Pitch Perfect: UC San Diego Breaks Ground on Triton Ballpark

Article Content

Rendering of Triton Ballpark

The University of California, San Diego broke ground today on the new Triton Ballpark. The ceremonial groundbreaking—with engraved baseball bats—represents the next step in the transformation of the existing baseball field into a state-of-the-art facility for UC San Diego’s intercollegiate baseball team. Triton Ballpark is made possible with the support of lead donors including Bill Scripps, Gary Jacobs, a 1979 UC San Diego graduate, John Moores, Malin Burnham and Richard Atkinson, UC San Diego’s fifth chancellor.

Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla with Athletics Director Earl W. Edwards at the groundbreaking Photos by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

“We are creating our own ‘field of dreams’ for our students, the campus and our community,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “Triton Ballpark exemplifies our mission of being a student-centered university, and we are grateful to the generous donors who have helped make this project possible.”

Highlights of Triton Ballpark will include sunken team dugouts, a press box, an area for food trucks, permanent spectator seating and restroom facilities. Two award-winning architectural firms, Gensler and Populous, worked on the design of Triton Ballpark. Populous, which helped create Petco Park, home to the San Diego Padres, formulated the initial concept, while world-renowned Gensler is executing the project to completion.

UC San Diego baseball team members with Chancellor Khosla, Earl Edwards (center) and Coach Eric Newman (far right) Photos by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

Triton Ballpark will also feature the Marye Anne Fox Clubhouse, named in honor of UC San Diego’s seventh chancellor. During her tenure as chancellor from 2004 to 2012, Marye Anne Fox was an advocate for athletics and championed updates to the baseball field—including the installation of electricity and lights—which ultimately set the foundation for construction of Triton Ballpark. The 4,000 square foot clubhouse will include a locker room, team showers, coaches’ offices, laundry, storage area for athletic equipment, and multipurpose room and hall of fame area.

The UC San Diego baseball program is one of the most successful in NCAA Division II. The Tritons reached the national final in 2010 and won a record sixth California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament championship in 2014. Yet, the players currently practice and compete on a field without the basic amenities that many of their competitors take for granted—from showers to permanent restroom facilities.

 “Having a facility to match the excellence of our talented student-athletes will contribute greatly to our team spirit and Triton pride,” said UC San Diego Athletics Director Earl W. Edwards. “In addition, it will allow us to recruit more high-quality student-athletes, host significant tournaments at UC San Diego and provide a better experience for spectators, who play a key role in our success each year.”

One such fan is Bill Scripps, a member of the UC San Diego Foundation Board and Athletic Board. In addition to his recent gift to Triton Ballpark, Scripps has made past gifts to help bring electrical lines and lighting to the existing baseball field.

“I believe sports are an important part of the university lifestyle,” said Scripps. “UC San Diego is fresh and young, and this upgrade to the baseball facility is much-deserved for a program that has achieved a great deal of success. It’s an exciting time to be involved with Triton Athletics.”

While generous donors have helped kick start the project, funding is still needed. Available naming opportunities include the ballpark itself, clubhouse multipurpose room, locker room, coaches’ offices and more. For more on naming opportunities, call (858) 534-3540. To learn more about the project or make a gift, visit giving.ucsd.edu/where/athletics/triton-ballpark.html.