 "Photo: Annie Snodgrass")
It's about time.
For years, the Texas baseball team sat idly by while the football and basketball teams garnered palatial facilities. Meanwhile, two recent national championship baseball teams - in 2002 and 2005 - called dilapidated Disch-Falk Field home.
Now the Texas athletic department plans to upgrade Disch-Falk to a world-class college baseball facility.
"It's still a great stadium, but it's not Texas-class," Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds said.
The new Disch will have 1,400 additional seats, a redone façade, a new sound system, a remodeled concourse with improved concession stands, better restrooms and a team store. For fans with a taste for the finer things, club seats will be available and possibly suites. Construction will begin at the end of the 2006 season and be completed by the end of the 2008 season. Ticket prices will remain the same, at least for the next two years, Dodds said.
"[The stadium's condition] has had more of a negative effect on fans," Texas baseball coach Augie Garrido said. "It's not had a negative effect on players' opportunity."
An architect will be chosen within the next two weeks, and a contractor during the next two months, Dodds said. Both Dodds and Garrido will work with the architect on the design of the new Disch. Dodds hopes to see the renovations echo the "Texas look" of the rest of the campus.
"I would like it to represent UT," Dodds said. "[From] the color of the building, red tile roofs, trees."
Dodds and Garrido are unwilling to speculate on the possible look of the stadium until they consult with the architect, but both are adamant about honoring great players and coaches of the past. Garrido wants to recognize "the heroics of past players," and Dodds envisions honoring all the past Longhorn head coaches.
Garrido will work closely with the architect in the design, especially that of the player training facilities. Although he insists the current state of Disch-Falk will enable his team to reach "their full potential," he is eager for certain amenities.
"I'm looking forward to updating computer systems and video areas," Garrido said. "So much can be done in terms of player development with today's technology, such as analyzing hitting strokes."
Disch-Falk Field opened on Feb. 12, 1975, replacing Clark Field. That year the Longhorns won the national championship, thanks to stellar pitching by All-Americans Keith Moreland and Jim Gideon. The AstroTurf was installed in 1985 and was replaced in 1999. The synthetic field material has fallen out of style in recent years, though Dodds said there are no plans to replace the turf.
"Whether or not we change to real grass depends on the architect," Dodds said. "When we do [switch], we will need to install another AstroTurf field for practice and clinic."
The main impetus for the renovations was the Longhorns' on-field success. They have made four consecutive trips to the College World Series and advanced to the final three times.
"What coach Garrido has done, what these players have done, enables us to be standing here today," Dodds said.
Disch-Falk's upgrade comes after recent renovations to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and the Frank Erwin Center.
"[When it comes to construction plans] football is first, basketball is second and baseball is third," Dodds said. "So, now it's their turn."
Be the first to comment on this article!