Completed Event: Baseball at Arizona on March 24, 2026 , Loss , 4, to, 5
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at Arizona
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Coro: Stadium rises with baseball
2/14/2018 10:48:00 AM | Baseball, Paul Coro
GCU Ballpark opens with upgrades for fans, players
Grand Canyon baseball head coach Andy Stankiewicz's office has been a window into how the Lopes have changed homes without a change of address.
Since a stadium demolition in late May, Stankiewicz's western view from the clubhouse has seen a new stadium on the rise for a program on the rise. The gradual appreciation of a new 3,500-seat stadium enveloping GCU's classic 56-year-old field might only be matched by the reaction of those who are startled by Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark on opening night Friday.
"To see it keep moving and come to fruition has been amazing," Stankiewicz said. "It's the jewel in the desert. It's got a spring training look about it with the batting cages, the (practice) half-field and the stadium. Baseball fans who have gone to those big-league spring training sites, I hope they see a comparison to here."
The change is striking with a structure featuring a massive steel overhang for shade, soaring light towers, purple seatbacks and a right-field seating berm.
The Lopes' home maintained the field as program founder Dr. Dave Brazell laid it out in 1962 but dramatically changed the fan experience from comfort to aesthetics.
"It tripled in size right from the get-go," Lopes senior first baseman Ian Evans said. "When I showed up for school (in the fall), it was just completely different so I was in shock. It's real exciting. We're fortunate to have this for us."
Even upon approach, the feel of the baseball complex was freshened with a lawn off the structure's southeast corner, where fans are greeted by a ticket office, an 800-square-foot concession stand that tripled the previous space, a 500-square-foot team shop and an elevator.
The outer walkways are lined with landscaping and pavers. Fans circulate air over the ground level and upper concourse. A new 1,000-square-foot press box provides ample space for staff and media, including two broadcast booths.
In addition to the stadium's main seating, temporary field seating is in place behind home plate and beyond each dugout until permanent seats are installed next offseason. Those seats are closer than any seats in the past without moving back the grandstand.
The visiting bullpen was moved beyond the right-field fence to make room for artificial-turf berm seating along the right-field foul line. A large patio sits above the berm for hospitality and family events.
"Every time I see it, I can't stop thinking about how incredible it is, especially for what it came from," said Tim Baron, GCU assistant athletic director for facilities and operations. "It was a small bleacher with a tiny press box. Now, it's massive. It feels massive because of the overhang structure. It has a really strong, professional feel. Making it more intimate with the closer seating really improves the game-day experience for our fans. You're very connected to the game."
Fan amenities were improved, including more in-game entertainment and new concession items such as Thunder Nachos with purple chips and purple churros.
Baseball amenities were improved, too. The dugouts doubled in size. Four new hitting cages were built with lighting and longer bays to make the flight of balls easier to see. A new practice infield, turned to face the same direction as Brazell Field, was installed with AstroTurf to offer a bad-weather alternative and a place to prepare for artificial-turf venues. The stadium completes GCU's "10 in 2" initiative, which added 10 new athletic facilities in two years as the program transitioned to Division I.
"Stepping up to Division I, this is a Division I type of facility," Lopes junior third baseman Zach Malis said. "It's part of the growth of this program. As our baseball team continues to develop, it's cool to see the facilities develop around us as well."
The field is even better lit with 21 new LED field lights, bringing the lighting to national television broadcast levels. The facility serves GCU beyond baseball with two classrooms built into the stadium.
"It's a great thing to show off because the stadium was done really, really well and quickly, which is thanks to Pono Construction and the crews," Stankiewicz said. "They've been going night and day to get this thing done since we ended last season. It's going to be a great place for baseball fans to watch a game and for our recruits to come in. We want to fill it up on a regular basis so people can see there's a lot of excitement around the program. No question, we feel the ball is moving in the right direction for the program."
Even before Lopes legend Tim Salmon's ceremonial first pitch ahead of Friday night's opener against national power TCU, GCU Ballpark is making a difference. Prospects and campers were impressed during construction and upon completion, nudging the recruiting needle for the future of the program.
For functionality, players are able to get to various stations quickly and return for batting practice at any time.
Lopes junior second baseman Austin Bull recently had the new stadium all to himself, hitting off a tee from Brazell Field's home plate at dusk. The view there is unchanged when looking out to the classic high outfield walls.
Turn the other way and the Lopes are in a new purple place.
