Air Force athletics receives major upgrades to facilities
4/14/2021 1:00:00 PM | General
Air Force athletics continues to work on providing competitive advantages for its programs, particularly in the area of facilities.
The department has seen several significant facility improvements in the last year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. An investment of nearly $500,000 has improved the look and safety of the facilities, as well as celebrating the tradition and heritage of the programs.
The baseball program was the biggest beneficiary in facility upgrades. The team pitching area, completed in July 2020, included a 60x80 feet synthetic turf surface installed with an eight-foot vinyl coated chain link fence with windscreen. The project improves safety during practices and is an additional warmup area for cadet-athletes.
In November 2020, there was additional padding installed to the baseball outfield and baseline fence. The padding is a three-inch thick impact foam with plywood backing and covered with UV/mildew resistant vinyl to provide a professional stadium look and improve safety. The padding is four-feet high along the baselines and six-feet along the outfield fence.
The backstop, completed in December 2020, saw poles removed that were obstructing fan views and replaced with a new tieback tension netting to improve visibility and safety with ultra-strength knot-less netting.
The batter's eye in center field, completed in December 2020, included a permanent 30x60-foot wide screening built to withstand 100-mile per hour winds and eliminate the constant need for replacement of temporary screens. Lastly, new bullpen, backstop and curb padding was installed to improve safety and match the blue stadium padding throughout the venue in January 2021.
Two other venues also received facelifts celebrating the heritage of each program. The track and field program upgraded its facility by celebrating past athlete's outstanding accomplishments. This project supports the Academy's championship culture to develop character and leadership through unparalleled competitive and educational athletic experiences.
The hockey program, which recently moved into a newly renovated office and locker room facility, as well as a new press box on the east side of the Cadet Ice Arena, celebrated its rich tradition and heritage with branding throughout. Completed in November 2020, vinyl wall coverings, plaques, aluminum wall lettering and logos with back lighting highlight the new facility.
The athletic department used a blended approach for funding, balancing military construction projects, end of year funding and donations to the Falcon Athletic Fund, managed by the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC). The breakdown is $415,212 to the baseball upgrades, $63,359 for hockey and $12,857 for track and field. Baseball's breakdown came from all three sources, while hockey and track were from FAF donations. This blended approach has served the department well and was used to renovation Falcon Stadium recently.
The department has seen several significant facility improvements in the last year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. An investment of nearly $500,000 has improved the look and safety of the facilities, as well as celebrating the tradition and heritage of the programs.
The baseball program was the biggest beneficiary in facility upgrades. The team pitching area, completed in July 2020, included a 60x80 feet synthetic turf surface installed with an eight-foot vinyl coated chain link fence with windscreen. The project improves safety during practices and is an additional warmup area for cadet-athletes.
In November 2020, there was additional padding installed to the baseball outfield and baseline fence. The padding is a three-inch thick impact foam with plywood backing and covered with UV/mildew resistant vinyl to provide a professional stadium look and improve safety. The padding is four-feet high along the baselines and six-feet along the outfield fence.
The backstop, completed in December 2020, saw poles removed that were obstructing fan views and replaced with a new tieback tension netting to improve visibility and safety with ultra-strength knot-less netting.
The batter's eye in center field, completed in December 2020, included a permanent 30x60-foot wide screening built to withstand 100-mile per hour winds and eliminate the constant need for replacement of temporary screens. Lastly, new bullpen, backstop and curb padding was installed to improve safety and match the blue stadium padding throughout the venue in January 2021.
Two other venues also received facelifts celebrating the heritage of each program. The track and field program upgraded its facility by celebrating past athlete's outstanding accomplishments. This project supports the Academy's championship culture to develop character and leadership through unparalleled competitive and educational athletic experiences.
The hockey program, which recently moved into a newly renovated office and locker room facility, as well as a new press box on the east side of the Cadet Ice Arena, celebrated its rich tradition and heritage with branding throughout. Completed in November 2020, vinyl wall coverings, plaques, aluminum wall lettering and logos with back lighting highlight the new facility.
The athletic department used a blended approach for funding, balancing military construction projects, end of year funding and donations to the Falcon Athletic Fund, managed by the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC). The breakdown is $415,212 to the baseball upgrades, $63,359 for hockey and $12,857 for track and field. Baseball's breakdown came from all three sources, while hockey and track were from FAF donations. This blended approach has served the department well and was used to renovation Falcon Stadium recently.
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