Omaha Mavericks baseball-softball complex
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| Location | Omaha, Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Owner | University of Nebraska Omaha |
| Operator | University of Nebraska Omaha |
| Capacity | 1,500 permanent seats Grass berm seating |
| Surface | Artificial turf |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | Spring 2021 |
| Built | 2019-2021 |
| Opened | 2021 |
| Construction cost | $23.5 million for complex |
| General contractor | Kiewit Corporation |
| Tenants | |
| Omaha Mavericks (NCAA) 2021−present | |
| Location | Omaha, Nebraska |
|---|---|
| Owner | University of Nebraska Omaha |
| Operator | University of Nebraska Omaha |
| Capacity | 650 permanent seats Grass berm seating |
| Surface | Artificial turf |
| Construction | |
| Built | 2019-2021 |
| Opened | 2021 |
| Construction cost | $23.5 million for complex |
| General contractor | Kiewit Corporation |
| Tenants | |
| Omaha Mavericks (NCAA) 2021−present | |
The Omaha Mavericks baseball-softball complex is a baseball and softball stadium complex in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. that is home to the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks baseball and softball teams. It consists of Tal Anderson Field, used by the baseball team, and Connie Claussen Field, used by the softball team. Construction on the complex began in 2019, and it broke ground in spring 2021 for the beginning of the 2021 baseball season. The $23.5 million on-campus facility is located near the University of Nebraska Omaha's south campus and Baxter Arena at 67th and Center Streets in central Omaha. The complex provides the first true "home" stadiums for the university's baseball and softball teams. Previously, the baseball team had to play at various fields located around Omaha, including the 1,000-seat J. J. Isaacson Field at Seymour Smith Park at 68th and Harrison Streets in La Vista, Nebraska; the softball team played at a field owned by Westside Community Schools, for which the university paid rent to the school district.
Fundraising and construction[edit]
On May 31, 2019, the University of Nebraska Omaha announced plans to construct an on-campus facility for the university's baseball and softball teams.[1] The construction of Tal Anderson and Connie Claussen Fields was funded entirely by private donations. In October 2019, University of Nebraska system interim president Susan Fritz announced a plan to lease 27 acres of land for $10 a year to a group of donors operating under the Nebraska Philanthropic Trust, a nonprofit organization. The Trust is headed by Sue Morris, the president of Heritage Services, that "has been behind most of the major public projects in Omaha over the past three decades." Even though Heritage Services was not officially a member of the Trust, they had the support of Walter Scott, Jr., Heritage's chairman, a noted Omaha philanthropist, and the former chief executive officer of Kiewit Corporation, an Omaha-based Fortune 500 construction company. Scott's son, W. David Scott, also donated money to the effort, and is the founder of Tetrad Property Group, the developer that provided construction oversight on the project.[2]
The cost for the baseball-softball complex was originally estimated at $22.5 million, but was increased by $1 million after additional amenities were added, such as upgrades to video boards and audiovisual equipment, and covers over the bullpens in the outfield to protect athletes from the rain. In return for leasing the land on which the complex would be built, the University of Nebraska Omaha was relieved of the responsibility of obtaining the money used for design and construction, hiring firms, and managing the process; in return, the donor group would design and construct the complex, and give the finished stadiums back to the university.[3][4][5] An anonymous donor has pledged to provide monetary compensation to cover any possible operating shortfalls for the first five years of the complex's operation, including ticket sales, concessions, and advertising. The complex will provide a revenue-generating opportunity for the university, as previously, there was no charge for admission to baseball or softball games, and concessions were not offered for sale. The university also plans to make the complex available for youth and high school baseball and softball, and as a practice facility for teams coming to Omaha for the annual men's College World Series.[6]
