Gary Hogan Field facts for kids
Gary Hogan Field is a cool baseball stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. It's the home field for the Little Rock Trojans college baseball team. They play in the NCAA Division I Sun Belt Conference. Another team, the Arkansas Baptist College Buffaloes, also plays here. This field used to be called Curran Conway Field. It can hold up to 2,550 fans!
| Former names | Curran Conway Field |
|---|---|
| Location | 2501 South Harrison Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 34°43′45″N 92°19′50″W / 34.729062°N 92.330432°W |
| Owner | University of Arkansas at Little Rock |
| Capacity | 2,550 (550 seated) |
| Surface | Polyurethane turf (Infield), Natural grass (outfield) |
| Scoreboard | Yes |
| Construction | |
| Renovated | 1986, 1988, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2012 |
| Expanded | 2004 |
| Tenants | |
| Little Rock Trojans (NCAA) (1978–present) Arkansas Baptist College Buffaloes (NJCAA) (2009–present) |
|
Contents
History of Gary Hogan Field
When the Little Rock Trojans started playing here in 1978, the field wasn't in great shape. Because of this, the team had to play some of their home games at other fields in Little Rock during the early 1980s.
Things changed when Coach Gary Hogan arrived in 1986. He said the field was like "a rock pit and dust bowl." Coach Hogan worked hard to get donations from former students and the community. These donations helped make many improvements to the field. This made it good enough for a Division I college team.
Why the Field is Named Gary Hogan Field
The baseball field is named after former Little Rock baseball coach Gary Hogan. Coach Hogan led the team for 11 seasons, from 1986 to 1996. During his time, he helped the team win 276 games. This is still a record for Little Rock baseball coaches!
Cool Renovations and Features
After Coach Hogan joined in 1986, the field got many upgrades. He helped raise $500,000 in donations. With this money, they added a special turf infield and a natural grass outfield. They also built an outfield wall, dugouts, and an indoor practice area. These changes happened during his 11 years as coach.
Updates in the Late 1990s
In 1998, the field got even more improvements. A new turf infield was installed. They also added a warning track and a system to drain water from the outfield.
New Buildings and Scoreboard
In 2001, the Kris Wheeler Complex was built. This building is named after Kris Wheeler, a Trojans player from 1998 to 2002. The complex includes a press box for reporters and concession stands where you can buy snacks. It also has a new main entrance.
A new scoreboard was put up in 2003. You can see it over the right field fence.
Major Changes and Renaming
Before the 2004 season, the athletic department got a huge donation of $1.6 million. This money was used for more big improvements to the baseball field. At the same time, it was announced that the field would be renamed Gary Hogan Field. This was done to honor Coach Hogan.
Many improvements followed in the next few years. A new AstroTurf infield was installed. They also added a new lighting system and a sound system. An indoor workout facility was built too. Plus, 200 of the 550 seats behind home plate got comfy chairbacks.
Recent Field Upgrades
In 2011, the infield's AstroTurf surface was replaced with a new polyurethane turf. A cool Trojan logo was added right behind home plate. Also, the warning track, which used to be clay, was changed to turf.
