Condron Ballpark Explained

Condron Family Ballpark
Fullname:Condron Family Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field
Former Names:Florida Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field (2021–2022)
Pushpin Map:Florida#USA
Pushpin Relief:yes
Address:2800 Citrus Road
Location:Gainesville, Florida, 32611
Coordinates:29.6364°N -82.3638°W29° 38′ 10.94″ N
82° 21′ 49.63″ W
Type:Stadium
Genre:Baseball
Broke Ground:February 2019
Built:August 2020
Opened:February 19, 2021
Owner:University of Florida
Operator:University Athletic Association
Surface:Grass
Scoreboard:Daktronics
Cost:$65 million
Architect:Populous, Walker Architects
General Contractor:Brasfield & Gorrie
Seating Type:4,000 chairback
700 club
2,300 berm
Capacity:7,000 (expandable to 10,000)
Record Attendance:8,851 (June 10, 2023)[1]
Dimensions:LF: 330' (100.6m)
LC: 380' (115.8m)
CF: 400' (121.9m)
RC: 380' (115.8m)
RF: 330' (100.6m)
Tenants:Florida Gators baseball (NCAA) 2021–present

Condron Family Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field is the college baseball stadium of the University of Florida, and serves as the home field for the Florida Gators baseball team. Condron Ballpark is located on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, adjacent to the university's softball stadium, Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, and its lacrosse stadium, Dizney Stadium. It replaced the former ballpark, Alfred A. McKethan Stadium at Perry Field, which had been the home of Florida baseball from 1988 through 2020; McKethan Stadium's earlier incarnation, known simply as Perry Field, had been the home field of Gator baseball since 1949.[2] The stadium opened on February 19, 2021, when the Gators hosted Miami in their season opener.[3]

Namesakes

The playing surface is named for Alfred A. McKethan, a University of Florida alumnus and successful Florida banker, businessman, and politician who contributed major donations to the Florida athletic program. McKethan donated the equivalent of $800,000 for the reconstruction and improvement of UF's baseball facilities in the 1980s and 1990s, and the stadium built at Perry Field was named in his honor.[4]

The stadium itself is named for Gary Condron, another UF alumnus and founder of the Conlan Company, one of the nation’s top manufacturers of light-industrial complexes. Condron played baseball for the Gators in the 1970s as a walk-on and has donated at least $30 million for the construction of the Hawkins Academic Center, the renovation of the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, and the construction of the stadium itself. Florida Ballpark was rechristened "Condron Family Ballpark" on April 22, 2022, immediately before Florida hosted a game against Tennessee.[5]

Facilities

The current stadium facility is a concrete and steel structure that seats approximately 7,000 fans, and includes a press box, concession stands, locker rooms for the home and visiting teams, and coaching staff offices. The stadium includes 4,000 chairbacks, 700 club seats, and berm seating for over 2,000 spectators. The design incorporates a 360-degree concourse, shade canopy, and open-air seated grandstand.[6] [7]

The stadium is lighted for night games and features a natural grass and clay playing surface with a synthetic turf backstop.

NCAA Tournament at Condron Ballpark
Regionals 2021, 2022, 2023
Super Regionals 2023

Won by Florida in bold

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Thompson . Edgar . Gators bound for CWS after shutout of South Carolina . June 10, 2023 . . . June 10, 2023 . As a school-record crowd of 8,851 looked on at Condron Ballpark.
  2. News: Alfred A. McKethan Stadium. Florida Gators. September 24, 2020. May 20, 2020. en-US.
  3. News: Zach. Dirlam. Gators Open Florida Ballpark with Electric Win Over Miami. Florida Gators. February 25, 2021. February 19, 2021. en-US.
  4. News: Florida Ballpark's playing surface named Alfred A. McKethan Field . June 11, 2023 . Gatorsports . USA Today . June 8, 2020.
  5. News: Hall . Graham . UF baseball's Florida Ballpark renamed Condron Ballpark in honor of Gary Condron . May 1, 2022 . Gatorsports . USA Today . April 23, 2022.
  6. News: Florida Ballpark. August 6, 2020. Florida Gators. September 24, 2020. en-US.
  7. News: Zach. Dirlam. Florida Ballpark at McKethan Field Nears Completion. August 6, 2020. Florida Gators. September 24, 2020. en-US.