Dell Diamond

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Dell Diamond
Dell diamond2.jpg
Location 3400 East Palm Valley Boulevard
Round Rock, Texas 78664
Coordinates 30°31′38″N 97°37′50″W / 30.5273°N 97.6305°W / 30.5273; -97.6305Coordinates: 30°31′38″N 97°37′50″W / 30.5273°N 97.6305°W / 30.5273; -97.6305
Broke ground February 26, 1999 (1999-02-26)[1]
Opened April 16, 2000 (2000-04-16)
Owner City of Round Rock
Operator Ryan Sanders Baseball LP
Surface Grass
Construction cost $25 million[2]
($33.3 million in 2013 dollars[3])
Architect HKS, Inc.
Project manager The Madison Group, Ltd.[4]
Services engineer Blum Consulting Engineers, Inc.[5]
General contractor Hensel Phelps
Capacity 8,722
Record attendance 13,475 on June 16, 2006
Field dimensions Left field – 335 feet (102 m)
Center field – 407 feet (124 m)
Right field – 325 feet (99 m)
Tenants
Round Rock Express (TL) (2000–2004)
Round Rock Express (PCL) (2005–present)

The Dell Diamond is the home stadium of the Round Rock Express, the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Texas Rangers major league baseball team. On April 16, 2000, the then-AA affiliate Express played their first home game at the stadium.[6]

The Dell Diamond is built on 85 acres (344,000 m²) of former farmland on the east side of Round Rock, Texas,[7] a rapidly growing suburban city northeast of Austin. Nolan Ryan and his son Reid Ryan, part owners of the Express, originally wanted a stadium inside the city of Austin, but found a more attractive site in the City of Round Rock, with support from the city leadership. The city of Round Rock contributed $7.35 million to the $20–25 million cost of the facility. The city owns the ballpark and gave the Express a 38 year lease. Dell Computer Corporation (now Dell, Inc.) contracted for naming rights in a deal that will cost the company $2.5 million over 15 years.

Contents

Features [edit]

The playing field dimensions are 330 feet (101 m) down the left field line, 325 feet (99 m) down the right field line, 375 feet (114 m) to both power alleys, and 407 feet (124 m) to the deepest point in center field. The wall surrounding the outfield is eight feet high.[8]

Dell Diamond is an open air facility with 8,688 fixed seats with room for almost 3,000 additional fans on an outfield grass berm area. It has 30 private suites, a swimming pool, hot tub, basketball court and playscape among other amenities.[9]

Events [edit]

The stadium has also hosted several college games, including some early-season University of Texas contests in 2007 while the Longhorns' home field, UFCU Disch-Falk Field, had been undergoing a major renovation project. In a show case neutral site game was played on Feb. 21 2012 between the Baylor Bears and Texas State Bobcats. Dell Diamond is also the designated site for the University Interscholastic League state baseball tournament.

The Dell Diamond is the home field for the Round Rock Express
The third base stands of the Dell Diamond, home of the Round Rock Express, as seen from right field on September 3rd, 2011.

References [edit]

  1. ^ Davenport, Christian (February 27, 1999). "Nolan Ryan Breaks Ground from the Mound". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved September 16, 2012. 
  2. ^ http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/minors/round-rock.html
  3. ^ Staff. Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2012. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  4. ^ The Madison Group - Past Projects
  5. ^ Leisure-Recreation Facilities - Blum Consulting Engineers
  6. ^ Jacobs, Janet (January 14, 2011). "Dell Roots, Roots, Roots for the Home Team". Austin American-Statesman. 
  7. ^ Round Rock Express "The Dell Diamond". April 16, 2005. 
  8. ^ MLN Sports Zone - Top Ten Ballparks (May). "MLN Top Ten Ballparks 2006 - No. 1". 
  9. ^ Minor League News (April). "MLN Top Ten Ballparks 2005". 

External links [edit]