J. I. Clements Stadium
{{Short description|Baseball venue in Statesboro, Georgia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = J. I. Clements Stadium
| nickname = Clements Stadium
| image =
| fullname =
| former_names =
| location = 700 Fair Road, Statesboro, Georgia, USA
| coordinates = {{coord|32.429157|-81.781368|display=title,inline}}
| broke_ground = May 2004
| built =
| opened = February 12, 2005
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Georgia Southern University
| operator =
| surface = Natural grass; Foul Territory Synthetic
| estimated_cost =
| suites =
| architect =
| project_manager =
| structural engineer =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor =
| main_contractors =
| capacity = 3,500
| record_attendance =3,732 (March 8, 2023)
| executive_suites =
| dimensions = 330 ft. (LF), 360 ft. (LCF), 385 (CF), 360 ft. (RCF), 330 ft. (RF)
| acreage =
| tenants = Georgia Southern Eagles (Sun Belt)
(2005–present)
}}
J. I. Clements Stadium is a baseball venue located in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. It is home to the Georgia Southern University Eagles college baseball team of the Division I Sun Belt Conference. It has a capacity of 3,000 spectators (530 chair-back seats and 2,470 stadium bench back seats) and opened in 2005.[http://www.georgiasoutherneagles.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18700&ATCLID=1247786 J. I. Clements Stadium] at georgiasoutherneagles.com, URL accessed December 22, 2010. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110722095929/http://www.georgiasoutherneagles.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18700&ATCLID=1247786 Archived] 12-22-2010
The facility is named after former Georgia Southern baseball coach J. I. Clements. Clements coached the Eagles from 1949–1966 and 1968, leading the team to the 1962 NAIA National Championship. Clements died in 1974, and the Eagles' former venue was named in his honor in 1985.[http://www.georgiasoutherneagles.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18700&ATCLID=1364848 J. I. Clements] at georgiasoutherneagles.com, URL accessed December 22, 2010. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110722095950/http://www.georgiasoutherneagles.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18700&ATCLID=1364848 Archived] 12-22-2010 The name was carried over when the new stadium opened in 2005.
Attendance
The park hosted its first game on February 12, 2005. Georgia Southern lost to No. 13 Georgia Tech 10–6.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110622011307/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/021205abb.html No. 13 Tech Baseball Powers Past Georgia Southern, 10–6: Jeremy Slayden, Mike Trapani and Jeff Kindel hit home runs] at cstv.com, URL accessed December 22, 2010. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110622011307/http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/021205abb.html Archived] 12-22-2010 The game's attendance was 2,805. On February 22, 2011, the Eagles took on No. 21 Georgia Tech, and J. I. Clements Stadium saw a then-record crowd of 3,088 people. The Eagles won the game 6–5 on a walk-off walk by Victor Roache.{{cite web |url=http://www.georgiasoutherneagles.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=90359&SPID=10900&ATCLID=205101723&DB_OEM_ID=18700 |title=Eagles Walk Away with Georgia Tech Series Opener |date=February 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711085241/http://www.georgiasoutherneagles.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=90359&SPID=10900&ATCLID=205101723&DB_OEM_ID=18700 |archive-date=July 11, 2011 |access-date=February 23, 2011 |url-status=live }} On February 22, 2012, the Eagles hosted Georgia Tech and set a new single-game record attendance of 3,258. Georgia Tech won the game 11–9.{{cite web|title=Baseball Falls to Georgia Tech in the Late Innings|url=http://www.georgiasoutherneagles.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18700&ATCLID=205385155|work=GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com|access-date=February 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430100033/http://www.georgiasoutherneagles.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18700&ATCLID=205385155|archive-date=April 30, 2012|date=February 22, 2012|quote=A stadium record 3,258 fans came out to J.I. Clements Stadium in the first mid-week contest of the year, but they went home disappointed after the Eagles fell 11–9.|url-status=live}}
In 2013, the Eagles ranked 48th among Division I baseball programs in attendance, averaging 1,337 per home game.{{cite web|last=Cutler |first=Tami |title=2013 Division I Baseball Attendance – Final Report |url=http://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/news/2013/attendance130611.pdf |work=Sportswriters.net |publisher=NCBWA |access-date=July 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728065411/http://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/news/2013/attendance130611.pdf |archive-date=July 28, 2014 |date=June 11, 2013 |url-status=dead }}
Features
The stadium features concessions, restrooms, dugouts, a batter's eye, luxury boxes, a press box, batting cages, offices, and a team meeting room. The Wiggins Baseball Building is located next to the field on the third base side. The facility encompasses {{convert|9000|sqft}}.[http://www.greenlinearch.com/education/gsu-ji-clements-baseball-stadium/ J.I. Clements Baseball Stadium] at greenlinearch.com, URL accessed December 22, 2010. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110711124852/http://www.greenlinearch.com/education/gsu-ji-clements-baseball-stadium/ Archived] 12-22-2010
Renovations
The stadium was renovated during the 2016–2017 offseason in preparation to host the 2017 Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament. The outfield wall was replaced, a task hastened by damage caused by Hurricane Matthew. The old electronic scoreboard in left field was replaced with a Daktronics video board, and a hand-operated scoreboard was added in right field. The grass in foul territory was replaced by synthetic turf.
Other uses
In addition to baseball, the field is occasionally used as a concert venue. On November 12, 2010, hip hop artist Ludacris performed at the stadium.[http://gadaily.com/index.php/feat/40-entertain/2265-ludacris-brings-hits-new-tracks-to-concert-at-ji-clements Ludacris brings hits, high energy to concert at J. I. Clements] by Philip Clements at gadaily.com, URL accessed December 22, 2010. [https://archive.today/20101222203335/http://gadaily.com/index.php/feat/40-entertain/2265-ludacris-brings-hits-new-tracks-to-concert-at-ji-clements Archived] 12-22-2010
See also
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Georgia Southern Eagles baseball}}
{{Georgia Southern University}}
{{Sun Belt Conference baseball venue navbox}}
{{Georgia NCAA Division I college baseball venue navbox}}
Category:College baseball venues in the United States
Category:Baseball venues in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Georgia Southern Eagles baseball
Category:Buildings and structures in Bulloch County, Georgia