University of Tennessee Athletics
LINDSEY NELSON STADIUM RENOVATIONS
November 09, 2005 | Baseball
The University of Tennessee Athletic Department announced plans for improvements to Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
With the addition of a lead contribution from Robert M. Lindsay, a long time supporter of Tennessee athletics, the UT administration is able to move forward with plans to upgrade the 14-year-old baseball stadium.
"I am honored to be able to support Tennessee baseball," Lindsay said. "Because of my father's influence, the University of Tennessee and UT baseball has always been very special to me."
Lindsay's father, R. M. "Russ" Lindsay, played baseball for the University of Tennessee from 1913-16. In 1915, Russ Lindsay earned All-Southern honors.
Lindsay, a Columbus, Ga., resident and Maryville, Tenn., native, served in the navy during the Korean War and World War II. He also worked for the U.S. State Department before retiring in 1984.
Pending formal approval from the UT Board of Trustees, the baseball field in Lindsey Nelson Stadium will be named in honor of Robert M. Lindsay.
"This is an exciting time for Tennessee baseball," UT men's athletic director Mike Hamilton said. "I am grateful to loyal contributors, like Mr. Lindsay, who show their support and faith in our athletic programs."
Construction on the facility will be completed in two phases. Phase I, which will begin in June once the baseball season is complete, will include a new clubhouse, locker room, weight room, batting cages, coaches offices and additional seating down the first-base line. Phase I will be completed prior to the 2008 baseball season.
Phase II, upon funding approval, will include resurfacing the playing field, a new press box with elevator and additional permanent stands down the third-base line.
"The improvements to Lindsey Nelson Stadium are going to help take UT baseball to the next level in player development, practice capabilities and recruiting," Vols head coach Rod Delmonico said. "I am thankful to our fans, donors, administration and especially Bob Lindsay for keeping Tennessee baseball a priority."
The University of Tennessee athletics department is one of less than 10 departments in the country that receives no funds from state subsidies or taxes.
Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton: "We've had a lot of exciting facility news over the last couple of years, and none is more exciting than what we're ready to announce today.
"Certainly the word has started to get out a little bit, but Lindsey Nelson Stadium is going to be added to this list of facility renovations that we've had over the last couple of years. Thanks to a very generous donation from Bob Lindsay of Columbus, Ga., we will begin construction and move forward on a renovation plan for Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
"Mr. Lindsay has been a longtime donor and friend of our athletic program, and his father, Russ Lindsay, actually played baseball for us from 1913 to 1916. Pending formal approval from the board of trustees, we will seek to have the field named Bob Lindsay Field in honor of Robert M. Lindsay.
"Construction on the facility will be completed in two or three phases, and the first phase will begin June 1 of this year and be completed prior to March 1, 2008, as the intercollegiate baseball season is moving back to the beginning of March starting next season. Phase One will be any entirely new clubhouse down the right field line, featuring a new team room, a new clubhouse, a new dressing room, a new weight facility, a new training room and all-new permanent seats above that extending down the right field line, as well as coaches' offices and new restrooms and concessions. The first phase is slated to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $2.5 million, and then after that we will come back with one or two additional phases where we will replace the field, we will build club seats, extend seating down the left field line and build a new clubhouse and entranceway in addition to brick columns and wrought iron fencing.
"We're excited about the beginning of this project. I know it's one that coach Rod Delmonico has waited a long time for, and the impetus for us to begin is now having this major-league gift from Mr. Lindsay."
Tennessee baseball coach Rod Delmonico: "First of all, I've got to thank Mike Hamilton. When he took over as our athletic director two years ago, he promised me that he would upgrade our facilities. Along with John Currie and Jennifer Wiggins, they've worked extremely hard getting the money raised so that we can accomplish part of our goal and start with Phase One.
"From a recruiting standpoint, if you look back at 1993 when we built the existing facility it was rated No. 14 in the country. Since then, a lot of people have built a lot of facilities and upgraded and built even better facilities. This project when it's completed will give us an opportunity to have a facility that will be in the top-five in the Southeastern Conference and one of the best in the country. No doubt, that will give us a better opportunity to recruit and get better players. I've always felt that facilities helps your recruiting, and recruiting helps your winning.
"We're excited about it. For me, Christmas came early this year. We're very thankful to Bob Lindsay for coming forward with such a great gift to give us an opportunity to start Phase One."
Stadium Improvements
In addition, the $6 million project will include the following improvements to the facility:
- Improve field drainage and maintainability
- Upgrade press box, seating and concourse facilities to meet current codes
- Improve lower level space utilization by eliminating stadium leaks
- Provide improved team facilities and visiting team dressing area
- A metal building with drop-down netting at sides will be added for a batting cage behind the left-field fence
- Develop south and west stadium entrances
