Clemson softball stadium site chosen, will parking be affected?

Dan Radakovich says softballs new home will sit near Doug Kingsmore Stadium

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Thu Jan 25 07:01:03 GMT-04:00 2018

CLEMSON – The site for Clemson softball’s new home has been determined, and the process of building the stadium will begin after the 2018 football season, likely in December of 2018 or early 2019.

TigerNet met with Clemson Athletic Director Dan Radakovich Wednesday, and he said that the spot just beyond the left field wall of Doug Kingsmore has been selected as the site.

“The area beyond left field is the one that created the most synergy and really is a good location for that program,” Radakovich said. “We looked at a lot of locations, but that is within our athletic district and that is something that needed to happen. We had the kickoff meeting for that project last week, and our new head coach (John Rittman) is involved, and he's really excited about it. Right now, the conceptual drawings are just that, conceptual. But that is the spot they are looking to put it.”

That spot is prime territory for football parking – Lot 3J, the Jervey Lot and the Motorhome Lot will all likely be impacted as a result of the construction. Radakovich said the athletic department is working with the school to find other venues.

“We've had some discussions with campus as to what our needs are and how they are growing. Parking is one of the basic tenets of how IPTAY continues to grow and help our athletic program,” he said. “We've started some of those discussions with campus as to how we can look at other opportunities. We work and live down here in the athletics area, and it's important to know that there are things going on on campus that might be complementary to what we need. So that is why those discussions with campus are so important. It's not like we can wave a magic wand down here and do something on our own. We are a part of a bigger entity.”

Will the motorhome lot be moved, or will that area be used just for the larger vehicles and cars move to another location? Radakovich said he doesn’t know for sure.

“There are both cars and motorhomes in that area. Do cars stay and motorhomes go somewhere else? Do cars go somewhere else and motorhomes stay? We don't know the answer to that,” Radakovich said. “I think there is a little more work that needs to be done in regards to that. We've worked really hard on the remote parking and we've tried to make sure that is a good service. For the most part, the feedback has been really positive and we need to make sure that service improves.”

OTHER NOTES

Football coaches to get a raise

“We just re-did Dabo's contract recently, and he's in a good place right now. Certainly, with the very good year that we had, they are going to get raises. Dabo and I are working out the details on that. That will be something that will move in front of our board of trustees in February.

“You put aside dollars each and every year based on what you think bonuses might be based on success. Sometimes you hit that number and sometimes that your bonuses owed are a little larger because you've had more success. But you hope that if you've had more success you have more resources to help fill that gap. We've been able to do that each and every year.”

Changes to Death Valley?

“We are studying that right now and we won't have the results of that for a little while. But we are continuing to see what we can do to make Death Valley a great place to watch football. The general seating is probably not the biggest need. The demand that we have seen is for premium or upscale seating. So how does that fit into where we are and how can we make that work within the very tight footprint that is in the stadium. We also have to make surer that concourses and restrooms and concessions stands and things that are used by the multitude of fans are up to a good standard. Over the last couple of years, we've been able to make some improvements in those areas.”

Any changes to football in regards to facilities?

“I don't think so. We are probably looking at practice field type of stuff. Just like Memorial Stadium, you have to take the grass up and put new grass in. We will look at some of those types of things but, the big bulk of the work and the heavy lifting has occurred in football and I think those guys are happy with it.”

Other facilities changes

The tennis facility will be done next August. There will be renovation of the IPTAY building, and soccer will get new locker rooms.