Florida Ballpark facts for kids
The Florida Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field is a cool college baseball stadium. It's where the University of Florida's baseball team, the Florida Gators, plays their home games. You can find it right on the university's campus in Gainesville, Florida. It's super close to other sports stadiums, like the one for softball and the one for lacrosse.
This modern ballpark opened its doors on February 19, 2021. The very first game played there was between the Florida Gators and the Miami Hurricanes. Before this stadium, the Gators played at the old Alfred A. McKethan Stadium, which had been their home from 1988 to 2020.
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| Full name | Florida Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field |
|---|---|
| Address | 2800 Citrus Road |
| Location | Gainesville, Florida, 32611 |
| Coordinates | 29° 38′ 10.94″ N 82° 21′ 49.63″ W |
| Owner | University of Florida |
| Operator | University Athletic Association |
| Type | Stadium |
| Genre(s) | Baseball |
| Seating type | 4,000 chairback 700 club 2,300 berm |
| Capacity | 7,000 (expandable to 10,000) |
| Field size | LF: 330' (100.6m) LC: 380' (115.8m) CF: 400' (121.9m) RC: 380' (115.8m) RF: 330' (100.6m) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Scoreboard | Daktronics |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 2019 |
| Built | August 2020 |
| Opened | February 19, 2021 |
| Construction cost | $65 million |
| Tenants | |
| Florida Gators baseball (NCAA) 2021– | |
Contents
Who is Alfred A. McKethan?
The baseball field itself is named after Alfred A. McKethan. He was a very successful businessman and politician from Florida. He also went to the University of Florida as a student.
Mr. McKethan gave a lot of money to the university's sports programs. In the 1980s and 1990s, he donated about $800,000 (which would be worth even more today!) to help build and improve the baseball facilities. Because of his generous help, the stadium built before this one was named in his honor.
What's Inside the Ballpark?
The Florida Ballpark is built with strong concrete and steel. It can hold about 7,000 baseball fans! There are different types of seats for everyone.
Seating Options
- Chairback seats: There are 4,000 comfortable seats with backs, just like in a movie theater.
- Club seats: About 700 special club seats offer a premium experience.
- Berm seating: Over 2,000 fans can relax on grassy hills, often called "berms," which are perfect for families or groups.
Cool Features for Fans
The stadium has a cool design that lets fans walk all the way around the field. This is called a "360-degree concourse." It means you can grab a snack from the concession stands (places that sell food and drinks) and still watch the game from different angles. There's also a big shade canopy to keep fans cool on sunny days, and an open-air grandstand.
The Playing Field
The baseball field has natural grass and clay, which is typical for a baseball diamond. The area right behind home plate, called the backstop, uses a special "synthetic turf." This is a type of artificial grass that is very durable. The stadium also has bright lights, so games can be played at night.
Images for kids
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View of the grandstands from the outfield
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Panorama from the 1st base line
