another would require 2 access roads be moved.

With the right firm and all he sad he thinks a competitive stadium the same at Rice, USM and ECU with the capability to one day host a regional can be done for 14-18 million dollars.

I really like Pete Taylor Park, USMs stadium, a scaled back version could be the starting point for the Herd



USM Pete Taylor Park Tour, Capacity 4300



ECU Clark-LeClair Stadium, Capacity 5000



Rice Reckling Park, Capacity 7000

Any of these scaled back a lil would be amazing in Huntington.

(03-25-2022 06:27 AM)MUther Wrote:  This shouldn't cost much more than the soccer field with more seating.

It will coast a little more than Hoops Family Field which was 8.2 million dollars. We all know what you get when you don't pay but the bare min. Its what the last expansion looks like at JCE stadium. As previosly in my post the new AD thinks a competitive stadium can be done for 14-18 million. The baseball program deserves to have their own stadium, its been an embarrassment the whole time Ive been alive. How many DI programs don't have their own stadiums. There are some in large metro areas that share a minor league park but there are none that I know of that have been homeless for the last 50 some odd years.

(03-25-2022 10:40 AM)HerdZoned Wrote:  The new AD met with the same firm that has done a few projects at EMU and Pitt while he was at both places. This was done like 2 days into him being on the job. He says there are many locations that are candidate sites but a few are really impractical. One site would require a water main be moved and another would require 2 access roads be moved.

With the right firm and all he sad he thinks a competitive stadium the same at Rice, USM and ECU with the capability to one day host a regional can be done for 14-18 million dollars.

I really like Pete Taylor Park, USMs stadium, a scaled back version could be the starting point for the Herd



USM Pete Taylor Park Tour, Capacity 4300



ECU Clark-LeClair Stadium, Capacity 5000



Rice Reckling Park, Capacity 7000

Any of these scaled back a lil would be amazing in Huntington.

This is probably a terrible idea and it would be off campus... Marshall should just buy Rotary Park and build up there, plus they'd have plenty of room to grow. Plus we could come close to getting the natural vibe that Appy State has with their stadium.

Rotary Park Satellite Map

(03-25-2022 10:47 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  This is probably a terrible idea and it would be off campus... Marshall should just buy Rotary Park and build up there, plus they'd have plenty of room to grow. Plus we could come close to getting the natural vibe that Appy State has with their stadium.

Rotary Park Satellite Map

Yes, I agree that is a terrible idea. In the 1990s, Marshall baseball played at University Heights not to far from Rotary, and no one attended games. And don't worry about recreating the look of App State's park in that fall picture... college baseball is played in winter and early spring, so their actual games will never look like that picture.

On campus is the only way to go with this.

(03-25-2022 10:47 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  This is probably a terrible idea and it would be off campus... Marshall should just buy Rotary Park and build up there, plus they'd have plenty of room to grow. Plus we could come close to getting the natural vibe that Appy State has with their stadium.

I want something visible the people of Huntington can get behind. I don't want it on some off road on route 60 people can't see. If we would ever get to the point of winning anywhere between 28-35 games a year, those 2-3K you see at Hoops Family Field will gravitate to the baseball stadium, if not more. Those who go to soccer games on big nights I doubt half of them know what the rules are or the play behind soccer, they would baseball.

It doesn't matter who the AD talks to. Marshall is bound to award the job to the lowest bidder and to be able to go to another is next to an act of congress. It's going to be behind the softball field most likely. And from what I understand, it is going to have some really nice amenities.

(03-24-2022 09:55 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Last I heard is that the studies came back this past week. Initial tests indicated that the land is clear (it is going behind the softball field). The delay is that Marshall doesn't own that property and it has to be approved by the legislature. Designs then have to be finalized and approved for the new location and the contract has to be posted for bids.

As it stands now, it is two years away if things happen quickly. This is what I have heard.

This is really good info, thanks for sharing. The baseball stadium definitely needs to be checked off the list.

I think something like a scaled down version of Florida's new stadium would be perfect. There should be a good amount of seating behind home plate with adequate grass seating down the lines. This would work for regular game and for big crowds.

Must Haves

1. Adequate seating for larger crowds
2. Berm down the line for extra seating if needed and for great gameday atmosphere
2. Some sort of party deck style section
3. Box Seating
4. On site Locker Rooms/Offices (I figure this is a given, but who knows)

I also still like the idea of incorporating the railway that runs the length of the outfield in original drafts of the site behind the softball stadium. Place the MU train engine and blow a horn after every HR. Something that is very engaging to fans.

(03-28-2022 07:22 AM)Surbadger Wrote:  I think something like a scaled down version of Florida's new stadium would be perfect. There should be a good amount of seating behind home plate with adequate grass seating down the lines. This would work for regular game and for big crowds.

Must Haves

1. Adequate seating for larger crowds
2. Berm down the line for extra seating if needed and for great gameday atmosphere
2. Some sort of part deck style section
3. Box Seating
4. On site Locker Rooms/Offices (I figure this is a given, but who knows)

I also still like the idea of incorporating the railway that runs the length of the outfield in original drafts of the site behind the softball stadium. Place the MU train engine and blow a horn after every HR. Something that is very engaging to fans.

