Here is the article that @zharkins posted in another thread:
https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2019/05/03/where-should-la-tech-rebuild-baseball-stadium/3638869002/
Feel free to delete if this is some copyright violation...
Louisiana Tech University President Les Guice said he and his team are already considering possible sites on which to rebuild the baseball stadium destroyed by the April 25 tornado that totaled Pat Patterson Park at J.C. Love field.
That includes the possibility of rebuilding on the existing footprint at the corner of Alabama and Tech Drive, but at least two more sites are also being considered.
Tech's softball and soccer facilities were also totaled, but the infrastructure for those fields is considerably less extensive to replace than the baseball stadium.
Louisiana Tech's baseball and softball stadium suffered extensive damage after an early morning tornado passed through Ruston, La. on April 25.
"We're considering all the possibilities," Guice said.
Among those possibilities are the intramural field on Alabama across the street from Joe Aillet Stadium, which is adjacent to the softball and soccer fields, and what's known as the "rugby field" on Tech Drive across the street from the Lambright Intramural Center.
Both of those sites are basically shovel ready.
One consideration may be how quickly the rebuild can begin.
Guice said his goal is to have any new facilities open in time for next spring's seasons. Tech's baseball team is playing its final home series of the year this weekend at the University of Louisiana at Monroe stadium.
"I'm going to challenge our people to achieve that goal," he said.
That would seem less likely at the existing site, where demolition will take weeks. There is also limited parking at the existing site.
"There's an accessibility problem at the existing site," Guice said. "We have to look at all of the impacts and possibilities and make the best decision."
Officials with Louisiana's Office of Risk Management said the baseball stadium's maximum insurance benefit is $2.3 million for a total loss, which is only a fraction of the cost of a new facility.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette spent $16 million to renovate and rebuild its baseball stadium in 2016-17.
Steve Davison, an influential alumnus who spearheaded efforts to raise funds for previous athletic infrastructure enhancements, said the new stadium "should be on par with a top 50 or 60 baseball program and one that could potentially host an NCAA regional."
Davison was a player on some of Tech's all-time best baseball teams during the 1980s.
"We have to look at this as an opportunity to build something we can be proud of that will last another 50 years," he said.
What questions should be asked? What are the pros/cons to moving it? What will go in the current location if it is moved? Could softball and baseball share indoor hitting facility?
https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2019/05/03/where-should-la-tech-rebuild-baseball-stadium/3638869002/
Feel free to delete if this is some copyright violation...
Louisiana Tech University President Les Guice said he and his team are already considering possible sites on which to rebuild the baseball stadium destroyed by the April 25 tornado that totaled Pat Patterson Park at J.C. Love field.
That includes the possibility of rebuilding on the existing footprint at the corner of Alabama and Tech Drive, but at least two more sites are also being considered.
Tech's softball and soccer facilities were also totaled, but the infrastructure for those fields is considerably less extensive to replace than the baseball stadium.
Louisiana Tech's baseball and softball stadium suffered extensive damage after an early morning tornado passed through Ruston, La. on April 25.
"We're considering all the possibilities," Guice said.
Among those possibilities are the intramural field on Alabama across the street from Joe Aillet Stadium, which is adjacent to the softball and soccer fields, and what's known as the "rugby field" on Tech Drive across the street from the Lambright Intramural Center.
Both of those sites are basically shovel ready.
One consideration may be how quickly the rebuild can begin.
Guice said his goal is to have any new facilities open in time for next spring's seasons. Tech's baseball team is playing its final home series of the year this weekend at the University of Louisiana at Monroe stadium.
"I'm going to challenge our people to achieve that goal," he said.
That would seem less likely at the existing site, where demolition will take weeks. There is also limited parking at the existing site.
"There's an accessibility problem at the existing site," Guice said. "We have to look at all of the impacts and possibilities and make the best decision."
Officials with Louisiana's Office of Risk Management said the baseball stadium's maximum insurance benefit is $2.3 million for a total loss, which is only a fraction of the cost of a new facility.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette spent $16 million to renovate and rebuild its baseball stadium in 2016-17.
Steve Davison, an influential alumnus who spearheaded efforts to raise funds for previous athletic infrastructure enhancements, said the new stadium "should be on par with a top 50 or 60 baseball program and one that could potentially host an NCAA regional."
Davison was a player on some of Tech's all-time best baseball teams during the 1980s.
"We have to look at this as an opportunity to build something we can be proud of that will last another 50 years," he said.
What questions should be asked? What are the pros/cons to moving it? What will go in the current location if it is moved? Could softball and baseball share indoor hitting facility?
