BB: Regionals (South) Danville '08, Salisbury '09, Methodist '10, Rhodes '11

[narch]

Can someone verify the following:

- What type of restroom facilities are there?
men's and womens restroom's in a permanent facility (the men's room has 1 toilet and one sink...never been in the ladies room)

- How much seating is available?
enough for the regional...i'd estimate 500, but i could be off by as much as 100 either way...there are two large bleachers which could seat probably 200+ on either side of the press box/concession stand and probably 50 seat backs adjoining the two bleachers directly behind the backstop and in front of the press box/concession stand
- Do they have a concession stand?yes

and it's one of the most well-lit fields you'll see...night games are awesome for players (from what i understand) and fans

[narch]

ralph...you've got an old facilities link, as well

this one gives you a better indication of what the armstrong-shelley looks like now...

http://www.mumonarchs.com/sports/2009/10/29/facilities_armstrongshelley.aspx?path=baseball

[ilikebaseball]

I will have to say that Methodist University has next to no consession stand, the bathroom facilities are poor at best and parking will be a nightmare. The field is ok but everything else is minimal at best

[Ralph Turner]

I will have to say that Methodist University has next to no consession stand, the bathroom facilities are poor at best and parking will be a nightmare. The field is ok but everything else is minimal at best

Okay but what about these concerns?

Is the pitching rubber 60'6" from home plate?
Is it 90' from home plate to first base?
Are there appropriate receptacles for expectorated sunflower seed hulls?

[Catfishncwc]

I liked Armstrong Shelley field.  I think besides Bauer Field it is the best place to hold a on campus regional.  Now if we had lights on Bauer Field it would be Bar-none the best place for a regional. 

[narch]

I will have to say that Methodist University has next to no consession stand, the bathroom facilities are poor at best and parking will be a nightmare. The field is ok but everything else is minimal at best

parking won't be a problem whatsoever...mu put on a softball regional a few years ago and the "gate" was at the base of the hill before the tennis courts and golf course...this will give the entire lot beside the baseball field AND the lot between the tennis and golf facilities with overflow parking on the grass beside the softball field...plenty of parking

if they do what they did with the softball regional, there will be mobile concessions (if memory serves me right, there was a pizza place and funnel cakes, in addition to hot dogs, burgers, chips and drinks...but it's been a few years) and port-a-johns, in addition to the permanent facilities (which are, admittedly, small)...

[ilikebaseball]

seating is ok for regular season games but not for a regional. I doubt the stadium seating can hold more than 100 and that will be tight, just plain bench seating, not adequate for someone who likes to stay at the filed all day and watch every minute of baseball.

[Diamond King]

I will have to say that Methodist University has next to no consession stand, the bathroom facilities are poor at best and parking will be a nightmare. The field is ok but everything else is minimal at best

parking won't be a problem whatsoever...mu put on a softball regional a few years ago and the "gate" was at the base of the hill before the tennis courts and golf course...this will give the entire lot beside the baseball field AND the lot between the tennis and golf facilities with overflow parking on the grass beside the softball field...plenty of parking

if they do what they did with the softball regional, there will be mobile concessions (if memory serves me right, there was a pizza place and funnel cakes, in addition to hot dogs, burgers, chips and drinks...but it's been a few years) and port-a-johns, in addition to the permanent facilities (which are, admittedly, small)...

I know Monarch Nation will get a little peeved by this, but the South Region should not be held on this campus. Why didn't Methodist brass seek using the independent league's field (probably just up the road). At least there, you have a minor league ballpark and the type of facility this type of event should be held at. Salisbury did an outstanding job hosting the South Regional last year, and they were able to get Perdue Stadium for use (home to the Class A Delmarva Shore Birds). I had a great time there last season. Salisbury people were smart enough to not have such a big event on campus and where nothing, other than playing between the lines on the playing field, whould have worked.
If Methodist is having this at the Shelly, then it is a big mistake. The field might be attended to by major-league type groundskeepers and be in tip-top shape. I don't have a problem with the field, because I have seen it. That it is a "well-lit field" doesn't really impress me much (guess a lot of fields are that way).
I went down there in 2006 for a SU trip and maybe some things have improved since, but my God, you have to nearly do an obsticle course just to get back to the field. It is nestled deep in the campus of Methodist and trust me, I don't remember plenty of parking space. Baseball events, generally, have larger followings, anyway, by the way  than do girls softball. (no problem, good time to rub elbows with heated rivals!!)
"Parking no problem"? WHAT?!!! Where are all these spaces at? And parking on the grass next to tennis courts? Way cool, my friend! There will not be adequate seating either.  A crowd of 500 (ballpark figure) and two 'spacious' bleacher sections' might work, but I doubt it. They really should have had a park to play in that could hold 1,000 without much cramping. And people have to look forward to "one toilet with one sink"? Did the selection committee know this (and we know one member on that board)? Port-a-johns? Mobile concessions? WOW!

