Texas A&M Prepares to Open Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park
Feb 10, 2012 | Baseball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The new athletic facilities at Texas A&M University's Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park will be unveiled at the Aggie baseball team's first game on February 17 against Illinois-Chicago.
The $24 million project, spearheaded by a $7 million pledge from Blue Bell Creameries in nearby Brenham, Texas, allows the university to transform its Olsen Field into a first-class facility that showcases the long-standing tradition of the A&M athletics program. A&M's baseball team has claimed back-to-back Big 12 Championships and advanced to the College World Series in 2011.
Blue Bell Park will include traditional and dugout suites and added accommodation seats for fans with special needs. In addition, a new club lounge, additional concessions and restrooms, as well as a children's playground, are part of the facilities. Players will have a new baseball weight room, hydrotherapy room, training room, bullpens, locker rooms and team lounge. Coaches also will have new offices and a separate locker room.
According to former student and HKS Director of Sports Design Byron Chambers, competition at the university level for landing top-flight high school athletes is enormous. In addition to an athletic program's winning tradition, the quality of its game-day, practice, training and academic facilities factors tremendously into the decision-making process of a student.
"Blue Bell Park creates excitement and nostalgia," he continued. "It is a major-league-quality facility with a hospitality-grade environment that demonstrates that Texas A&M University is committed to providing student athletes with the best tools available to achieve present and future success, both on and off the field."
Fans will be closer to the action because designers decreased the distance between home plate and the first seating row. Lawn seating were added along the first- and third-base lines, allowing fans to watch the game from these elevated grassy knolls or take the traditional route of chair seating.
The design team studied and incorporated the rich history not only of Texas A&M but also the history of Aggie baseball. "We looked at old archive photos of the historic campus buildings and their defining traits and details to begin to establish an architectural style," said Chambers. "The new ballpark is deeply rooted in the fabric of the early 20th century campus architecture. Our goal was to combine the historic character and detailing from the center of campus with the tradition and nostalgia of Aggie baseball."
In addition to its distinct architectural appeal, the stadium includes features that recruits will not be able to ignore.
"The renovations really give the baseball program an upgrade to be able to recruit, to be able to compete with any stadium at any university in the country," said Kevin Hurley, associate athletic director of facilities at Texas A&M University.
HKS Sports & Entertainment Group is internationally known for its modern sports venues and entertainment projects including the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas; Metrodome Next Venue in Minneapolis, Minn.; Liverpool FC Stadium in Liverpool, England; Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.; Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wis.; and major renovations and additions for U.S. Cellular Field and Dodger Stadium in Chicago and Los Angeles, respectively. Award-winning Salt River Fields at Talking Stick and Camelback Ranch - Glendale, training facilities located in Arizona, also were designed by HKS. In addition, the group has completed collegiate facilities for the University of North Texas, The University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Christian University and Florida Atlantic University. These venues enhance and leverage team identity, deliver an exciting fan experience and serve as destination environments. HKS, Inc., headquartered in Dallas, is among the top five architectural firms in the U.S., according to Building Design+Construction magazine, operating from 29 offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.hksinc.com.
