Play ball! New stadium opens at UVSC

OREM — With the first pitch thrown by a fan who won the opportunity at a scholarship auction, the new baseball stadium at Utah Valley State College was christened Friday evening at a game against South Dakota State University.

The Wolverines have already played eight games in the stadium, but ominous weather last month postponed the "grand opening" until Friday night's doubleheader.

"It's beautiful," UVSC assistant athletic marketing manager Bill Hoops said of the stadium. "It's (been) a long time coming, and we're grateful for all the supporters."

Numerous donors pitched in money to finance the $4 million stadium, including the Orem Owlz (formerly known as the Provo Angels), who are renting the stadium for their upcoming Pioneer League baseball season. But the stadium's namesake sponsor has yet to donate a promised payment that was due in November 2004.

Developers of the Parkway Crossing student apartment complex in Orem signed an agreement with UVSC administrators to donate $1.7 million over the next 10 years for the naming rights. UVSC administrators say they're working with the developers to get the money. In November 2005, UVSC must make the first payment on a bond issued by Utah County that will be repaid over 10 years with principal and interest totalling about $6 million.

The official name — Parkway Crossing Stadium — has yet to be posted on signs at the ballpark.

UVSC officials say they intend to honor the legal agreement.

"We have (a sponsor), and we're not seeking new ones," college spokesman Derek Hall said Friday.

The Deseret Morning News was unable to reach the developers Friday evening.

UVSC administration had been working on plans and construction on the new stadium for about two years.

The former ballpark was similar to ones at high schools or city parks with bleachers and "50-100 people sitting in their own law chairs," Hoops said.

"We already quadrupled our attendance just by having a place to sit," Hoops said.

There are 2,500 seats with backs and room for 4,000 people on the grass berm that's adjacent to a children's playground.

A radar gun at home plate records the speed of pitches and displays it on a new $235,000 scoreboard that features rotating panels for advertising and a large video board.

The stadium is located on the southwest corner of campus, near I-15 and one of the state's largest exit ramps at University Parkway. Hoops believes the stadium gets visibility, especially when it's lit up at night.

"We have a billboard on northbound I-15 south of UVSC's campus, and it says, 'You're entering a fly ball zone.' It's got a picture of a cute kid putting his glove out of the (car's) window," he said.

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com