June 5, 2001

ATLANTA -- Georgia Tech's new baseball facility came one step closer to reality with Tuesday's official groundbreaking ceremony. Tech Director of Athletics Dave Braine, head coach Danny Hall and representatives from Carter-Turner Construction and the architectural firm of HOK were on hand for the festivities that took place on the pitcher's mound of the current Russ Chandler Stadium.

"It's a very exciting day for Georgia Tech," said Braine. "Over the last decade our baseball program has been one of the best sports at Georgia Tech, and our players deserve a new stadium. We are putting together what we think will be the best stadium in the nation, and we're excited to get the project underway."

Demolition of the current facility will begin on June 11, and construction on the new $7 millon Russ Chandler Stadium will commence immediately thereafter.

"Building this new stadium shows the major commitment from the Institute to the baseball program at Georgia Tech," said Hall. "Our coaching staff works very hard to put a good team on the field, and I see this new stadium as the final thing needed to make our program complete as compared to the other top teams in the country.

"This stadium will certainly be a state-of-the-art facility, and we are very fortunate to have experienced companies like Carter-Turner and HOK making it happen."

Plans for the new facility call for a 5,000 seat stadium, approximately 1,000 of which will be chairback seating. A new press level, including six luxury suites, will be constructed, while the concourse level will be expanded and refurbished with new concession and novelty stands. The Tech dugout will move to the third base side of the field, and a new locker room, players' lounge, equipment room and training room will be constructed.

The stadium is scheduled to be completed in time for the opening of the 2002 season next February.

Head Coach Danny Hall speaks at the new baseball facility's official groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday.

Official Groundbreaking

L-R: Gary Paetau (Vice President, Educational Real Estate Development, Carter & Associates), Dave Braine (Georgia Tech Director of Athletics), and Trent Germano (Senior Vice President, Development, Carter & Associates) at the official groundbreaking ceremony on June 4, 2001.

L-R: Eddie Wilson (Georgia Tech stadium laison), Sterling Brown (Georgia Tech Associate Director of Athletics), Paul Little (Vice President and General Manager, Turner Construction), Dave Butler (Vice President and Operations Manager, Turner Construction), Dave Braine (Georgia Tech Director of Athletics), Danny Hall (Georgia Tech Head Baseball Coach), Trent Germano (Senior Vice President, Development, Carter & Associates) and Gary Paetau (Vice President, Educational Real Estate Development, Carter & Associates) at the official groundbreaking ceremony on June 4, 2001.