Like Brewster's Millions, just have the train drive through the stadium. We could send it through for a seventh inning stretch kind of thing, lol. Hopefully it has lights and they order double to light up the Dot, too. LEDs are so cost effective it's a no-brainer, plus little to no warmup time.

(03-28-2022 02:53 PM)MUther Wrote:  

(03-28-2022 07:22 AM)Surbadger Wrote:  I think something like a scaled down version of Florida's new stadium would be perfect. There should be a good amount of seating behind home plate with adequate grass seating down the lines. This would work for regular game and for big crowds.

Must Haves

1. Adequate seating for larger crowds
2. Berm down the line for extra seating if needed and for great gameday atmosphere
2. Some sort of part deck style section
3. Box Seating
4. On site Locker Rooms/Offices (I figure this is a given, but who knows)

I also still like the idea of incorporating the railway that runs the length of the outfield in original drafts of the site behind the softball stadium. Place the MU train engine and blow a horn after every HR. Something that is very engaging to fans.

Like Brewster's Millions, just have the train drive through the stadium. We could send it through for a seventh inning stretch kind of thing, lol. Hopefully it has lights and they order double to light up the Dot, too. LEDs are so cost effective it's a no-brainer, plus little to no warmup time.

LED Lighting is so much cheaper now than it was just a few years ago. They are installing it regularly on high school fields now. There is no reason Marshall cannot install them on the baseball and softball fields while also using them to upgrade the Joan as well.

Any new updates for the Baseball stadium?

(05-06-2022 01:47 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  Any new updates for the Baseball stadium?

Haven't heard anything, but I haven't been to my watering hole in a while.

I was listening to the Thundercast the other day and they discussed the new location to the stadium and the advantages to placing it behind the Dot.

They could build a very nice combination training facility for the two sports.

I wonder if they still have a hotel/convention center in the plans like they did when they first talked about regentrifying the area?

(05-06-2022 01:47 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  Any new updates for the Baseball stadium?

Apparently the Huntington City Council approved 8 million in funding to Marshall or construction of the baseball stadium.

Things are finally happening.

(05-10-2022 09:31 AM)Surbadger Wrote:  

(05-06-2022 01:47 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  Any new updates for the Baseball stadium?

Apparently the Huntington City Council approved 8 million in funding to Marshall or construction of the baseball stadium.

Things are finally happening.

Cool, is this a joint venture with Marshall and Huntington? I remember years ago it was proposed to build a large baseball stadium that Marshall and a Minor League affiliate would share. Funding would be made by local companies leasing out office space in second floor offices built into the stadium. HIMG was to be the primary renter. After it was shot down, HIMG promptly moved from Downtown to the old Walmart / East Drive-In location or Rt. 60.

(05-10-2022 02:30 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 09:31 AM)Surbadger Wrote:  

(05-06-2022 01:47 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  Any new updates for the Baseball stadium?

Apparently the Huntington City Council approved 8 million in funding to Marshall or construction of the baseball stadium.

Things are finally happening.

Cool, is this a joint venture with Marshall and Huntington? I remember years ago it was proposed to build a large baseball stadium that Marshall and a Minor League affiliate would share. Funding would be made by local companies leasing out office space in second floor offices built into the stadium. HIMG was to be the primary renter. After it was shot down, HIMG promptly moved from Downtown to the old Walmart / East Drive-In location or Rt. 60.

I don't know if this is part of the original money promised or new. From what I hear, they should have about $15-20 mill in funding so far for the project. I could be wrong on that, but I would play it smart and use a design that can be expanded on later. We don't need the biggest facility. A smaller but nice facility is fine, and we can expand on that later on if need be. That seems to be what we did with the Soccer Stadium. I think we will see the Vet expanded in the future.

(05-12-2022 07:56 AM)Surbadger Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 02:30 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(05-10-2022 09:31 AM)Surbadger Wrote:  

(05-06-2022 01:47 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  Any new updates for the Baseball stadium?

Apparently the Huntington City Council approved 8 million in funding to Marshall or construction of the baseball stadium.

Things are finally happening.

Cool, is this a joint venture with Marshall and Huntington? I remember years ago it was proposed to build a large baseball stadium that Marshall and a Minor League affiliate would share. Funding would be made by local companies leasing out office space in second floor offices built into the stadium. HIMG was to be the primary renter. After it was shot down, HIMG promptly moved from Downtown to the old Walmart / East Drive-In location or Rt. 60.

I don't know if this is part of the original money promised or new. From what I hear, they should have about $15-20 mill in funding so far for the project. I could be wrong on that, but I would play it smart and use a design that can be expanded on later. We don't need the biggest facility. A smaller but nice facility is fine, and we can expand on that later on if need be. That seems to be what we did with the Soccer Stadium. I think we will see the Vet expanded in the future.

Something like Coastal Carolina's Spring Brook Stadium with maybe less seating. The cost for the stadium was $15 mill in 2011. I like the idea of the berm down both lines too that can be used for seating if need be.