Fresno Pacific’s baseball stadium improvement project, which will add stadium seating, a new concession stand and restroom, press box, and locker room, got a $3 million boost, the university announced Wednesday.
The Daniel R. Martin Family Foundation made a $3 million commitment to help pay for the university’s project to upgrade the Steinert Athletic Complex.
Construction on the three-phase baseball stadium project will start after the 2023 baseball season. Fundraising for the project is still ongoing through Fresno Pacific’s Winning By Design campaign, which was launched in 2019.
The estimated cost to complete the entire project is $3.5 million, university spokesman Wayne Steffen said.
Phase 1 will include a nearly 1,000-square-foot concession stand and restroom at the new entrance gate, a concrete plaza, an ADA-compliant walkway, and new ticket booth. Phase 2 includes seating for more than 700, including 415 stadium chairs behind home plate, a roof for shade and protection, and a new press box. Phase 3 will construct a 2,600-square-foot clubhouse for Sunbird athletes, with 40-plus lockers, a common area, coaches’ offices, laundry, and team restroom and shower area.
The $3 million baseball stadium commitment is in addition to support by the Damiel R. Martin Family Foundation for an annual scholarship for students. The scholarship was established by the late Daniel R. Martin and his daughter, Teri Williams.
“The Martin Family Foundation and Mrs. Williams have been kind and generous partners who believe in the transformative power of Christian higher education,” Fresno Pacific President Dr. André Stephens said in a news release. “Their gift ensures that current and future students can experience the life-changing, holistic education that FPU offers inside and outside the classroom. We are grateful for their Kingdom investment.”