[narch]

dk - i think all of your concerns are valid except the parking concerns...i think the parking that is available down there will easily accomodate everyone necessary - there is a large paved lot (probably 1.5 times bigger than the lot beside shelly field) between the tennis courts and golf course - if push comes to shove, there is lots of parking just a jump up the hill beside the newest on-campus apartments - it's really no further than parking would be @ most minor league stadiums i've been in (i park a LOT further away for every durham bulls game i've ever attended) - grass parking should only be necessary if attendance really swells beyond belief

when i say "well-lit" field, i mean it...apparently only 2 or 3 baseball fields in all of nc have more candle power than they measure at armstrong-shelly...seeing the ball is kind of important for ball players

what was the attendance at the salisbury regional games last year? the box score that i saw said 400 for a salisbury game - salisbury has a pretty strong following locally, and they played that in a really nice stadium...i would have expected more than 400 - if that number is correct, armstrong-shelly will be just fine

[Falcon2720]

NCWC hosted a regional in 2006.

Ferrum hosted a regional in 2007.

Both regional tournaments went well. The facilities are very similar.  Ferrum has a very nice grandstand but it doesn't sit 1000 people. Methodist has very similar seating as Wesleyan.

The Methodist regional will be run just as well. The water like always will be turned on. 

College's have to put in a bid to host a regional and then they have to be selected.  This process cost alot of money, time and energy.  Most schools don't want to put in a bid because of the overall effort that has to go into it

[Falcon2720]

3 Teams in the South Region Tournament so far...

USA-South (Pool A)- Shenandoah University
CAC (Pool A)- University of Mary Washington
ODAC (Pool A)- Bridgewater College

[Catfishncwc]

NCWC hosted a regional in 2006.

Ferrum hosted a regional in 2007.

Both regional tournaments went well. The facilities are very similar.  Ferrum has a very nice grandstand but it doesn't sit 1000 people. Methodist has very similar seating as Wesleyan.

The Methodist regional will be run just as well. The water like always will be turned on. 

I wanna say we have almost twice as much seating as MU. 

[Falcon2720]

Seating wasn't the point of my post. We can discuss who has the best facility if you want to. The point was to say that a regional does not have to be in a minor league stadium. It can be at an on-campus facility.

According to the stats,

The Championship game of the 2006 regional had 120 people (NCWC hosted and was in the game)
The Championship game of the 2007 regional had 610 people (Ferrum hosted and was in the game)
The Championship game of the 2008 regional had 108 people
The Championship game of the 2009 regional had 130 people

[narch]

According to the stats,

The Championship game of the 2006 regional had 120 people (NCWC hosted and was in the game)
The Championship game of the 2007 regional had 610 people (Ferrum hosted and was in the game)
The Championship game of the 2008 regional had 108 people
The Championship game of the 2009 regional had 130 people

i think armstrong-shelly can handle those numbers without issue...

[hokieone]

   I think the missed point is this: Regionals are something special, and while you don't get huge crowds, players appreciate the chance to play in out of the ordinary places, such as Delmarva's stadium, Legion Field in Danville-in short, minor league parks, if possible.  You don't need seating for 15,000 as there won't be anything remotely approaching that number present, but a really nice setting is expected.  Ferrum has a gorgeous field, certainly on the level of many minor league parks. NCWC and MU are comparable, certainly nice places, but neither has the feel of a minor league park.   Methodist has two toilets, literally, one for males, one for females, which were both renovated for this year, a pretty small concession stand, and basically bleacher seating, except for the new chairs directly behind the plate. The playing surface seems fine and I'll take your word for the lights as we never saw them on.  In between games this year, when 10 players and 15 fans are trying to use the same tiny bathroom, it won't be pretty. Porta-johns will be necessary, but ugly.  The Methodist fans have always been great and I'm sure the folks working the game will be as friendly and hospitable as ever, but it just doesn't have the "feel' of a regional site.

    Nice home field advantage however for MU, who looks to be a lock with each passing win. My Captains won't be there this year, so good luck to all...and go to the bathroom BEFORE you go to the games.