University of Tennessee Athletics
TENNESSEE SOFTBALL FIELD AT TYSON PARK
October 31, 1999 | Softball
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Tennessee begins its ninth season of competition on the Tennessee Softball Field at Tyson Park, just a half-mile west of the UTK campus. As part of the STEP UP campaign, the Lady Vol program has been the beneficiary of a $2.5-million-dollar stadium project slated for completion in the immediate future. STEP UP is a comprehensive capital campaign to raise $44.25 million for new, renovated and expanded facilities benefiting 17 of UT's 20 men's and women's intercollegiate teams. These improvements are designed to enable UT to continue competing for SEC and NCAA Championships in each sport.
UT and the City of Knoxville entered into an agreement during the spring of 1995, giving Tennessee exclusive use of the two fields throughout the academic year, while the facility will be shared during the summer. In the agreement, UT was allowed to upgrade the facility to NCAA stadium standards.
Although Tyson Park is municipally owned, UT has a five-year lease, with the option to renew. For the past 50 years, Tyson has been operated as a city park, and is currently Knoxville's most used outdoor recreational facility.
The main stadium with a Wrigley Field feel, built at a cost of $485,000, is constructed out of concrete and includes a raised press box complete with phone lines and a public address system, an electronic scoreboard, restroom facilities, a souvenir and concession stand and an equipment room. The grounds are lighted, and the playing surface features total field irrigation. Two 55-foot batting cages are beyond the third base dugout, while a bullpen can be found in the same area.
Bermuda grass adorns the outfield, while the infield consists of a combination of Turface, sand and clay. The field's dimensions are 190 feet down the left and right field lines and 220 feet to straight-away center field. From home plate to the backstop is 25 feet, while there is 27 feet between the foul line and the sideline fence. The dugouts are 40 feet by 10 feet and are permanently enclosed. A three-foot brick wall runs from dugout to dugout with raised reserved seating behind the backstop.
The stadium's capacity is 1,000, with permanent reserved seating for 500 and aluminum bleacher seating for approximately 250 behind each dugout. If necessary, portable seating can be installed behind left and right field. Ample space is available for lawn chairs and standing room along the perimeter of the field. Wheelchair ramps access the reserved sections, with handicapped seating available next to both dugouts.
Opening day for the park was Thurs., March 7, 1996, a 10-7 Lady Vol victory over Purdue in brisk 28-degree weather. Overall, the Orange and White has compiled an impressive 146-60 (.709) mark on its home field, including a stellar 23-7 record last season. This spring, Co-Head Coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly's squad will entertain Southeastern Conference rivals Auburn, Florida, LSU, Mississippi, South Carolina, as well as non-conference foes Austin Peay, East Tennessee State, Gardner-Webb, Georgia Southern, Liberty, Lipscomb, Middle Tennessee, Tennessee Tech and UTEP.
DIRECTIONS
FROM THE NORTH:
Enter Knoxville on I-75 South. Three miles past the I-640 interchange, stay left and take the I-40W/I-75S exit. After one mile, take exit #386B (Alcoa Highway), and bear left under the overpass. Take the first exit, which will be Kingston Pike. Turn left at the light onto Kingston Pike. Between the first and second lights, turn left into Tyson Park. At the stop sign, turn right. The field is on the left.
FROM THE SOUTH (McGHEE TYSON AIRPORT):
Take 129 North (Alcoa Highway) toward Knoxville. After approximately 13 miles, exit onto Kingston Pike. Turn right at the light onto Kingston Pike. After 50 yards take the first left into Tyson Park. At the stop sign, turn right. The feild is on the left.
FROM THE EAST:
Enter Knoxville on 1-40 West. Take exit #386B (Alcoa Highway), and bear left under the overpass. Take the first exit, which will be Kingston Pike. Turn left at the light onto Kingston Pike. Between the first and second lights, turn left into Tyson Park. At stop sign, turn right. The field is on the left.
FROM THE WEST:
Enter Knoxville on 1-40 East. Take exit #386B (Alcoa Highway). Take the first exit, which will be Kingston Pike. Turn left at the light onto Kingston Pike. Between the first and second lights turn left into Tyson Park. At the stop sign, turn right. The field is on the left.
FROM WEST KNOXVILLE:
Go east on Kingston Pike. Across from Neyland Drive, turn left onto Concord Street. At the bottom of the hill, turn right into Tyson Park. The field will be 100 yards ahead on the left.
PARKING:
Parking is available at the lot on the west side of the park, just below the entrance to the field and before the railroad tracks.
