The Mississippi State University athletic department announced an estimated $40 million master plan for renovations to Dudy Noble Field.
While plans include offering fans innovative and state-of-the-art experiences, the project made retaining the traditions of the historic stadium a top priority, including the Left Field Lounge.
The plans include a new double-tiered grandstand, a concourse encircling the field to allow fans a constant view of the action, berm seating and premium suite seating. Outfield suites will include two bedrooms, a bath, kitchen and living space and will be available for year-round use.
MSU athletic director Scott Stricklin said the Bulldog baseball program deserved one of the finest facilities in the country and credited previous administration for setting a standard for the current facility.
“We are very fortunate with the work done by the people who came before us. Mississippi State people had a vision for a modern facility for college baseball really before anyone else came up with that concept. That has produced the facility we have now,” he said. “It’s hard to imagine it’s nearly been 30 years with that facility, but it’s time to reset the bar a little bit. We can take another step and give our players, our coaches and most importantly our fans the kind of facility that fits the wonderful baseball program we have.”
The timetable for the project is based on the Bulldog Club reaching its $20 million dollar private fundraising goal before moving forward with construction. Stricklin said the production team has a long way to go with design and fundraising but in confident is the direction of the project.
“It’s exciting where we are. We have a long road ahead of us, and we have to figure out some funding. We have a lot of work to do in the design process. It’s great to have a big goal we can shoot for. This university and athletic department has shown – with the Seal Complex and Davis Wade Stadium – to get somewhere you have to have a plan on where you want to go, and right now I think we have a really good concept and a really good handle on where we want to go.”
Stricklin also said there is no specific time frame for starting or completing the project, but praised the staff in the Bulldog Club for hard work in fundraising during previous expansion projects.
“I’m not going to box us in on a time frame. We want to be as aggressive as we can on our fundraising side,” he said. “I know our Bulldog Club team, who has done a tremendous job the last few years helping us secure gifts to make things a reality, are going to focus and get after it.”
There is no firm capacity for the project, but Stricklin said he expects the final product to continue to host                        record-breaking crowds. Grandstand seating is expected to add nearly 4,000 seats while the berm seating will serve increased demand for general admission seating.
MSU students will still enjoy reserved section seating as they has in the past. Members of The Dudes fan group can also access seats in the grandstand and the berms as well.
MSU Head Coach John Cohen said the project compliments the history of the program and will benefit recruiting, player development and connectivity with former players.
“In doing something new, you’re honoring the tradition. Scott and the architects have spent a very long time on preparing a vision for the future of our program,” Cohen said. “We have a long way to go. We’re going to get there, but there is a lot of work in front of us. That’s the fun part of it too. The fundraising process allows you to reconnect with a lot of folks who have a lot of stake in our program. Mississippi State baseball is a family, and these are the moments when family comes together and does something special. I feel like this is something really special.”