Brazell Stadium

Brazell Stadium
Location 3300 W Camelback Road
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Arizona, 85017 U.S.
Coordinates 33°30′43″N 112°07′58″W / 33.5119°N 112.1327°W / 33.5119; -112.1327Coordinates: 33°30′43″N 112°07′58″W / 33.5119°N 112.1327°W / 33.5119; -112.1327
Operator Grand Canyon University
Capacity 1,500
Field size Left: 320 ft (98 m)
L. Center: 390 ft (120 m)
Center: 385 ft (117 m)
R. Center: 375 ft (114 m)
Right: 330 ft (101 m)
Surface Natural Grass
Scoreboard Left Field Wall
Construction
Opened 1962
Renovated 1985, 2017 (planned)
Tenants
Grand Canyon Antelopes baseball
Website
GCU Baseball

Brazell Stadium is a college baseball stadium on the campus of Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. It hosts the Grand Canyon Antelopes of the Western Athletic Conference.

The stadium is named for Dr. Dave Brazell, considered to be "the founder and developer of Canyon baseball."[1] As the coach of the Lopes for 28 seasons, Brazell put together an impressive record of 728-385-8.

The stadium is completely composed of natural grass with a dirt infield and dirt base paths. An inning-by-inning digital scoreboard is visible in left-center field. Gold-colored bleachers wrap around the home plate area, extending to each team's dugouts on either side. The stadium features lights, making night games possible. In the off-season prior to the 2014 baseball season, large shades were added over the stands. The official capacity for the venue is 1,500.[2]

Improvements over the years at Brazell Stadium have included replacement of wood bleachers, backstop improvements and the awning.[3] The facility is set to undergo a massive renovation following the 2017 college baseball season, as a part of the university's 10 in 2 initiative, with 10 new athletic facilities being constructed in a two-year span.[4] Completion of the facility is set for February 2018. The new facility will feature covered box seating, a larger press box, a lower and upper deck, and is set to increase seating capacity from roughly 1,000 to 3,500.[5]

On February 21, 2014, the Grand Canyon Antelopes baseball team hosted the inaugural game in which the Lopes were a full member of the WAC Conference. The Lopes defeated the Hofstra Pride in convincing 8-1 fashion behind a complete game from starting pitcher Jorge Perez.[6]

After spending four seasons in Division I for baseball only from 1995-1998, the entire athletic department made the jump to NCAA Division I for the fall of 2013.[7] Since the return to Division I for the baseball program, the Lopes boast a 35-13 record at Brazell Stadium through the 2015 season.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Grand Canyon University". Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "Brazell Stadium Review". Stadium Journey. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  3. ↑ "GCU's Brazell Stadium a hidden baseball gem in the Valley". AZ Central. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  4. ↑ "GCU 10 in 2: Sports facilities to get makeovers by 2018". Fox 10 Phoenix. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Grand Canyon University to build 10 athletic facilities in preparation for NCAA Division I status". Phoenix Business Journal. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  6. ↑ "'Lopes Win Home Opener Against Hofstra". GCULopes.com. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Grand Canyon University joins Western Athletic Conference". AZ Central. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Western Athletic Conference Baseball Standings". Western Athletic Conference. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
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