Vincent–Beck Stadium (formerly Cardinal Field) is a ballpark located in Beaumont, Texas, on Jim Gilligan Way on the campus of Lamar University. The stadium was built in 1969 and has a current capacity of 3,500 spectators. It is the home stadium of the Lamar Cardinals baseball team. It was also home to the Beaumont Golden Gators, a minor league Double-A Texas League affiliate of the San Diego Padres (1983–1986) as well as the Beaumont Bullfrogs of the Central Baseball League (1994). The facility is named after former Major League Baseball coach Al Vincent and Bryan Beck, a former member of the Lamar University board of regents.
The Beck | |
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| Former names | Cardinal Field (1969–1981) |
|---|---|
| Location | Jim Gilligan Way, Beaumont, TX 77705 |
| Coordinates | 30°02′05.8″N 94°04′30″W / 30.034944°N 94.07500°W |
| Public transit | (BMT) Virginia and Rolfe Christopher |
| Owner | Lamar University |
| Operator | Lamar University |
| Seating type | 700 chairback seats 2,800 bleacher seats |
| Capacity | 3,500 |
| Record attendance | 3,563 vs LSU (February 24, 2016)[2]
|
| Field size | Left Field: 325 ft (99 m) Left Center: 370 ft (113 m) Center Field: 380 ft (116 m) Right Center 370 ft (113 m) Right Field: 325 ft (99 m) |
| Field shape | Symmetrical |
| Surface | Infield – Hellas Fusion Triple Play (2019–)[1] Olympia Turf (2008–2018) Natural Grass (1969–2007) Outfield – Hellas Fusion XP2 (2019–) Natural Grass (1969–2018) |
| Scoreboard | Electronic with video screen |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1969 |
| Renovated | Minor Renovations: 1990, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2018–2019 Major Renovations: 2006, 2010 |
| Expanded | 1981, 1982 – 1983 (seats added for Beaumont Golden Gators minor league team) |
| Tenants | |
| Lamar Cardinals (NCAA) (1969–present) Beaumont Golden Gators (TL) (1983–1986) Beaumont Bullfrogs (CBL) (1994) | |
The ballpark hosted the Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament in 1993 and the Southland Conference baseball tournament in 2001, 2002, and 2006.[3][4]
As the 2015 season began, the Cardinals had a 900-436–4 win–loss record at Vincent–Beck Stadium for a 67.3% winning record.[5]
The stadium has been expanded several times and has had numerous renovations over its existence. Ground breaking for installation of new turf at the stadium was held on October 22, 2018. The project was completed in January, 2019.[6] Infield turf is Hellas Construction Fusion Triple play. Outfield turf is Hellas Construction Fusion XP2.[7][8] Estimated cost for the project is $1.5 million.[9] Other improvements in 2019 were concentrated on the dugouts. Protective netting was installed, and dugout drainage was improved.[6]
Features
editThe stadium includes the following:
- Lighting for night games
- Twenty foot tall batter's eye in center field
- Three foot brick wall extending from dugout to dugout behind home plate
- Dugouts
- Pressbox with two radio broadcast booths and additional media working space
- 700 chairback seats and total permanent capacity of 3,500
- Locker Rooms including 35 custom built oak lockers
- Players Lounge
- All weather batting cages
- Hellas Fusion turf - Infield (Fusion XP) and Outfield (Fusion XP2)
- 9,600 sq ft Indoor Practice Facility[10]
Recovery from Hurricane Rita
editVincent–Beck Stadium was severely damaged by Hurricane Rita in 2005. The following repairs and enhancements were made to the stadium before and during the 2006 baseball season.[11]
- Replace press box – press box had been blown off its supports and was damaged
- Replace outfield fences – Fences were blown down
- Replace field lights
- Replace score board – new scoreboard was an enhancement and included a small video board
- Replace seats
On January 9, 2007, the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded Lamar University $1.1 million to help with the uninsured portion of the loss.[12]
Attendance
editTop ten attendance
edit| Date | Opponent | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Ten Single Game Crowds | |||
| February 24, 2016 | LSU | 3,563 | |
| March 16, 2004 | Texas A&M | 3,416 | |
| March 28, 1998 | Western Kentucky | 3,306 | |
| March 30, 1994 | LSU | 3,079 | |
| March 22, 1992 | Texas | 2,523 | |
| March 3, 2023 | Penn | 2,014 | |
| April 20, 2022 | Houston Baptist | 1,923 | |
| April 8, 2009 | Rice | 1,845 | |
| March 22, 2011 | Rice | 1,827 | |
| March 10, 1999 | Rice | 1,820 | |
- Note: Attendance is limited to 1991 season forward. Attendance is not available for earlier seasons.
