Gardner-Webb Announces Plans For New Softball Stadium
June 09, 2014 | Softball
BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb announced plans Monday for the construction of Brinkley Softball Stadium, named in honor of David and Marie Brinkley.
Brinkley Stadium will be built in the same location as the current softball field on South Main Street.
The project is set to break ground in September, 2014, and will include spacious new dugouts, permanent seating for 350 spectators, a concession stand and a press box. The press box will house a main working area and two broadcast booths to accommodate radio and video operations.
A new facility behind the first base dugout will be home to new coaches' offices, a locker room, conference room and an athletic training facility. The Runnin' Bulldogs will use the first base dugout in the new facility, moving across the diamond from their former location.
A new batting and practice facility beyond the outfield fence will allow for access during inclement weather. A new scoreboard will also be installed, as well as parking beyond the outfield fence.
The stadium will also feature lights, which will allow for the first night softball game on Gardner-Webb's home field when the project is completed.
"This is a project many years in the making, and we are very fortunate and thankful for the Brinkley's generosity as the lead gift for this new stadium," said Vice President for Athletics Chuck Burch. "Very soon Gardner-Webb softball will play in one of the finest stadiums in the region. Our student-athletes deserve the opportunity to compete in a first-class facility, and this project signals that opportunity."
Head coach Tom Cole, who recently completed his 14th season in charge of the Gardner-Webb program, was obviously thrilled with the announcement.
"First, I would like to thank David and Marie Brinkley for their generous contribution," said Cole. "Each player in our program will be thrilled to play in the new facility and every future player will be ecstatic to join a program with a ballpark of this caliber. Every former player will be proud to return to campus and see what we now have here. This is an exciting time for Gardner-Webb softball."
