Coleman Coliseum, the home to Crimson Tide basketball, is located beyond the right field fence. Sewell–Thomas sits across Paul W. Bryant Drive (formerly 10th Street) from the Bryant Museum and Conference Center.
The stadium opened as Thomas Field on March 26, 1948, in honor of former Tide head football coach and athletic director Frank Thomas, with a capacity of 2,000. In 1978, a bill was introduced by undergraduate SGA Senator Mike Harrington to rename the stadium Sewell–Thomas Stadium, adding the name of former Alabama player and head coach Joe Sewell, who had just been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.
Alabama has ranked in the top 10 nationally in attendance many times, particularly during the tenure of Jim Wells. In several years, the program has been in the nation's top 5 teams in average home attendance over the years, including second-place finishes in 2000, 2001, and 2002. In 2013, the Crimson Tide ranked 14th among Division I baseball programs in attendance, averaging 3,262 per home game.[1]
Major renovationsEdit
In 2013, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved a $30 million full-renovation project for the stadium.[2] While using some existing structures, the renovations essentially create a brand-new stadium. Renovations began immediately following the 2014 season and forced the team to play their home games at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium during the 2015 season. The project was completed for the start of the 2016 season. Renovations included 12 suites, a new outfield walk that connects with the concourse, a playground and mini infield for families, a pre-game picnic area, team store, commissary, new seats, and an expanded canopy overhang over the primary seating area. New player amenities include a home team locker room and lounge, showers and restrooms, meeting room, weight room, bullpen and a four-lane indoor batting facility. The new seating capacity is 5,800 chair-back seats, plus 2,700 standing room only.
View from Right Field Terrace, immediately prior to renovations
sewell, thomas, stadium, baseball, stadium, tuscaloosa, alabama, home, field, university, alabama, crimson, tide, college, baseball, team, stadium, opened, 1948, current, seating, capacity, stadium, commonly, referred, location241, paul, bryant, drive, tuscalo. Sewell Thomas Stadium is a baseball stadium in Tuscaloosa Alabama It is the home field of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide college baseball team The stadium opened in 1948 and the current seating capacity is 8 500 The stadium is commonly referred to as The Joe Sewell Thomas Stadium The Joe Location241 Paul W Bryant Drive Tuscaloosa Alabama 35401 United StatesCoordinates33 12 19 N 87 32 19 W 33 205156 N 87 538719 W 33 205156 87 538719OwnerUniversity of AlabamaOperatorUniversity of AlabamaCapacity8 500 5 800 seated 2 700 student section Field sizeFoul lines 320 feetPower alleys 360 feetCenter field 390 feetSurfaceNatural grassConstructionOpenedMarch 26 1948Renovated1996 2001 2015TenantsAlabama Crimson Tide NCAA 1948 present Coleman Coliseum the home to Crimson Tide basketball is located beyond the right field fence Sewell Thomas sits across Paul W Bryant Drive formerly 10th Street from the Bryant Museum and Conference Center Contents 1 History 1 1 Major renovations 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditThe stadium opened as Thomas Field on March 26 1948 in honor of former Tide head football coach and athletic director Frank Thomas with a capacity of 2 000 In 1978 a bill was introduced by undergraduate SGA Senator Mike Harrington to rename the stadium Sewell Thomas Stadium adding the name of former Alabama player and head coach Joe Sewell who had just been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977 Alabama has ranked in the top 10 nationally in attendance many times particularly during the tenure of Jim Wells In several years the program has been in the nation s top 5 teams in average home attendance over the years including second place finishes in 2000 2001 and 2002 In 2013 the Crimson Tide ranked 14th among Division I baseball programs in attendance averaging 3 262 per home game 1 Major renovations Edit In 2013 the University of Alabama Board of Trustees approved a 30 million full renovation project for the stadium 2 While using some existing structures the renovations essentially create a brand new stadium Renovations began immediately following the 2014 season and forced the team to play their home games at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium during the 2015 season The project was completed for the start of the 2016 season Renovations included 12 suites a new outfield walk that connects with the concourse a playground and mini infield for families a pre game picnic area team store commissary new seats and an expanded canopy overhang over the primary seating area New player amenities include a home team locker room and lounge showers and restrooms meeting room weight room bullpen and a four lane indoor batting facility The new seating capacity is 5 800 chair back seats plus 2 700 standing room only View from Right Field Terrace immediately prior to renovations View from Right Field Terrace after renovationsSee also EditList of NCAA Division I baseball venues Alabama Crimson Tide baseball 2016 Alabama Crimson Tide baseball teamReferences Edit Cutler Tami June 11 2013 2013 Division I Baseball Attendance Final Report PDF Sportswriters net NCBWA Archived from the original PDF on July 28 2014 Retrieved July 20 2013 Alabama baseball could play in Hoover in 2015 while Sewell Thomas Stadium is renovatedExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sewell Thomas Stadium Sewell Thomas Stadium This article about a baseball venue in Alabama is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sewell Thomas Stadium amp oldid 1148761604, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
