Billiken Sports Center
The Billiken Sports Center is a baseball venue in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It is home to the Saint Louis Billikens baseball team of the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference.[1] The facility also includes the softball venue used since 2000 by the Billiken softball program.[2] From 1990–1994, the facility was also home to Saint Louis' soccer programs.[3] The baseball facility, built in 1991 and first used in 1992, has a capacity of 500 spectators.
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| Location | Laclede Avenue east of Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
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| Coordinates | 38.634481°N 90.229232°W |
| Owner | Saint Louis University |
| Operator | Saint Louis University |
| Capacity | 500 |
| Field size | Left Field: 330 feet (100 m) Left Center Field: 370 feet (110 m) Center Field: 403 feet (123 m) Right Center Field: 370 feet (110 m) Right Field: 330 feet (100 m)330 feet (LF) 370 feet (LCF) 403 feet (CF) 370 feet (RCF) 300 feet (RF) |
| Surface | Natural grass (1999–present) Artificial turf (1990–1999) |
| Scoreboard | Electronic |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1990 |
| Opened | 1990 |
| Renovated | 1994, 1995, 1999 |
| Construction cost | USD$1.5 million (estimated) |
| Architect | Hastings and Chivetta |
| Main contractors | Sverdrup Corporation |
| Tenants | |
| Saint Louis Billikens baseball (NCAA D1 A-10) (1992–present) Saint Louis Billikens softball (NCAA D1 A-10) (2000–present) Saint Louis Billikens soccer (NCAA D1 A-10) (1990–1994) | |
History
Prior to the opening of the Billiken Sports Center, Saint Louis' baseball program played at Sauget Field in Sauget, Illinois. The first baseball game at the current venue was played on March 2, 1992. The Billikens defeated the Division III Washington University Bears 7–3.[1]
The facility underwent several renovations in the 1990s. In 1994, fences in foul territory were improved, and in 1995, the outfield fence was renovated. In 1999, the field's artificial turf surface was replaced with natural grass.[1]
As of the end of the 2009 season, Saint Louis baseball had a 248–205 record at the facility.[1]
Features
In addition to the features added in 1990s renovations, the field also has a brick backstop, brick dugouts, padded outfield fences, bullpens, and batting cages.[1]
Chaifetz Arena is visible beyond the center field wall of the baseball diamond.[1]
References
- "The Billiken Sports Center - Baseball". SLU Billikens. Saint Louis University Athletic Department. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- "The Billiken Sports Center - Softball". SLU Billikens. Saint Louis University Athletic Department. Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- "Robert R. Hermann Stadium - Men's & Women's Soccer". SLU Billikens. Saint Louis University Athletic Department. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2012.