Clay Gould Ballpark

Clay Gould Ballpark
(The Gould)
Former names	Allan Saxe Stadium, Arlington Athletic Center
Location	Arlington, Texas
Opened	1974
Owner	University of Texas at Arlington
Operator	University of Texas at Arlington
Surface	Hybrid Bermuda Tiff 419
Capacity	1,600
Field dimensions	Left field - 330 ft Left Center - 380 ft Center field - 400 ft Right Center - 380 ft Right field - 330 ft
Tenants
Texas–Arlington Mavericks baseball

Clay Gould Ballpark (formerly Allan Saxe Stadium and Arlington Athletic Center) is the home field of the UT Arlington Mavericks located on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington (UT Arlington) in Arlington, Texas, USA. The stadium has a capacity of 1,600.^[1] Clay Gould Ballpark is located at the intersection of West Park Row Drive and Fielder Road.

History

When UT Arlington first fielded a baseball program in 1969, they played their games at Turnpike Stadium, a minor league stadium first owned by Tarrant County and then the City of Arlington. While playing in Turnpike, the Mavericks amassed a home record of 57-55.

UT Arlington athletic officials knew the Washington Senators were on the verge of relocating from Washington D.C.. They began preparations for an on-campus venue to avoid the scheduling conflicts that would emerge from a college team sharing a major league team's stadium. The Texas Rangers had a clause that allowed them to control events at the now renamed Arlington Stadium 24 hours before and after their games. The teams shared Arlington Stadium for the 1972 and 1973 seasons.

Originally named the Arlington Athletic Center, the stadium was built in conjunction with the softball venue, now known as Allan Saxe Field on the southwestern section of campus. The 1974 home opener against the TCU Horned Frogs as both the debut game at the new complex as well as the first home game for legendary manager Butch McBroom. The Mavericks lost both games of a doubleheader 5-0 and 4-3.

The stadium stayed as completed until the field was replaced in 1986.

Renaming and renovations

The baseball stadium portion of the Arlington Athletic Center was renamed Allan Saxe Stadium in 1999 after popular Professor Allan Saxe gifts made renovations possible, which included a three-foot-high brick wall that spans from dugout to dugout and a new net backstop. Professor Saxe also contributed to renovations for UT Arlington softball field, and it was renamed Allan Saxe Field six years earlier.

Allan Saxe Stadium was once again renamed a few years later after Clay Gould, a UT Arlington player from 1989-1993 and the program's fourth head coach (1999-2001). Gould died of Colon Cancer on June 23, 2001.^[2] The renaming was urged by Professor Saxe and coincided with a fundraiser to further enhance the stadium, with a new exterior and entryway, expanded seating capacity and a new state-of-the-art lighting system, allowing the stadium to play night games for the first time.

The scoreboard, brag board and championship years in right center field

Clay Gould’s memorial plaque was unveiled at the main entryway during the dedication of the newly renamed stadium on April 26, 2003, prior to a conference game with Louisiana-Monroe.

A Daktronics Prostar LED Display video board replaced the older, outdated scoreboard in left center field in 2009. Additionally, the fan experience was upgraded as well by adding new seats to replace worn, older seating in the grandstand.

The following year, a “brag board” was added immediately next to the scoreboard in left center field that lists the UT Arlington players who have made the Major League Baseball level as well as the retired numbers of the UT Arlington Mavericks baseball program.^[3] There are currently 11 Major League Mavericks and three retired numbers, two of which are former coaches.

The recently completed indoor practice facility, on the right field line

Construction was started and completed during the offseason prior to the 2013 season of an indoor practice facility. The $1.95 million venue was built in conjunction with an indoor practice space at the softball field, allowing practices to occur during inclement weather.^[4]

The UT System board of regents recently approved $5.5 million to continue renovations at the stadium. The funds will finance work to include the construction of a clubhouse in the stadium on the first base side, near the indoor practice facility. The clubhouse is expected to include a combination locker room/lounge for the players,coaches offices and locker rooms, sports training facility, equipment and laundry rooms, mud room and welcome lobby. In addition to a clubhouse for Allan Saxe Field, the renovation is expected to include a new home dugout, new outfield fencing, a picnic area for fans between the visitors dugout and bullpen, a new public address system and stadium branding. Work is scheduled to begin following the completion of the 2014 season and be completed just prior to the start 2015 season. ^[5]

Further renovations are in the planning phase.^[6]

Program history

The seats, press box and third base line of Clay Gould Ballpark

The Mavericks have maintained a winning record of 775-441 on their home field, for a winning percentage of .637. During that time, UT Arlington has averaged over 20 home wins a season.

In recent years, Clay Gould Ballpark has hosted numerous big name opponents, including the Big XII’s Baylor, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas Tech, the SEC’s Alabama, Arkansas and Texas A&M and the Big Ten's Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern.

For the 2014 season, notable home games at Clay Gould Ballpark include Oklahoma State, the Pac-12's Utah, Baylor, TCU as well as five three-game series' against Sun Belt conference opponents.

The Mavericks have played TCU at Clay Gould a record 69 times, more than any other team, followed by former Southland Conference foes McNeese State, 59 and Lamar, 53. Baylor and twice-former conference mate Louisiana Tech are tied for fourth with 51 trips to Arlington.

In one of the more unique situations, UT Arlington's coaching staff serves as the head groundskeepers of Clay Gould Ballpark. With the help of the players, Clay Gould Ballpark’s playing field is one of the finest playing surfaces in the southwest United States.

Clay Gould Ballpark was home to the 1990 and 1992 Southland Conference regular season champions, the 2001, 2006 and 2012 Southland Conference tournament champions and the 2013 Western Athletic Conference regular season co-champions.

The memorial Clay Gould and fundraising plaques outside the entrance of the stadium

Other uses

A Short Film produced by Clay's wife Julie Gould, and starring their child Logan Soul Gould Debuted at the 2011 SXSW Competition in Austin, TX, was shot on the UT Arlington campus and Clay Gould Ballpark.^[7]

Besides UT Arlington baseball, the diamond has played host to the Texas State Junior College Tournament, the state American Amateur Baseball Congress Connie Mack and American Legion Tournaments and numerous high school playoff games. It also served as the venue for Major League tryout camps.

Nolan Ryan, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens and Ozzie Smith have made appearances at the Ballpark for individual workouts, commercials, camps and clinics.

See also

• List of NCAA Division I baseball venues

References

Coordinates: 32°43′19″N 97°07′52″W / 32.722021°N 97.131157°W / 32.722021; -97.131157