June 6, 2014
SAN DIEGO - As part of a series of upgrades within the athletic department, San Diego State will add a state-of-the-art clubhouse adjacent to the existing dugout at SDSU Softball Stadium, Associate Athletic Director of Events/Facilities and Equipment Nick Pettit confirmed. The project broke ground on June 2 and is expected to be completed by Dec. 1.
The new cutting-edge facility will include a locker room with 24 lockers, a restroom, showers, a satellite athletic training room with an ice machine and training table, a 514-square-foot lounge and a 140-square-foot outdoor patio with a barbeque area with view the field.
Other modern design features entail tiled carpets, laminate maple lockers, quartz countertops and a flat-screen TV, while each of the lockers will be equipped with its own individual USB outlet charging station. The 1,450-square-foot clubhouse will be added onto the south side of the Aztecs' existing dugout, complete with six solatube skylights.
"It's huge for our program," SDSU softball head coach Kathy Van Wyk said. "It couldn't have happened without the appreciation and support of our administration. This is the next step in hopefully hosting an (NCAA) Regional one day.
"The team is ecstatic about having its own locker room and a place to gather so close to the field. The new team room only adds to the growth of our program."
Pettit also said this is only the first step of several other additions to SDSU Softball Stadium, as the athletic department desires to insert an enclosed press box, as well as additional seating behind home plate and in the outfield.
Along with the upcoming Basketball Performance Center and renovations of Aztec Court at Peterson Gym, Pettit acknowledged upgrading the athletic facilities has become a primary focus for the university in recent years.
"I think the university and athletic department have made a major investment in improving our facilities," Pettit said. "We've done substantial work over the last couple years that have really improved the environment of our student-athletes to participate and allow them to succeed. One of (Director of Intercollegiate Athletics) Jim Sterk's major areas of focus is facility improvement and enhancement.
"It's an exciting time. It's exciting for these ground breakings, and exciting to see these projects come to fruition from paper to actually putting a shovel into the ground."