Yearly attendance
editBelow is a list of the attendance by year from the 1991 season forward.
Source:[2][13]
| Season | Average | High | High Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly Attendance | |||
| 2023 | 1,351 | 2,014 | Penn |
| 2022 | 1,097 | 1,923 | Houston Baptist |
| 2021 | 668 | 1,202 | Houston |
| 2020 | 799* | 987* | Akron |
| 2019 | 748 | 1,091 | BYU |
| 2018 | 524 | 1,111 | McNeese |
| 2017 | 524 | 1,122 | Illinois, Milwaukee |
| 2016 | 818 | 3,563 | LSU |
| 2015 | 724 | 1,032 | Illinois, New Mexico State |
| 2014 | 763 | 1,252 | New Orleans |
| 2013 | 645 | 1,039 | Nicholls |
| 2012 | 820 | 1,727 | Rice |
| 2011 | 856 | 1,827 | Rice |
| 2010 | 526 | 1,113 | Rice |
| 2009 | 515 | 1,845 | Rice |
| 2008 | 450 | 706 | Louisiana–Lafayette |
| 2007 | 484 | 1,312 | Rice |
| 2006 | 548 | 1,054 | Texas A&M |
| 2005 | 641 | 1,564 | Rice |
| 2004 | 696 | 3,416 | Texas A&M |
| 2003 | 599 | 1,549 | Texas–Arlington |
| 2002 | 497 | 1,262 | McNeese State |
| 2001 | 466 | 1,479 | Texas–Arlington |
| 2000 | 494 | 1,628 | Rice |
| 1999 | 527 | 1,820 | Rice |
| 1998 | 352 | 3,306 | Western Kentucky |
| 1997 | 571 | 1,103 | Rice |
| 1996 | 511 | 1,648 | Texas A&M |
| 1995 | 437 | 832 | Texas State |
| 1994 | 758 | 3,079 | LSU |
| 1993 | 697 | 1,706 | Arkansas State |
| 1992 | 378 | 2,523 | Texas |
| 1991 | 212 | 1,134 | Sam Houston State |
- Note: Games scheduled after March 11, 2020, cancelled due to COVID-19 precautions.
As of the 2023 season.
Photo gallery
edit-
Infield and batter's cage -
Chair back seating -
Playing field from the right field seats -
Vincent-Beck Stadium scoreboard -
Playing field from the left field seats -
Looking toward the press box -
Ramp to left field line deck -
Picnic area along the left field line -
Championship honors board at the stadium -
9,600 sq ft indoor training facility
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Vincent-Beck Olympia Turf Project Completed". Lamar University Department of Athletics. February 19, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Cardinals complete comeback, down No. 5 LSU". Lamar Cardinals Athletics. February 24, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ^ "Facilities - Vincent-Beck Stadium". www.lamarcardinals.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ "Vincent-Beck Stadium". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
- ^ "Lamar Cardinal Baseball (Games 1-4)" (PDF). Lamar University Department of Athletics. Retrieved February 14, 2015.
The Cards hold an impressive 900-436-4 record within its walls, winning 67 percent of the games played at home.
- ^ a b Matt Faye (January 25, 2019). "Lamar baseball returns to updated Vincent Beck Stadium". Hearst Newspapers, II LLC. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
- ^ Cooper Welch (October 24, 2018). "Cardinal Baseball Announces New Turf Field". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
- ^ "HELLAS CONSTRUCTION SELECTED BY LAMAR UNIVERSITY FOR BASEBALL STADIUM UPGRADE". Hellas Construction. October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
- ^ "Quarterly Board of Regents Meeting August 16 - 17, 2018 Lost Pines, TX" (PDF). Texas State University System. August 16, 2018. p. 509. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
- ^ "LAMAR'S STRAIT BASEBALL TRAINING FACILITY NOW COMPLETE". Lamar University Department of Athletics. November 10, 2010. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
- ^ "Lamar University 2020 Baseball Media Guide". Lamar University Athletics. 30 January 2020. pp. 8–9. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
- ^ "FEMA Awards Another $5.1 Million In Rita Disaster Aid To Texas | FEMA.gov". www.fema.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-07-14.
- ^ a b "Lamar University Cardinals". NCAA Statistics. NCAA.org. Retrieved July 25, 2023.