Billiken Sports Center
{{short description|College baseball stadium in Missouri, U.S.}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = Billiken Sports Center
| nickname =
| image = Billiken Sports Center.jpg
| fullname =
| former_names =
| location = Laclede Avenue east of Grand Boulevard,
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
| coordinates = {{coord|38.634481|-90.229232|display=title,inline}}
| broke_ground =
| built = 1990
| opened = 1990
| renovated = 1994, 1995, 1999
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Saint Louis University
| operator = Saint Louis University
| surface = Natural grass (1999–present)
Artificial turf (1990–1999)
| scoreboard = Electronic
| cost = USD$1.5 million (estimated)
| suites =
| architect = Hastings and Chivetta
| project_manager =
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor =
| main_contractors = Sverdrup Corporation
| capacity = 500
| record_attendance =
| executive_suites =
| dimensions = Left Field: {{convert|330|ft|m|sp=us}}
Left Center Field: {{convert|370|ft|m|sp=us}}
Center Field: {{convert|403|ft|m|sp=us}}
Right Center Field: {{convert|370|ft|m|sp=us}}
Right Field: {{convert|330|ft|m|sp=us}}330 feet (LF)
370 feet (LCF)
403 feet (CF)
370 feet (RCF)
300 feet (RF)
| acreage =
| tenants = Saint Louis Billikens baseball (NCAA D1 A-10) (1992–present)
Saint Louis Billikens softball (NCAA D1 A-10) (2000–present)
Saint Louis Billikens soccer (NCAA D1 A-10) (1990–1994)
}}
The Billiken Sports Center is a baseball venue in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It is home to the Saint Louis Billikens baseball team of the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference.{{cite web|title=The Billiken Sports Center - Baseball|url=http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205246203|work=SLU Billikens|publisher=Saint Louis University Athletic Department|accessdate=29 January 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116004608/http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205246203|archivedate=16 November 2011|url-status=dead}} The facility also includes the softball venue used since 2000 by the Billiken softball program.{{cite web|title=The Billiken Sports Center - Softball|url=http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205246285|work=SLU Billikens|publisher=Saint Louis University Athletic Department|accessdate=29 January 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115174056/http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205246285|archivedate=15 November 2011|url-status=dead}} From 1990–1994, the facility was also home to Saint Louis' soccer programs.{{cite web|title=Robert R. Hermann Stadium - Men's & Women's Soccer|url=http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205246207|work=SLU Billikens|publisher=Saint Louis University Athletic Department|accessdate=29 January 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516135004/http://www.slubillikens.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27200&ATCLID=205246207|archivedate=16 May 2013|url-status=dead}} The baseball facility, built in 1991 and first used in 1992, has a capacity of 500 spectators.
History
Prior to the opening of the Billiken Sports Center, Saint Louis' baseball program played at Sauget Field in Sauget, Illinois. The first baseball game at the current venue was played on March 2, 1992. The Billikens defeated the Division III Washington University Bears 7–3.
The facility underwent several renovations in the 1990s. In 1994, fences in foul territory were improved, and in 1995, the outfield fence was renovated. In 1999, the field's artificial turf surface was replaced with natural grass.
As of the end of the 2009 season, Saint Louis baseball had a 248–205 record at the facility.
Features
In addition to the features added in 1990s renovations, the field also has a brick backstop, brick dugouts, padded outfield fences, bullpens, and batting cages.
Chaifetz Arena is visible beyond the center field wall of the baseball diamond.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Saint Louis University}}
{{Saint Louis Billikens baseball navbox}}
{{Saint Louis Billikens men's soccer navbox}}
{{Atlantic 10 Conference baseball venue navbox}}
{{Missouri NCAA Division I college baseball venue navbox}}
Category:College baseball venues in Missouri
Category:College softball venues in the United States
Category:Saint Louis Billikens baseball
Category:1990 establishments in Missouri
Category:Sports venues completed in 1990
Category:Soccer venues in Missouri