Making Our Move - Athletics Facilities Master Plan Focuses On Baseball

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Making Our Move - Athletics Facilities Master Plan Focuses On Baseball

8/17/2021 7:51:00 AM | Baseball, General

The 14-month evaluation process creates a pathway to accomplish the largest advancement of athletics facilities in the history of Murray State University

The Murray State Athletics Facility Master Plan continues its look at the individual sport venue enhancements plans, including baseball's Johnny Reagan Field. The vision for the future home of Murray State baseball is a facility that enhances player development, recruiting and the student-athlete experience.

"From a recruiting standpoint, Murray State University is easy to recruit to," Skirka added. "Murray State's reputation sells itself and if you improve the place we play baseball, that is going to help us in a big way. Everything we're talking about for Reagan Field just goes to make our already beautiful campus even better and the experience for our players and the fans is raised to a higher level and that's exciting."

First known as the MSU Baseball Field, the facility was located in the middle of the Murray State campus from the early 1950's to 1987, where the Martha Layne Collins Center for Industry & Technology now stands. The field was named Johnny Reagan Field in May 1969 and relocated to where it sits today, between Roy Stewart Stadium and the CFSB Center in 1989. Johnny Reagan Field is one of the best places to play in the Ohio Valley Conference and now there are plans to improve it.

One of the significant improvements for Johnny Reagan Field includes upgrading the current natural grass surface to a state-of-the-art artificial playing surface. This enhancement significantly reduces the impact of inclement weather and results in field maintenance cost savings from a materials and labor standpoint.

Additionally, an artificial surface facilitates hosting unlimited youth camps, showcases and summer baseball events, creating an additional revenue stream.

The facility will also include a new video board, to enhance both the player and fan game day experience. Additionally, restrooms in the dugouts and new public restrooms will enhance the overall game day experience for players and fans alike. Finally, the facility includes an innovative tailgating experience beyond right field. These enhancements, along with the facility's current accommodations will transform Johnny Reagan Field into one of the best facilities in the Ohio Valley Conference and a regional draw for youth and special event baseball.

A new indoor baseball hitting and pitching facility is an important part of the plan for Reagan Field – allowing baseball student-athletes the opportunity to train year around – and it will be accomplished one of two ways. Option one includes a stand-alone building at Johnny Reagan Field, while option two includes indoor hitting and pitching within Roy Stewart Stadium after Murray State track, cross country, baseball, softball and football student-athletes are moved into a new Athletics Performance Center. The new Athletics Performance Center will house over two-thirds of Murray State student-athletes, providing new locker and team rooms, meeting rooms, weight room and state-of-the art training room. FMP - Reagan Field

"The hours we put in at practice isn't enough if you want to be the best you can be," said MSU senior Jordan Holly. "However, getting outside is just not possible at times in the winter and our season begins in late February. When we get an indoor place to practice, it's going to be great for the program."

"The opportunity this plan gives our players to train and improve is what is most important," said Coach Dan Skirka. "We talk often about maxing out the talent of our student-athletes. In baseball, there are so many skills a player must master and to do that, a player has to do extra work on his own. The new indoor facility helps our players do that and it allows us to adjust to their academic schedules and still get in practice time."

Former Murray State baseball student-athletes are also taking notice of the plan, including Dr. Seth Hudson in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Hudson played second base at Murray State (2003-06) and was named All-OVC as a senior in 2006.

"If I take myself back to when I was recruited, I would be thrilled to walk into something that looked like what we're talking about here for Reagan Field," said Hudson. "There aren't a lot of mid-major schools with this kind of vision and I've worked with a lot of other programs and I can tell you, this type of commitment isn't always there. I am going to be very interested to see how our baseball alumni react to this plan and how the MSU student-athletes take to it once it is completed."

Those interested in learning more about or how you can support these facility projects can contact Director of Development-Athletics, Taylor Mudd at (270) 809-3517 or tmudd3@murraystate.edu for further information.

About The MSU Athletics Facility Master Plan
Shared to Racer Nation in August of 2021, the facility master plan provides clarity and sets the Racers up for a great future. The 14-month evaluation process was meticulous and thorough and it provides a vision for a pathway to accomplish the largest advancement of athletics facilities in the history of Murray State University. An in-depth study of each athletic facility was done in consultation with university leadership, architects, engineers and construction professionals to determine the current viability, create a needs assessment and outline scope of work for each venue. The plan is part of the larger capital campaign for Murray State University. The athletics venues that will be touched include the CFSB Center, Roy Stewart Stadium, Bennie Purcell Courts, Pat Spurgin Range, Cutchin Field, Johnny Reagan Field, Marshall Gage Track, Miller Memorial Golf Course, Racer Arena and Racer Field. A new Athletics Performance Center is included in the plan.