Missouri Board of Curators unanimously approves new softball stadium for Tigers

The University of Missouri Board of Curators unanimously approved proposal to build a new softball stadium east of the Hearnes Center during a meeting Thursday in Columbia.

The project comes with a $16 million price tag, including $13.5 million in private gifts and another $2.5 million in debt financing.

The debt financing figures were approved at a June 2012 meeting, when renovations to existing University Field were approved as part of $72 million in debt financing for athletics.

The location of the stadium, which will be designed by Lenexa-based Lempka Edson Architects, was approved by the board as part of the MU Campus Master Plan last summer.

University Field, which opened in 1981, is landlocked by University Hall to the north, Carrie Francke Dr. to the west and Walton Stadium to the east with a seating capacity of roughly 600.

The new stadium, which will break ground after next football season and is scheduled for completion by December 2016, will seat 1,800 plus lawn seating along with improved, expanded tam facilities and better access to parking.

Plans also call for expanded dimensions at the new stadium. University Field measures 190 feet down the lines and 220 feet to center field.

MU will build additional parking southeast of the Hearnes Center to make up for the approximately 500 parking sport that will be displaced by the new stadium.

Lempka Edson’s previous projects include Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Ballpark and Goodyear Ballpark, the spring training home of the Reds and Cleveland Indians.

This story was originally published February 5, 2015 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Missouri Board of Curators unanimously approves new softball stadium for Tigers."