(Story courtesy of Texas Lutheran University)
SEGUIN, Texas - Texas Lutheran University will
embark on a major athletics facilities building program that will
include an on-campus football and track & field stadium, a new
softball stadium and improvements to the current baseball field,
TLU President Dr. Stuart Dorsey announced today.
"Later this month, at Homecoming, TLU will break ground on the
first phase of an athletic facilities complex: improved facilities
for baseball, a new softball stadium, state of the art surfaces for
track and field, and a football stadium," said Dorsey. "Our
construction schedule calls for the new softball stadium and
related facilities, including lights for Katt-Isbel baseball field
to be ready this spring – in time for the 2014 softball and
baseball seasons. The football and track & field stadium will
be ready next fall."
"Now, the final details will be set in the coming weeks. But we
know that the new complex will be a major leap forward for the
experience of our student-athletes, and for all of our students by
bringing more activity to campus and improving our intramural
sports program."
TLU's announcement means that for the first time since the
mid-1930s TLU will play football on campus. The TLU Women's Track
& Field Team, winners of three NCAA Division III individual
titles since 2007, for the first time will have an on-campus track
and field complex to call home.
The current Morck Softball Field will be moved from its current
location to make way for the new football and track and field
stadium. The new softball stadium, complete with lights, batting
cage and a press box, will be positioned between football's Marvin
Rinn Field House and the baseball stadium, Katt-Isbel Field.
Katt-Isbel Field will receive lights for the first time in its
history. A 2,000 square-feet structure for concessions, restrooms,
tickets and storage will be constructed between the baseball and
softball fields.
The softball and baseball components, including the
concessions/restrooms building, are scheduled for completion around
Feb. 1, 2014. The football and track and field stadium will be
completed in August 2014. The architectural firm for the project is
Pfluger Lammers, and the general contractor is BCK - a partnership
of Bartlett Cocke and The Koehler Company.
"The main stadium will feature an all synthetic turf for football
and an NCAA compliant 400-meter track," said Dorsey. "Initially, it
will provide seating for 2,000, and is expandable through leasing
bleachers. It will be not only a great venue for our Bulldog teams
to practice and compete on, but will allow us to host occasional
high school football games, track meets, marching band contests,
and other events that will bring visitors to campus."
"Importantly, it establishes a campus home for both of those
programs. Right now we have a nationally competitive women's track
and field team that has to travel around the region. Imagine how
successful they will be with an outstanding facility right here on
campus. It also allows TLU to launch a men's track and field
program, which I believe holds great potential. Lights for these
facilities also will allow flexibility in game and practice times
and intramurals."
Dorsey made the athletics facilities announcement alongside TLU
Board of Regents Chair Robin Melvin and in front of a large crowd
in the TLU Alumni Student Center Graf Lounge.
TLU and NAIA Hall of Famer Mike Washington, the quarterback of
TLU's two NAIA-II National Championship teams, and three of his
former teammates Bill
Miller, D.W. Rutledge and Charles Franks joined Dorsey
and Melvin on stage for the announcement. Miller, a TLU Hall of
Famer and former defensive back for the Bulldogs, is TLU's director
of athletics. Rutledge, the four-time state-championship winning
coach at Converse Judson and current executive director of the
Texas High School Coaches Association, played linebacker for the
Bulldogs. Franks, a current member of the TLU Board of Regents,
played fullback for the Bulldogs.
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TLU Athletics Facilities Improvements
Football/Track Stadium
- NCAA-compliant 8-lane, 400 meter running track and field event
facilities
- Synthetic surface football field
- 500-seat East Grandstand with 450 sf pressbox
- Stadium Lights
- Concrete flatwork to support temporary bleachers and pressbox on
west side (anticipate 1,500 seats on west side)
Softball Stadium
- Synthetic Surface Softball Field (infield and outfield)
- Stadium Lights
- Batting Cage
- Concrete Flatwork to support bleachers (existing softball field
bleachers to be moved to new site) and pressbox
Katt-Isbel Baseball Field
- Install Lights
Other
- 2.000 sf Concessions/Restroom/Ticket/ Storage Building located
between baseball and softball fields
- Entry Plaza/Gate leading to Concessions /Restroom/Ticket/Storage
Building
- Lighted pedestrian pathways to all stadiums
- Sitework (drainage, utilities, electrical, communications, etc.)
designed and constructed for eventual project build-out
