Dell Diamond
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The Dell Diamond is the home stadium of the Round Rock Express, the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Houston Astros major league baseball team. On April 16, 2000, the then-AA affiliate Express played their first home game at the stadium.
The Dell Diamond is built on 85 acres (344,000 m²) of former farmland on the east side of Round Rock, Texas. Nolan Ryan, part owner of the Express, wanted a stadium in Austin, but could not get voter support to approve that city funds be used to help build the structure. The city of Round Rock contributed $7.35 million to the $20 - 25 million cost of the facility. The city owns the ballpark and gave the Express a 38 year lease. Dell Computer Corporation (now Dell, Inc.) contracted for naming rights in a deal that will cost the company $2.5 million over 15 years.
The playing field dimensions are 330 feet (101 m) down the left field line, 325 feet (99 m) down the right field line, 375 feet (114 m) to both power alleys, and 407 feet (124 m) to the deepest point in center field. The wall surrounding the outfield is eight feet high.
Dell Diamond is an open air facility with 8,688 fixed seats with room for almost 3,000 additional fans on an outfield grass berm area. It has 30 private suites, a swimming pool, hot tub, basketball court and playscape among other amenities.
The stadium has also hosted several college games, including some early-season University of Texas contests in 2007 while the Longhorns' home field, UFCU Disch-Falk Field, has been undergoing a major renovation project.
[edit] References
- Ballpark Digest Visit to Dell Diamond.
- Janet Jacobs. (Jan. 14, 2000). "Dell Roots, Roots, Roots for the Home Team". Austin American-Statesman. p A1.
- "The Dell Diamond". Round Rock Express. Retrieved Apr. 16, 2005.
- "MLN Top Ten Ballparks 2005" Minor League News April, 2005
- "MLN Top Ten Ballparks 2006 - No. 1" MLN Sports Zone - Top Ten Ballparks, May 2006
- Dell Diamond is at coordinates Coordinates:
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