The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Softball Stadium Expansion Approved by Board of Trustees
6/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees expedited the approval of Stage II and Stage III for UAB's softball stadium expansion which were made possible by gifts given by Mary and Keith A. Bowers.
As a result, UAB is expected to begin renovations this summer on a nearly $1 million expansion that will include grandstand seating to accommodate over 1,000 fans as well as a newly renovated press box. The new expansion is expected to be fully functional by the time the Blazers return to the diamond for the 2017 season.
“The stadium expansion is going to mean so much to our program,” head coach Marla Townsend said. “Obviously, it will help the overall fan experience and will be a great recruiting attraction for our future student-athletes. One of the special facts is our facility bears Mary Bowers’ name. Keith and Mary were true Blazer fans from Gene Bartow’s days. Thanks to their commitment, this facility allows us to host Conference USA and NCAA Championships.”
This March, Townsend and the softball program dedicated its home facility as Mary Bowers Field in recognition of the gifts given by the Bowers to support the future of the program. UAB’s facility opened in 2010 and currently includes recessed dugouts with restroom facilities, bullpens for each team, a scorer’s platform with public address system, storage, field lighting, seating for 350 and a new state-of-the-art scoreboard with video capability.
Since moving to the on-campus facility, UAB earned a spot in the NCAA tournament in five of its last seven season. In May 2012, the facility hosted the Conference USA Softball Championships.
UAB is coming off a season in which the Blazers notched second-place Conference USA regular season and tournament finishes. The Blazers posted a 27-32 overall record, playing the nation’s second-toughest non-conference schedule, and dominated conference play by winning the Western Division title.
The Blazers played 17 contests against nationally ranked teams, including hosting No. 5 Alabama and No. 3 Auburn at Bowers Field in front of standing-room-only crowds. Highlighting another milestone season for UAB, the Blazers topped Jacksonville State, 6-3, on April 5 to earn the program’s and Townsend’s 500th victory.
For more information on the UAB softball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UABSoftball). For more on all Blazer sports teams, follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics)
