Bill Aker Baseball Complex

{{short description|Baseball park at Northern Kentucky University}}

{{Infobox venue

| name = Bill Aker Baseball Complex

| nickname =

| fullname = Bill Aker (Brian Burkhart) Baseball Complex at Friendship Field

| image =

| location = Johns Hill Road and Kenton Drive, Highland Heights, Kentucky, USA

| coordinates = {{coord|39.028748|-84.465385|display=title,inline}}

| broke_ground =

| built =

| opened =

| renovated = 2013

| expanded =

| closed =

| demolished =

| owner = Northern Kentucky University

| operator = Northern Kentucky University

| surface = Artificial turf

| scoreboard = Electronic

| architect =

| project_manager =

| structural engineer =

| services engineer =

| general_contractor =

| main_contractors =

| capacity = 500

| suites =

| record_attendance =

| dimensions = Left field: {{convert|330|ft|m|sp=us}}
Left center field: {{convert|365|ft|m|sp=us}}
Center field: {{convert|395|ft|m|sp=us}}
Right center field: {{convert|365|ft|m|sp=us}}
Right field: {{convert|330|ft|m|sp=us}}

| tenants = Northern Kentucky Norse baseball (NCAA Division I Horizon) ?–2005, 2009–present

| former_names = Friendship Field

| construction_cost =

}}

The Bill Aker Baseball Complex is a baseball venue located on the campus of Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky, United States. It is the home field of the Northern Kentucky Norse baseball team, a member of the NCAA Division I Horizon League. The complex is named for Bill Aker, who was the head coach of Northern Kentucky baseball from 1971 to 2000. It has a capacity of 500 spectators.{{cite web |title=NKU Athletics Facilities |url=http://nkunorse.com/sports/2012/10/5/GEN_1005125048.aspx?tab=facilities |work=NKUNorse.com |publisher=Northern Kentucky Sports Information |access-date=March 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322042325/http://nkunorse.com/sports/2012/10/5/GEN_1005125048.aspx?tab=facilities |archive-date=March 22, 2013 |url-status=dead}}

History

Prior to 2001, the venue was known as Friendship Field. In 2001, it was renamed the Bill Aker Baseball Complex at Friendship Field, in honor of former Northern Kentucky head coach Bill Aker. Aker had led the program from its 1971 inception to the end of the 2000 season and had an 807–572–1 overall record.{{cite web |title=Bill Aker Baseball Complex Receives Upgrades |url=http://nkunorse.com/news/2012/11/20/BB_1120121805.aspx?path=baseball |work=NKUNorse.com |publisher=Northern Kentucky Sports Information |access-date=March 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512225244/http://nkunorse.com/news/2012/11/20/BB_1120121805.aspx?path=baseball |archive-date=May 12, 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |last=Stanton |first=Phil |title=Northern Kentucky Begins Division I Era |url=http://www.collegebaseballinsider.com/12Articles/NKUAsalon.html |work=CollegeBaseballInsider.com |access-date=March 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221005300/http://www.collegebaseballinsider.com/12Articles/NKUAsalon.html |archive-date=February 21, 2013 |date=September 10, 2012 |url-status=dead}}

From 2006 to 2008, the Norse played home games at what was then named Champion Window Field in nearby Florence.{{cite web|last=Mulcahey|first=Matt|title=NKU Baseball Slides into New Home|url=http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20060204/SPT01/602040397/NKU-baseball-slides-into-new-home?nclick_check=1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130407224510/http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20060204/SPT01/602040397/NKU-baseball-slides-into-new-home?nclick_check=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 7, 2013|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|access-date=March 1, 2013|date=February 4, 2006}}{{cite web |title=Amateur Baseball Schedule at Champion Window Field Announced |url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3610355 |work=OurSportsCentral.com |access-date=March 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411144528/http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3610355 |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |date=March 25, 2008 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=Bellarmine vs. Northern Kentucky Box Score |url=http://athletics.bellarmine.edu/custompages/Sports/BB/2008-09/34-bell.htm |work=Athletics.Bellarmine.edu |publisher=Bellarmine Sports Information |access-date=March 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523125510/http://athletics.bellarmine.edu/custompages/Sports/BB/2008-09/34-bell.htm |archive-date=May 23, 2013 |date=April 5, 2009 |url-status=dead}}

The facility underwent $500,000 renovations in spring 2013, immediately prior to Northern Kentucky's first season in Division I.{{cite news |last=Clifford |first=Brook |title=Norse Baseball Field Undergoes Transformation |url=http://www.thenortherner.com/sports/2012/11/15/norse-baseball-field-undergoes-transformation/ |newspaper=The Northerner |access-date=March 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120053758/http://www.thenortherner.com/sports/2012/11/15/norse-baseball-field-undergoes-transformation/ |archive-date=November 20, 2012 |date=November 15, 2012 |url-status=dead}} The infield grass was replaced with artificial turf. A new outfield fence, foul poles, and drainage system were also added. Prior to the 2017 home opener the outfield, warning track and bullpens were also resurfaced with artificial turf, making the entire playing surface synthetic.{{cite web |title=Bill Aker Baseball Complex |url=https://nkunorse.com/sports/2015/3/24/Facilities_BillAker.aspx?id=221 |website=Northern Kentucky University Athletics |access-date=April 17, 2022 |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Powell |first1=Melissa |title=Baseball begins synthetic turf renovation at Bill Aker Baseball Complex |url=https://nkunorse.com/news/2017/2/2/bsb-begins-synthetic-turf-renovation-at-bill-aker-baseball-complex.aspx |website=Northern Kentucky University Athletics |access-date=April 17, 2022 |language=en |date=February 2, 2017}}

References

Category:College baseball venues in the United States

Category:Baseball venues in Kentucky

Category:Northern Kentucky Norse baseball

Bill Aker Baseball Complex

History

See also

References