Lupton Stadium Explained

Stadium Name:Lupton Baseball Stadium & Williams-Riley Field
Nickname:Lupton Stadium
Location:3700 Berry St. Fort Worth, TX
Broke Ground:October 18, 2001
Opened:February 2, 2003
Renovated:2014, 2016
Expanded:2010
Owner:Texas Christian University
Operator:Texas Christian University
Surface:Bermuda TIFF 419
Construction Cost:Original: $7 million[1]
2010 expansion: $1 million
2015 addition: $2.5 million
2016 addition: $8 million
Architect:Leo A. Daly Architects
Main Contractors:Austin Commercial
Tenants:TCU Horned Frogs baseball (NCAA) (2003–Present)
Seating Capacity:9,500
Dimensions:Left Field - 330ft (100m)
Left-Center Field - 389ft (118m)
Center Field - 400ft (122m)
Right-Center Field - 382ft (116m)
Right Field - 330ft (100m)

Charlie and Marie Lupton Baseball Stadium and Williams-Reilly Field is a baseball stadium located on the campus of Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas. It has been the home field of the TCU Horned Frogs baseball team since its opening on February 2, 2003.

History

Lupton Stadium, the home of TCU Horned Frogs baseball, opened in 2003 and replaced the TCU Diamond, the Horned Frogs' home from 1962 to 2002.[2] The TCU Diamond was adjacent to Amon G. Carter Stadium and Schollmaier Arena, where the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility is now located.

The playing surface features the latest technology in field maintenance, including a Bermuda TIFF 419 surface. The dugouts are heated with Major League Baseball-style bat and helmet racks while a spacious home-and-visitor bullpen areas are located outside the field of play. The original $7 million stadium is a two-tiered complex with three suites, offices, two radio booths, press box, ticket office, home and visiting team locker rooms, and general player and fan facilities.

2009–10 Seating Expansion

In 2010, a $1 million project expanded upper-deck seating to bring the total capacity to 9,000 and added an auxiliary scoreboard along the first base line. Later, partially shaded party patios were constructed in the right field corner; these patios can be reserved by fans who may bring in food and beverages, including beer and wine, to the patios.

2014–15 Player Development Center Addition

Additions and renovations in 2014 and 2015 totaled $2.5 million and added the G. Malcolm Louden Player Development Center for Baseball, a 9,000 square-foot indoor/outdoor practice facility. The renovation added indoor batting cages and a field turf outdoor practice space, and moved the home bullpen to beyond the left-center field fence.[3]

2015–16 Player, Coach & Alumni Facilities Additions

An $8 million construction and renovation project in 2015–16 added a new player facility on the third base line to house a new home team locker room, team lounge, sports medicine center, equipment room, team classroom, coaches' offices and an alumni locker room; this project also included the addition of a new 40' x 23' video scoreboard in left-center field and the installation of new outfield fences and a general-admission grass berm beyond the right field wall (photo gallery).[4]

Future Renovations

An additional phase of stadium renovations is planned to renovate in-stadium fan amenities, including widening the stadium concourses, renovating suites, constructing new restrooms and concessions and renovating the main entrance.[5]

TCU Baseball Attendance

Annual total and average attendance at Lupton Stadium attendance has steadily increased since the venue opened in 2003, from approximately 1,500 fans per game to over 4,000 fans per game. The increase in attendance has coincided with the Horned Frogs’ 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016 College World Series appearances and the 2010 Lupton Stadium seating expansion.

Total and average attendance at Lupton Stadium has ranked in the top 15 for NCAA home games since TCU's 2011 season. In 2015, TCU and Lupton ranked 8th nationally in total attendance, 10th national in average attendance, and led all private schools in the nation in total and average attendance.

Year Home
Games
Total
Attendance
Natl. Rank
by Total
Private School
Rank by Total
Average
Attendance
Natl. Rank
by Average
Private School
Rank by Average
2003[6] 28 38,581 34 7 1,378 34 9
2004[7] 28 34,657 44 9 1,238 44 9
2005[8] 30 46,848 35 9 1,562 33 7
2006[9] 26 40,158 43 11 1,545 38 8
2007[10] 29 51,373 37 9 1,771 35 7
2008[11] 33 63,959 26 6 1,938 29 6
2009[12] 32 71,054 26 5 2,220 27 4
2010[13] 29 90,687 22 4 3,127 19 2
2011[14] 36 149,333 11 1 4,148 10 2
2012[15] 32 131,610 11 1 4,112 11 2
2013[16] 30 107,117 13 2 3,570 11 2
2014[17] 34 121,957 12 1 3,587 13 1
2015[18] 36 147,335 8 1 4,092 10 1
2016[19] 31 132,796 13 1 4,284 11 1

The record attendance of 8,994 was set in 2023 when TCU hosted Indiana State in a 3-game NCAA Super Regional, with each game's total attendance exceeding 8,000.[20]

Other Events

In addition to serving as the home of TCU Horned Frogs baseball, Lupton Stadium hosts Jim Schlossnagle's baseball camps and other special events for high school and club teams annually. The venue has also hosted the following Mountain West Conference tournaments, NCAA Regional tournaments and NCAA Super Regional tournaments:

See also

References

  1. http://www.magazine.tcu.edu/articles/2001-04-RR3.asp TCU Magazine
  2. TCU 2006 Baseball Media Guide, p. 99
  3. News: New indoor baseball facility opens in time for 2015 season. TCU 360. Fort Worth, TX. January 26, 2015. January 26, 2015. Abigaile Massey.
  4. Web site: TCU baseball opens door for new locker room to cheers. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Carlos. Mendez. February 10, 2016. February 12, 2016.
  5. News: TCU commits to major facility upgrade in baseball. Star Telegram. Fort Worth, TX. September 20, 2013. September 21, 2013. Stefan Stevenson.
  6. Web site: 2003 Baseball Home Attendance Leaders. NCAA. December 30, 2015.
  7. Web site: 2004 Baseball Home Attendance Leaders. NCAA. December 30, 2015.
  8. Web site: 2005 Baseball Home Attendance Leaders. NCAA. December 30, 2015.
  9. Web site: 2006 Baseball Home Attendance Leaders. NCAA. December 30, 2015.
  10. Web site: 2007 Baseball Home Attendance Leaders. NCAA. December 30, 2015.
  11. Web site: 2008 Baseball Home Attendance Leaders. NCAA. December 30, 2015.
  12. Web site: 2009 Baseball Home Attendance Leaders. NCAA. December 30, 2015.
  13. Web site: 2010 Division I Baseball Attendance. National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association. June 15, 2010. December 30, 2015.
  14. Web site: 2011 Division I Baseball Attendance. National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association. June 14, 2011. December 30, 2015.
  15. Web site: 2012 Division I Baseball Attendance. National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association. June 12, 2012. December 30, 2015.
  16. Web site: 2013 Division I Baseball Attendance . National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association . June 11, 2013 . December 30, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140728065411/http://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/news/2013/attendance130611.pdf . July 28, 2014 .
  17. Web site: 2014 Baseball Home Attendance Leaders. NCAA. December 30, 2015.
  18. Web site: 2015 Division I Baseball Attendance. National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association. June 9, 2015. December 30, 2015.
  19. Web site: 2016 Baseball Home Attendance Leaders. NCAA. December 30, 2016.
  20. Web site: TCU wins Super Regional opener against Indiana State. Fort Worth Star-Telegramn. June 9, 2023. June 9, 2023.

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