"Field of Dreams" Campaign Redefined

With the opening of the 2007 season, the Purdue baseball program celebrated its 120th year.    With 120 years of Boilermaker Baseball as a backdrop, we want to take this opportunity to update John Purdue Club members on the exciting new direction for the Field of Dreams campaign.  The overall scale of the project is being redefined and with that comes an opportunity to build the next great facility for Purdue Athletics.

Old Lambert Field, home of Purdue baseball from 1940 to 1965

Over the past year and a half, the Purdue baseball family has been asked to step up and support a renovation of the current home to Boilermaker Baseball, Lambert Field.  To date, just over $1 million has been committed toward the program’s facility needs. 

The Athletic Department’s original plan was to begin a major renovation of Lambert Field following the conclusion of the 2007 season.  But now there is an opportunity to dream even bigger!

The University has approved the Athletics Department’s plan to build a brand new baseball facility on the west side of campus.  In combination with an additional $1 million to be raised from former players, coaches and friends of the baseball program, the Athletics Department is willing to commit dollars from reserves and future television revenue for a more comprehensive baseball project than was originally planned. 

Though the project timeline is tentative at this point, here is an overview:

• Potentially following the 2008 season, break ground on a new state-of-the-art baseball facility west of campus near the Soccer Complex and Schwartz Tennis Center;
• Amenities are to include expanded seating, press box area, and lights, allowing Purdue to host post season events;
• Overall cost of the baseball project is approximately $6 - $7 million;
• As a separate cost, the project will also include a multi-purpose building to serve as game-day locker space, concessions/restrooms, storage, and meeting space for multiple teams;

This new opportunity has prompted Athletics to issue a “Field of Dreams Challenge” to the baseball community.  The challenge to the baseball family is to once again step up to the plate for an additional $1 million--in return for up to $5 million from the Athletics Department.  That’s a 5:1 match!  The goal is to build a first-rate state-of-the-art collegiate baseball stadium and eliminate any facility deficiency in the program.   

More information about the Field of Dreams Challenge will be forthcoming throughout the year.  If you are interested in the project and would like to learn more about it or make a gift, contact Brian Silotto at the John Purdue Club at (765) 494-3248 or bsilotto@purdue.edu.