SEC is already home to some of the nation’s best college baseball stadiums

The University of Kentucky released more details Monday about the construction of a new baseball stadium on campus, a $49 million project that should have the Wildcats playing in a new home by the 2019 season.

A new baseball stadium at UK has been talked about for years as the Cats’ facilities have lagged behind other programs in the Southeastern Conference, which has six of the nation’s top 10 college baseball parks, according to a recent survey by D1Baseball.com.

Here’s a quick look at the baseball facilities at the SEC’s other 13 schools:

Alabama

Sewell-Thomas Stadium

Capacity: 8,500

Opened: 1948

The stadium — which had a capacity of 2,000 when it opened nearly 70 years ago — underwent major renovations in 1996, 2001 and 2010 before a complete overhaul forced the Crimson Tide to relocate for the 2015 season. That most recent renovation, completed in time for the 2016 season, cost $42.5 million and included a new indoor hitting facility, fan suites, player lounge and locker room.

Arkansas

Baum Stadium

Capacity: 10,737

Opened: 1996

The stadium cost $8.9 million to build 20 years ago but has gone through several renovations since to include more seats, coaches’ offices and a new playing surface. In 2016, Baum Stadium became home to the largest video board in college baseball — a 25-by-71 foot LED screen in center field — at a cost of $1.1 million.

Auburn

Plainsman Park

Capacity: 4,096

Opened: 1950

The stadium received $4.2 million worth of renovations in 1996, another $2.3 million in renovations in 2001 and was named the best college ballpark in the country by Baseball America in 2003. There were several other renovation projects in the 1990s and 2000s, and the school announced plans last month for a new video board (24-by-62 feet), stadium sound system and chair-back seating that is expected to be ready in time for the 2017 season. An Auburn spokesman said Monday that there is no estimated price tag on those renovations yet.

Florida

McKethan Stadium

Capacity: 5,500

Opened: 1988

A project completed in 2006 included $13 million in renovations to McKethan Stadium and the nearby Lemerand Athletic Center. The stadium also got a new video board in 2012. A proposal released last month calls for more than $100 million in department-wide upgrades that would include shade structuring at McKethan Stadium, as well as expanded locker rooms and 400 new club seats.

Georgia

Foley Field

Capacity: 3,291

Opened: 1966

The stadium underwent a major renovation in 1990 — at the cost of $3.5 million — and another project before the 2011 season provided chair-back seating for the entire park. A new playing surface and drainage system was also installed in 2003. Another $12 million in renovations were completed last year and included improvements to several aspects of the stadium.

Louisiana State

Alex Box Stadium

Capacity: 10,326

Opened: 2009

The stadium had an initial cost of $37.8 million before going through a set of renovations in 2010 and 2012 to add more seating. Last month, D1Baseball.com named “The Box” the best college ballpark in the country.

Mississippi

Swayze Field

Capacity: 10,323

Opened: 1989

Twenty years after it opened — with a $3.75 million price tag — Swayze Field went through a major, $18 million renovation in 2009. Six years before that, the stadium got a new 6,800-square-foot indoor hitting facility. This year, Ole Miss announced $13 million in further upgrades, including a “baseball performance center” featuring a new clubhouse, weight room, indoor hitting and pitching facilities and a players’ lounge. The latest project is expected to be completed by the start of the 2018 season and will increase stadium capacity to 10,715.

Mississippi State

Dudy Noble Field

Capacity: 15,000

Opened: 1967

The stadium — which has 7,600 seats — went through $3.5 million of renovations in the late 1980s, several renovations throughout the 1990s and about $2 million in renovations over the past few years. This year, the school announced plans for a new video board that will measure 43-by-60 feet and replace Arkansas’ screen as the largest in college baseball. That project is the first step in a proposed $55 million of renovations.

Missouri

Taylor Stadium

Capacity: 3,031

Opened: 2002

The stadium cost $2.1 to build — back when Missouri was playing in the Big 12 — and went through $4.5 million worth of upgrades, including a new clubhouse, a few years ago. There has been talk of a new baseball stadium in Columbia, but there has been no formal proposal, and Tigers Athletics Director Mack Rhoades estimated this year that such a project would cost $35-45 million.

South Carolina

Founders Park

Capacity: 8,242

Opened: 2009

Often listed among the best stadiums in college baseball, Founders Park opened with a price tag of $35 million and is expected to undergo another $1 million in upgrades, which will include a new players’ lounge, before the 2017 season.

Tennessee

Lindsey Nelson Stadium

Capacity: 4,283

Opened: 1993

Built for $2.2 million more than 20 years ago, Lindsey Nelson Stadium went through millions of dollars in renovations several years ago that included a new locker room, weight room, training room and expanded seating for fans.

Texas A&M

Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park

Capacity: 6,100

Opened: 1978

The stadium went through a $24 million renovation before the 2012 season — $7 million of which came from Blue Bell Creameries — that included a new club lounge and several additions for players and coaches. A new video board — measuring 27-by-49 feet — was added before the 2014 season and was the largest in the SEC at that time.

Vanderbilt

Hawkins Field

Capacity: 3,626

Opened: 2002

The stadium — which is right next to Memorial Gym — underwent $4.5 million in renovations in 2006. The university has approved another $10 million in upgrades.

This story was originally published October 24, 2016 at 12:47 PM with the headline "SEC is already home to some of the nation’s best college baseball stadiums."