Billiken Sports Center Explained

Billiken Sports Center
Location:Laclede Avenue east of Grand Boulevard,
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Coordinates:38.6345°N -90.2292°W
Built:1990
Opened:1990
Renovated:1994, 1995, 1999
Owner:Saint Louis University
Operator:Saint Louis University
Surface:Natural grass (1999–present)
Artificial turf (1990–1999)
Scoreboard:Electronic
Cost:USD$1.5 million (estimated)
Architect:Hastings and Chivetta
Main Contractors:Sverdrup Corporation
Capacity:500
Dimensions:Left Field: 330feet
Left Center Field: 370feet
Center Field: 403feet
Right Center Field: 370feet
Right Field: 330feet330 feet (LF)
370 feet (LCF)
403 feet (CF)
370 feet (RCF)
300 feet (RF)
Tenants:Saint Louis Billikens baseball (NCAA D1 A-10) (1992–present)
Saint Louis Billikens softball (NCAA D1 A-10) (2000–present)
Saint Louis Billikens soccer (NCAA D1 A-10) (1990–1994)

The Billiken Sports Center is a baseball venue in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It is home to the Saint Louis Billikens baseball team of the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference.[1] The facility also includes the softball venue used since 2000 by the Billiken softball program.[2] From 1990–1994, the facility was also home to Saint Louis' soccer programs.[3] The baseball facility, built in 1991 and first used in 1992, has a capacity of 500 spectators.

History

Prior to the opening of the Billiken Sports Center, Saint Louis' baseball program played at Sauget Field in Sauget, Illinois. The first baseball game at the current venue was played on March 2, 1992. The Billikens defeated the Division III Washington University Bears 7–3.

The facility underwent several renovations in the 1990s. In 1994, fences in foul territory were improved, and in 1995, the outfield fence was renovated. In 1999, the field's artificial turf surface was replaced with natural grass.

As of the end of the 2009 season, Saint Louis baseball had a 248–205 record at the facility.

Features

In addition to the features added in 1990s renovations, the field also has a brick backstop, brick dugouts, padded outfield fences, bullpens, and batting cages.

Chaifetz Arena is visible beyond the center field wall of the baseball diamond.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Billiken Sports Center - Baseball. SLU Billikens. Saint Louis University Athletic Department. 29 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20111116004608/http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205246203. 16 November 2011. dead.
  2. Web site: The Billiken Sports Center - Softball. SLU Billikens. Saint Louis University Athletic Department. 29 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20111115174056/http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205246285. 15 November 2011. dead.
  3. Web site: Robert R. Hermann Stadium - Men's & Women's Soccer. SLU Billikens. Saint Louis University Athletic Department. 29 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130516135004/http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205246207. 16 May 2013. dead.