Tal Anderson Field is named for the late Talton K. "Tal" Anderson (1937-2009), a former University of Nebraska Omaha baseball player and philanthropist who earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from UNO in 1984 and was the president of Performance Auto Group, a family-owned organization of car dealerships with several locations in the Omaha metropolitan area.[7][8] Connie Claussen Field is named for Connie Claussen, a former University of Nebraska Omaha athletic director and softball coach and executive. In 1969, Claussen began women's sports at the university after the Omaha Softball Association asked the university's athletic department to field a softball team for the inaugural 1969 Women's College World Series, with Claussen being selected as coach.[9][10][11]
The Omaha Mavericks baseball team played their first game at Tal Anderson Field on Friday, March 5, 2021 versus the Creighton Bluejays, the first game in a sold-out three-game series. The Bluejays defeated the Mavericks, 10-3.[12][13] The 2021 Summit League baseball tournament finals, featuring the top four teams, will be played at Tal Anderson Field beginning on May 26, 2021.[14]
Seating and amenities[edit]
Tal Anderson Field has permanent chair-back seating for 1,500 fans; Connie Claussen Field is smaller, having permanent chair-back seating for 650 fans. There is grass berm seating in the outfields for additional fans. There is a raised concourse extending down the baselines of both fields, and the fields are arranged in such a way that the concourse allows fans to view a baseball and softball game simultaneously.[15] The concourse also features concession stands, restrooms, and a raised press box structure with luxury boxes. The press box and luxury boxes overlook both fields. Underneath the concourse is a tunnel that runs between both fields, as well as a small medical clinic and restrooms for athletes. The complex does not have locker rooms, as athletes will use facilities already operated by the university's athletic department. In order to prevent most rainouts, the playing surfaces are artificial turf instead of natural grass. Tal Anderson Field has a video board that is 34 feet wide by 25 feet high, while Connie Claussen Field has a display that is 26 feet wide by 19 feet high, because of the shorter distance between the seats and the outfield. Fans will use the existing parking lots at Baxter Arena.[16]
References[edit]
- ↑ Hoover, Jack (June 1, 2019). "UNO announces plans for new softball and baseball fields". The Gateway. Omaha. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ↑ Cordes, Henry (August 2, 2020). "In unusual arrangement, donors were in charge of building UNO's new ballfield complex". Omaha World Herald. Omaha. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ↑ Cordes, Henry (August 2, 2020). "In unusual arrangement, donors were in charge of building UNO's new ballfield complex". Omaha World Herald. Omaha. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ↑ Hoover, Jack (June 1, 2019). "UNO announces plans for new softball and baseball fields". The Gateway. Omaha. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ↑ Cordes, Henry (August 2, 2020). "Donors, UNO get the ball rolling at new $23.5 million baseball and softball complex". Omaha World Herald. Omaha. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ↑ Cordes, Henry (August 2, 2020). "Donors, UNO get the ball rolling at new $23.5 million baseball and softball complex". Omaha World Herald. Omaha. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ↑ University of Nebraska Omaha. "Tal Anderson". unomaha.edu. University of Nebraska Omaha. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ↑ University of Nebraska Omaha. "Tal Anderson Field". omavs.com. University of Nebraska Omaha. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ↑ Boone, Tony (June 9, 2019). "Connie Claussen started women's athletics at UNO; now a new stadium fulfills another dream". Omaha World Herald. Omaha. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ↑ University of Nebraska Omaha. "Connie Claussen". omavs.com. University of Nebraska Omaha. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ↑ University of Nebraska Omaha. "Connie Claussen Field". omavs.com. University of Nebraska Omaha. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ↑ "UNO baseball to open new stadium with game against Creighton". Omaha World Herald. Omaha. January 26, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ↑ Nyatawa, Jon (March 5, 2021). "Creighton spoils debut of UNO baseball's new ballpark". Omaha World Herald. Omaha. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ↑ "UNO baseball to open new stadium with game against Creighton". Omaha World Herald. Omaha. January 26, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ↑ Shatel, Tom (March 5, 2021). "Shatel: Welcome home, Mavs. Your $23.5 million baseball-softball complex is a beauty". Omaha World Herald. Omaha. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ↑ Cordes, Henry (August 2, 2020). "Donors, UNO get the ball rolling at new $23.5 million baseball and softball complex". Omaha World Herald. Omaha. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
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