While new seats are being installed, the Pat Kenelly field will be undergoing many changes. Construction workers are working
hard to ensure the changes to the field are completed before the season begins.
The Lion’s Roar / Alex Brainard

The Lions Baseball team, fans and students have some major upgrades to look forward to at the Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni field. 

The Pat Kenelly Diamond has many changes that are coming its way. Upgrades will include new bathrooms that are provided with air conditioning, a new party deck, more seating arrangements, as well as tailgating areas.

“We’re adding on some more benches for seating,” said plumber pipe fitter Anthony Randall. “Once we took the old bleachers out, we cut out all the old concrete, and we’re putting a 30 by 30 party deck. We’re doing a bathroom renovation, updating the bathrooms, making the facilities updated and adding air conditioning. We probably have a month or so until it’s finished.”

New seating arrangements will also include the handicap-accessible area to be broken up into open-air suites along with box seats facing the deck aside the foul line. Development in the upgrades has even included a dedicated area for the popular cooking club.

“College baseball is enjoying more national attention than ever with an increase of games on television,” said Head baseball Coach Matt Riser. “The direct result has been an investment in facilities around the country. We talk about being a national program on the field, but also in the experience we provide. These upgrades can help us do that.”

The Pat Kenelly Diamond is not the only facility to be upgraded. Athletics director Jay Artigues revealed more about what he wanted to change with each facility. 

“We want to make sure we continue to upgrade all of our facilities,” said Artigues. “Last year, we upgraded softball as well as locker rooms and front offices for both the mens and womens’ basketball programs. We’re in the middle of upgrading soccer, and now it’s baseball’s turn. I can’t wait for our fans to see these improvements.”

Fans will also be in for a surprise in the Spring. The Pat Kenelly Diamond’s scoreboard will be upgraded to a video scoreboard, which will include a high-definition screen. The money raised to ensure the baseball facility upgrades all came from private donations and fundraisers through the Lions Athletics Associations. 

“All of this is designed to boost the fan experience,” said Riser. “We have something special here and wanted to keep the uniqueness, all while putting The Pat among the elite facilities in college baseball.”

In this year’s season, the Lions will play 28 of their 54 games in the Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni field. Tickets for this season will be on sale and available to the public in January.

While new seats are being installed, the Pat Kenelly field will be undergoing many changes. Construction workers
are working hard to ensure the changes to the field are completed before the season begins.
The Lion’s Roar / Alex Brainard

While new seats are being installed, the Pat Kenelly field will be undergoing many changes. Construction workers
are working hard to ensure the changes to the field are completed before the season begins.
The Lion’s Roar / Alex Brainard