🏈 Rumors running around this week about renovations to "The Joe" happening soon...

[TerryP]

...I'm a little leery to be honest.

Not about whether they come about, but how they handle them.

Wrecking ball, or face lift?

 

[tidentrue]

forgive my ignorance, but what is The Joe?
Here in Huntsville, our minor league baseball teams stadium is called "The Joe" at times

 

[TerryP]

Sewell-Thomas Stadium is the home field of the University of Alabama baseball team. The stadium opened as Thomas Field on March 26, 1948, in honor of former Tide head coach Frank Thomas. The stadium originally had a seating capacity of 2,000.

In 1978, the stadium was renamed Sewell-Thomas Stadium, adding the name of former UA baseball standout and head coach Joe Sewell, who spent 14 years with the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees during his Hall of Fame baseball career. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1977. He is also a member of the College Baseball Foundation Hall of Fame and Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.


Currently referred to by many as "The Joe", Sewell-Thomas Stadium has been the home of Alabama's baseball team for 62 years, but has undergone many changes. The complex has undergone two major renovations in 1996 and again in 2001. A video board was added in 2007.


The most recent additions came during the 2010 season as the Crimson Tide clubhouse, meetings rooms, coaches locker rooms and team room were completely renovated, giving Alabama one of the finest clubhouses in college baseball. In addition to the expanded clubhouse, meeting rooms and team rooms, the hallways and walls are lined with murals, depicting the deep history of Crimson Tide baseball.

 

[srbbamaman]

Hopefully this is a good thing. If you go to a BAMA baseball game there is not a lot of fan support. This is due to the fact that lately we have not put a very good product on the field. The Softball team on the other hand is sold out constantly because of the team that we put on the field. I really hope this helps. I drive the wife crazy during baseball season, especially when the SEC schedule starts and I listen to the games on the radio Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

I've seen and heard the same, and if the figures are correct, while I like the commitment, it will be a mistake. By that I mean, The Joe needs more than a facelift (or even a major renovation), a new stadium needs to be built, preferably on the river. Apparently, it is just going to be a major renovation though, which makes me think Coleman... which was a massive waste of money.

 

[PhillyGirl]

srbbamaman, I can assure you that if I end up at UA for grad school, I will be at softball AND baseball games! Baseball is my second favorite sport. I feel like college baseball doesn't get much love.

 

[srbbamaman]

At different schools the love is there because they constantly are competitive. LSU and Florida State come to mind.

 

[TerryP]

I've seen and heard the same, and if the figures are correct, while I like the commitment, it will be a mistake. By that I mean, The Joe needs more than a facelift (or even a major renovation), a new stadium needs to be built, preferably on the river. Apparently, it is just going to be a major renovation though, which makes me think Coleman... which was a massive waste of money.

When the BOT approved the Champions Plaza with part of that structure being integrated with the baseball facilities that was the end to any wish we had for something at a new location. Like you, I would have loved to see something on the river front. On the other hand, I understand the thinking from the Ath. Dept. about the location of the current facilities. Honestly, what would you put there? Another parking lot? Aesthetics come into play and understandably so.

From the dollar figures I've heard bantered about, it seems like a major renovation as well. While another 10MM would pay for a brand new facility, the fact they are spending that much money gives me hope it'll turn out for the better.

---

While Coleman still has its issues, I do like what they have done with the facility.

 

[UAgrad93]

I would love for the wrecking ball to hit that place and start from scratch! It is an arms race in all sports and we are lagging BIG TIME in the baeball race!