Baseball Stadium Renovation Slideshow  

Traffic along Gregory Street in Normal is moving a little slower these days as pedestrians and vehicular passerby can't help but glimpse at the new stadium surrounding Duffy Bass Field. Along with the usual dust and noise, a cloud of excitement and amazement hung over the eye-catching project from start to finish.

The beautiful, award-winning playing surface is now encompassed by an equally exceptional facility built with fans, players and members of the media in mind. Illinois State committed more than $3 million to the project, which included a gated baseball complex with seating for over 1,000 spectators, restrooms, concessions, team dugouts and a state-of-the-art press box, among other amenities.

Coupled with the scenic view of campus and Illinois State's other athletic facilities, and a top-notch playing surface, the stadium at Duffy Bass Field embodies the commitment to excellence of both the Redbird baseball program and the Illinois State Athletics Department.

Duffy Bass Field is continually recognized as one of the top playing surfaces in college baseball, most recently by being awarded the "Honor Award" by the Professional Grounds Management Society in 2003 - the same award it won in 1992.

From the lush grass infield and outfield, to the well-manicured baselines, batter's boxes and pitchers mound, Duffy Bass Field benefits from being expertly designed and professionally maintained, as facilities and turf specialists work closely with the coaching staff.

Moved to its present location in 1988, Duffy Bass Field is located in the northwest corner of the athletics complex and plays 330 feet down the lines, 375 feet in the power alleys, and 400 feet in center field.

In addition to two on-site batting cages, the Redbird baseball program has access to four indoor batting cages in spacious Horton Field House. Illinois State's locker rooms, which received a face lift in the offseason, athletic training rooms and coaches offices are also housed in Horton. When weather does not cooperate, Hancock Stadium's FieldTurf surface is also available for practice and training.

Browning Day Mullins Dierdorff Architects (BDMD) designed the new stadium and McCoy Construction completed the project.

Directions:
From I-55, take exit 165, U.S. 51-South Main St., south to Gregory Street.

From I-39, exit at I-55 east, and the first exit is 165. From I-74, follow I-55 North to exit 165.

From the airport, turn left on Empire (Rt. 9) for approximately two miles, right on Veteran's Parkway for approximately four miles, left on College Avenue, for approximately six miles, right on Main St. for about a mile and then left on Gregory. Duffy Bass Field is on the left side of Gregory, just past University High School's tennis courts.