Alfred A. McKethan Stadium
Encyclopedia
Alfred A. McKethan Stadium at Perry Field is the college baseball
stadium
of the University of Florida
, and serves as the home field for the Florida Gators baseball
team. McKethan Stadium is located on the university's Gainesville, Florida
campus, in close proximity to the university's indoor sports arena, the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, and its football
stadium, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
.
, a University of Florida alumnus
and successful Florida banker, businessman and politician who contributed significant funds for the reconstruction and expansion of the stadium. McKethan donated nearly three million dollars for the reconstruction and improvement of the stadium in the 1980s and 1990s. The playing field is named for Carl E. "Tootie" Perry, a former Florida Gators football
who was the Gators' first All-Southern
selection in 1920 and 1921 and team captain
in 1921. Perry's family formerly owned the land on which the stadium was built, and donated the land to the university.
rebuilt the press box in 1996, added bleachers on the left field line and behind the left field fence in 1997, and added another 1,000 seats down the left baseline and upgraded to the locker rooms and baseball offices in 2007.
The stadium is lighted for night games and features a natural grass and clay playing surface.
in attendance, averaging 3,505 per home game.
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
of the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and serves as the home field for the Florida Gators baseball
Florida Gators baseball
The Florida Gators baseball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of baseball. The Florida Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association , and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference . They play their home games in Alfred A...
team. McKethan Stadium is located on the university's Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
campus, in close proximity to the university's indoor sports arena, the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, and its football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
stadium, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field is the football stadium for the University of Florida and the home field of the university's Florida Gators football team. It is located on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. The stadium was originally built in 1930, and has been regularly...
.
Naming
The stadium facility is named for Alfred A. McKethanAlfred A. McKethan
Alfred Augustus McKethan was a prominent American banker, citrus grower, businessman and political appointee who was a native and resident of Florida.- Early life and education :...
, a University of Florida alumnus
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
and successful Florida banker, businessman and politician who contributed significant funds for the reconstruction and expansion of the stadium. McKethan donated nearly three million dollars for the reconstruction and improvement of the stadium in the 1980s and 1990s. The playing field is named for Carl E. "Tootie" Perry, a former Florida Gators football
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
who was the Gators' first All-Southern
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
selection in 1920 and 1921 and team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
in 1921. Perry's family formerly owned the land on which the stadium was built, and donated the land to the university.
Facilities
The current stadium facility is a concrete structure that seats approximately 5,500 fans, and includes a press box, concession stands, locker rooms for the Gators and visiting teams, and coaching staff offices. The University Athletic AssociationUniversity of Florida Athletic Association
The University Athletic Association, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that is responsible for maintaining the Florida Gators intercollegiate sports program of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida...
rebuilt the press box in 1996, added bleachers on the left field line and behind the left field fence in 1997, and added another 1,000 seats down the left baseline and upgraded to the locker rooms and baseball offices in 2007.
The stadium is lighted for night games and features a natural grass and clay playing surface.
Attendance
In 2010, the Gators ranked 13th in Division I college baseballCollege baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
in attendance, averaging 3,505 per home game.
See also
- Buildings at the University of FloridaBuildings at the University of FloridaThe University of Florida is a flagship university in the State University System of Florida and has many notable buildings located in Gainesville, Jacksonville, Orlando and throughout Florida. The Campus Historic District at the University of Florida comprises 32 contributing properties that are...
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- History of the University of FloridaHistory of the University of FloridaThe history of the University of Florida is firmly tied to the history of public education in the state of Florida. The University of Florida, colloquially known as "Florida" or "UF," originated as several distinct institutions that were merged to create a single state-supported university by the...
- University Athletic AssociationUniversity of Florida Athletic AssociationThe University Athletic Association, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that is responsible for maintaining the Florida Gators intercollegiate sports program of the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida...
External links
- Alfred A. McKethan Stadium – Stadium description at official website of the Florida Gators.