UFCU Disch–Falk Field

UFCU Disch–Falk Field is the baseball stadium of the University of Texas at Austin. It has been home to Texas Longhorns baseball since it opened on February 17, 1975, replacing Clark Field as the home of the Longhorns.

UFCU Disch-Falk Field
"The Disch"
View from Right Field Concourse
Former namesDisch-Falk Field
(1975-August 1, 2006)
Address1300 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Austin, Texas 78702
Coordinates30°16′47″N 97°43′35″W
OwnerUniversity of Texas
OperatorTexas Longhorns
Executive suites17
Capacity7,373[1]
Record attendance10,000 Texas Rangers April 4, 1977
8,000 Oklahoma May 29, 1982 NCAA Central Regional
Field sizeLeft field: 340 ft (103.5 m)
Center field: 400 ft (122 m)
Right field: 325 ft (99 m)
Power Alleys: 370-365 ft (112 m)
SurfaceAstroTurf (1975–2007)
FieldTurf (2008–present)
Construction
OpenedFebruary 17, 1975
Renovated2006-2008
Construction cost$2.5 Million
$21 Million (2008 renovation)
ArchitectDLR Group (2008 renovation)
Tenants
Texas Longhorns (NCAA) (1975–present)
Website
Facility Info

The stadium is named for former Longhorns coaches Billy Disch and Bibb Falk. Beginning August 1, 2006, the name of the stadium was changed to UFCU Disch–Falk Field, following a sponsorship deal with a local credit union, University Federal Credit Union.

Stadium History

[2]

  • February 17, 1975 - The Longhorns swept a doubleheader from St. Mary’s, (Texas) 4-0 and 11-0, in their first games on the new field
  • April 19, 1975 - Stadium was dedicated as Disch-Falk Field prior to Texas’ doubleheader sweep of TCU (18-3 and 14-0)
  • Summer 1979 - New AstroTurf was installed on the infield
  • May 19, 1982 - The largest crowd ever to see a collegiate game at Disch-Falk Field – 8,000 fans – saw Texas defeat Oklahoma, 8-0, during the NCAA Central Regional
  • Summer 1985 - New AstroTurf was installed on the entire field
  • Summer 1989 - A new computerized scoreboard was installed in left field
  • Winter 1995 - New AstroTurf was installed on the infield.
  • Winter 1996 - The computerized scoreboard was upgraded
  • Winter 1999 - New AstroTurf was installed on the entire field, the outfield fence was constructed and padded and the clubhouse and team areas were renovated
  • Spring 2005 - New scoreboard with Jumbotron is installed in left field
  • August 1, 2006 - Stadium renamed UFCU Dicsh-Falk Field
  • Spring 2008 - Work completed on $25.8 million renovation of UFCU Disch-Falk Field
  • Fall 2009 - FieldTurf playing surface was installed
  • Spring 2012 - New videoboard installed in right field
  • Winter 2016 - New FieldTurf playing surface was installed and the fences in the gaps were moved closer
  • Winter 2019 - Replaced left field scoreboard with a new videoboard
  • Fall 2019 - Opened the 21,500-square-foot J. Dan Brown Family Player Development Center

Note: The entire playing surface, excluding the pitcher's mound, is FieldTurf.

Attendance

In 2013, the Longhorns ranked 6th among Division I baseball programs in attendance, averaging 5,793 per home game.[3]

In 2012, college baseball writer Eric Sorenson ranked the stadium as the fifth best big game atmosphere in Division I baseball.[4]

Changes to Disch-Falk

2006-2008 Renovation

The new exterior facade after renovation

In July 2005, the University announced an $18 million renovation project for Disch-Falk Field. Construction began in late 2006. The Longhorns played their 2007 season at the stadium during the renovation, although a few early season games and the NCAA Regional Tournament were moved to the nearby Dell Diamond. Completed for the 2008 season, the renovated Disch-Falk field was designed by architectural firm DLR Group. The renovations included:

  • 107 premium seats added increasing capacity to 6,756
  • 17 new suites
  • lowering of the seating bowl six feet to field level
  • complete replacement of the seating bowl
  • expanded concourse
  • new team merchandise store
  • new full-service ticket office
  • expanded concessions and restrooms
  • enhanced media services spaces
  • new lighting and sound systems
  • new metal wall cladding and TPO roof [5]
  • dugouts moved closer to the field
  • new bullpens
  • new weight training facility
  • new team training areas
  • new team meeting room
  • new coaches offices
  • replacement of AstroTurf surface with FieldTurf. [6]

Scoreboard

Before the 2019 season the left field videoboard was completely replaced. The right field scoreboard was installed before the 2012 season.

Naming

October 12, 2005, the University announced a $13.1 million gift from University Federal Credit Union as the major gift in the campaign to finance the renovation of the ballpark. In connection with this gift, the name of the stadium changed to UFCU Disch–Falk Field on August 1, 2006.

Attendance records

  • Through end of 2019 Season
UFCU Disch-Falk Field Attendance Record[7]
# Date Opponent Result Attendance notes
1April 5, 1977Texas RangersL 4-910,000Exhibition, some fans sat in roped-off warning track
2April 2, 1991Texas RangersL 5-128,234Exhibition
3May 29, 1982OklahomaW 8-08,000NCAA Central Regional, Largest Collegiate Game
4April 2, 2019Texas A&ML 6-97,952Largest Regular Season Game
5March 16, 2019Texas TechL 0-37,879
6April 16, 2010Texas A&MW 4-3 (11)7,876
7May 29, 1994OklahomaL 4-157,839NCAA Central Regional
8May 28, 1994NevadaW 16-67,825NCAA Central Regional
9May 27, 1994StanfordW 8-47,812NCAA Central Regional
10June 12, 2004VanderbiltW 10-27,790NCAA Austin Super Regional
11May 20, 2011Texas A&MW 6-47,785
12February 10, 1990Arizona StateW 11-47,782
13March 13, 2012Texas StateW 6-17,748
14April 29, 2012Texas A&MW 2-17,741
15April 28, 2012Texas A&ML 4-127,716
16March 1, 2019LSUW 8-17,680
17February 11, 1990Arizona StateW 9-57,616
18May 10, 2009Texas A&MW 5-47,613
19March 2, 2019LSUW 8-47,601
20April 19, 2014TCUL 1-37,535
Disch-Dalk Field 2008
Disch-Falk Field 2005
View of first base side seating at UFCU Disch-Falk Field during the 2006-07 Texas Baseball season, during renovation
Texas Baseball game vs Washington State during the 2006-07 season at UFCU Disch-Falk Field
Eyes of Texas after a Texas Baseball game against University of Oklahoma 3-30-2007
After a Lone Star Showdown baseball game
After game vs Texas A&M

See also

References

  1. "2020 Baseball Factbook" (PDF). Texas Sports. pp. 57–58. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  2. "2020 Bseball Factbook" (PDF). Texas Sports. pp. 57–58. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  3. Cutler, Tami (June 11, 2013). "2013 Division I Baseball Attendance - Final Report" (PDF). Sportswriters.net. NCBWA. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  4. Sorenson, Eric (5 October 2012). "Distiller's Dozen - The "Hey, Nice Stadium" Edition". CollegeBaseballToday.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  5. http://www.kiddroof.com/commercial-portfolio/#/
  6. http://www.news-journal.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2008/08/15/new_turf_for_ba.html
  7. "Texas Baseball 2018 Fact Book" (PDF). Texas Longhorns. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
Preceded by
Clark Field (II)
Home of the
Texas Longhorns Baseball

1975-present
Succeeded by
current
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.