HOK Associate Principal Cites Ballpark Amenities

(OMAHA, Neb. – March 17, 2008) – As an associate principal with the world’s leading sports architecture firm, HOK Sport in Kansas City, Martin DiNitto, AIA, knows that when it comes to planning baseball stadiums, experience counts. In the case of Omaha’s proposed downtown ballpark, the experience of student-athletes and fans are especially critical to winning a long-term agreement with the NCAA for hosting the Men’s College World Series.
 
“Today, there are several collegiate ballparks that rival some of the better minor league stadiums in the country,” according to DiNitto. “It’s important that the home of the College World Series be designed as the best environment a student-athlete will play in during their collegiate career, and one befitting an NCAA national championship.”

DiNitto cited numerous amenities planned for the 24,000-seat stadium that will enhance the experience of both student-athletes, coaches, NCAA member institutions and the fans who support the Series each year. “The player facilities will be more of a living environment because they won’t be buried under the stadium in a dark area,” DiNitto noted. “Teams will also have four indoor batting and pitching facilities, which are in closer proximity to the clubhouse areas.”

The stadium will feature four 4,000 square foot clubhouses compared to two 3,200 square foot locker rooms at Rosenblatt Stadium. “That will make it much easier for the teams to get in and out of the stadium during the tournament,” DiNitto acknowledged. “Currently, there’s a major problem with congestion outside Rosenblatt Stadium when teams are getting off their buses. The inability to stage teams into the stadium is especially difficult whenever early games are delayed. The new stadium will allow teams the opportunity to come into their clubhouses at their leisure prior to their game, which is going to improve logistics considerably.”

Design team members from HOK Sport and teaming partner HDR will soon be meeting with NCAA officials to determine their facility needs so they can be incorporated in the final stadium design. “We want to make sure we’re completely in sync with their expectations for the stadium,” DiNitto advised. “We will also meet with the Omaha Royals and the Creighton Bluejays to find out their interests so we can tailor the current program elements to their specific needs.”

Site orientation is one of the issues the design team plans to discuss with the NCAA before it is finalized. Currently, Rosenblatt Stadium has a northeast orientation from home to centerfield, while illustrations for the new downtown stadium show a southeast orientation.

“Ball field orientation is driven by its location based on latitude and longitude issues related to sun angles and the timing of the baseball games,” DiNitto said. “The one that we’re showing in our design offers up the best compliance with sun angle issues, while opening the stadium concourse and suites to views of the Qwest Center, the Missouri River and the downtown skyline.”

Several fan amenities planned for the new ballpark include wider seats, more leg room and a configuration that places people closer to the action on the field. “The design also features an open concourse concept, which means you will always have access to and views of the action on the playing field,” DiNitto explained. “You won’t disappear under the grandstands whenever you visit the concession areas or restrooms. It’s going to be a lot more comfortable for people moving around on the main concourse level.”

Total seating distribution includes 14,000 reserved seats, 4,708 box seats, 5,292 general admission seats in the outfield and 28 suites. “We’re going to offer the same seating counts that are currently available, with an opportunity for people to upgrade to premium seating located on a cantilevered view-level balcony extending below the suite level,” DiNitto said. “These premium seating options provide a great vantage point for watching the game, while serving as a club seating area that’s supported by a stadium club and lounge area.”

A sloping ramp outside the ballpark will provide an overview of the Fan Fest area on the east side of the stadium. Also included are covered party decks on the suite level and open slab areas for portable party tent structures with picnic tables, chairs and food service carts.

Due to the extent of media coverage of the Men’s College World Series, the new stadium will feature a state-of-the-art media compound to accommodate the broadcast trucks. “With the new stadium, we have the opportunity to build in the connectivity infrastructure that is needed for this event,” DiNitto said. “We would also design for growth and expansion capabilities as the tournament becomes more and more popular and media involvement increases.”

The site selection process for Omaha’s downtown stadium is comparable with stadium projects DiNitto has observed in other cities. “There are always sensitive issues that need to be addressed,” he asserted. “Many times you’re dealing with an existing stadium that has a lot of tradition and a lot of meaning to the community, so we’re always thinking about how to best carry on those traditions and bring the best qualities to the new facility.”

The stadium committee’s decision favoring new construction over renovating Rosenblatt Stadium was based on several considerations, according to DiNitto. “The concept we came up with, which is the intermediate renovation scheme, essentially builds new structures outside the existing footprint of Rosenblatt Stadium,” DiNitto said. “The interior renovation involved demolishing the existing concessions and restrooms to create wider and more serviceable concourses internal to the stadium, and most importantly, replacement of the existing structural steel seating deck.

 “That’s a time-consuming and very extensive part of the renovation work, but unfortunately we are unable to change the structural design of the seating itself – only the decking would be replaced – so we would essentially be putting the seating back in its original dimension.”

Although the renovation called for the addition of 10 suites and an expanded press box and Stadium View Club, a renovated Rosenblatt Stadium provided much fewer fan amenities than a new stadium with its longer design life. In addition, the cost to the public for renovating Rosenblatt Stadium or building a new downtown stadium was nearly identical. This is due to the higher level of private funding and estimated revenues generated by the newer venue.

Citing the emotional connection many Omahans have with Rosenblatt Stadium, DiNitto said the design group was very sensitive to their concerns.

 “Ultimately, what we will end up with is a new facility that will carry on the tradition of the Road to Omaha,” DiNitto emphasized. “It’s our intention to relocate many of the iconic elements from Rosenblatt Stadium, such as the Road to Omaha Statue, to the new facility.”

“We will always have the strong memories of the games we enjoyed at Rosenblatt Stadium,” DiNitto added. “But with the new stadium, the future of the Series will be extended dramatically from 20 years to perhaps 50 or 60 years or more.”

About HOK
HOK has been the industry leader in the design of professional baseball facilities for the past 25 years, completing more than 70 new ballpark and renovation project in that time frame. Currently, HOK Sport has two new minor league ballparks under construction, each opening in April, 2008: Coca-Cola Park (Class AAA) in Allentown, Penn. and Arvest Ballpark (Class AA) in Springdale, Ark.