"It's exciting because it's changed so much," Bull said. "It's so much different from when I was here as a freshman. We got all this crazy stuff and it looks way different. I'm sure it'll make the atmosphere for games better."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Since a stadium demolition in late May, Stankiewicz's western view from the clubhouse has seen a new stadium on the rise for a program on the rise. The gradual appreciation of a new 3,500-seat stadium enveloping GCU's classic 56-year-old field might only be matched by the reaction of those who are startled by Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark on opening night Friday.
"To see it keep moving and come to fruition has been amazing," Stankiewicz said. "It's the jewel in the desert. It's got a spring training look about it with the batting cages, the (practice) half-field and the stadium. Baseball fans who have gone to those big-league spring training sites, I hope they see a comparison to here."
The change is striking with a structure featuring a massive steel overhang for shade, soaring light towers, purple seatbacks and a right-field seating berm.
The Lopes' home maintained the field as program founder Dr. Dave Brazell laid it out in 1962 but dramatically changed the fan experience from comfort to aesthetics.
"It tripled in size right from the get-go," Lopes senior first baseman Ian Evans said. "When I showed up for school (in the fall), it was just completely different so I was in shock. It's real exciting. We're fortunate to have this for us."
Even upon approach, the feel of the baseball complex was freshened with a lawn off the structure's southeast corner, where fans are greeted by a ticket office, an 800-square-foot concession stand that tripled the previous space, a 500-square-foot team shop and an elevator.
The outer walkways are lined with landscaping and pavers. Fans circulate air over the ground level and upper concourse. A new 1,000-square-foot press box provides ample space for staff and media, including two broadcast booths.
In addition to the stadium's main seating, temporary field seating is in place behind home plate and beyond each dugout until permanent seats are installed next offseason. Those seats are closer than any seats in the past without moving back the grandstand.
The visiting bullpen was moved beyond the right-field fence to make room for artificial-turf berm seating along the right-field foul line. A large patio sits above the berm for hospitality and family events.
"Every time I see it, I can't stop thinking about how incredible it is, especially for what it came from," said Tim Baron, GCU assistant athletic director for facilities and operations. "It was a small bleacher with a tiny press box. Now, it's massive. It feels massive because of the overhang structure. It has a really strong, professional feel. Making it more intimate with the closer seating really improves the game-day experience for our fans. You're very connected to the game."
Fan amenities were improved, including more in-game entertainment and new concession items such as Thunder Nachos with purple chips and purple churros.
Baseball amenities were improved, too. The dugouts doubled in size. Four new hitting cages were built with lighting and longer bays to make the flight of balls easier to see. A new practice infield, turned to face the same direction as Brazell Field, was installed with AstroTurf to offer a bad-weather alternative and a place to prepare for artificial-turf venues. The stadium completes GCU's "10 in 2" initiative, which added 10 new athletic facilities in two years as the program transitioned to Division I.
"Stepping up to Division I, this is a Division I type of facility," Lopes junior third baseman Zach Malis said. "It's part of the growth of this program. As our baseball team continues to develop, it's cool to see the facilities develop around us as well."
The field is even better lit with 21 new LED field lights, bringing the lighting to national television broadcast levels. The facility serves GCU beyond baseball with two classrooms built into the stadium.
"It's a great thing to show off because the stadium was done really, really well and quickly, which is thanks to Pono Construction and the crews," Stankiewicz said. "They've been going night and day to get this thing done since we ended last season. It's going to be a great place for baseball fans to watch a game and for our recruits to come in. We want to fill it up on a regular basis so people can see there's a lot of excitement around the program. No question, we feel the ball is moving in the right direction for the program."
Even before Lopes legend Tim Salmon's ceremonial first pitch ahead of Friday night's opener against national power TCU, GCU Ballpark is making a difference. Prospects and campers were impressed during construction and upon completion, nudging the recruiting needle for the future of the program.
For functionality, players are able to get to various stations quickly and return for batting practice at any time.
Lopes junior second baseman Austin Bull recently had the new stadium all to himself, hitting off a tee from Brazell Field's home plate at dusk. The view there is unchanged when looking out to the classic high outfield walls.
Turn the other way and the Lopes are in a new purple place.
"It's exciting because it's changed so much," Bull said. "It's so much different from when I was here as a freshman. We got all this crazy stuff and it looks way different. I'm sure it'll make the atmosphere for games better."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
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