SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — More than two years after the old clubhouse was demolished at Baggett Stadium, the Dignity Health Baseball Clubhouse was dedicated with a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday.
Mustang Director of Athletics Don Oberhelman, French Hospital Medical Center President and CEO Alan Iftiniuk, head baseball coach Larry Lee and players Mark Armstrong and Kaden Sheedy were on hand for the historic ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“I want to congratulate Coach Lee on this beautiful, beautiful facility,” said Iftiniuk, representing Dignity Health of the Central Coast, a major partner of Cal Poly athletics. “It is amazing and I want to thank Don for all of the great work he has done with the athletic programs here at Cal Poly. It’s an incredible, incredible facility, well earned and well deserved by your leadership and by the success of this team. We can’t wait to play ball, so thank you. Congratulations on a beautiful facility.”
Added Lee, “The Dignity Health Baseball Clubhouse checks all the boxes. It’s a fabulous building both on the outside and on the inside. The coaches and players are excited to get settled in. We are lucky to have so many donors that got behind this project. A big thanks to all.”
The $9.4 million project covering 10,679 square feet over two floors includes the Jim Newkirk Pavilion (a multi-purpose room for players and donors which includes a kitchen, meeting and study space and a balcony for outdoor viewing of games), Maas Family Locker Room, Krukow Athletes Lounge and Kitchen, Burns Family Foundation Sports Medicine Room, Rumsey Athletes Lobby and Mudroom, showers and an academic center. Also included are offices for the coaching staff and managers, dressing room for umpires, a therapeutic cold plunge pool and a full commercial laundry facility.
“It’s a great day to be a Cal Poly Mustang as we finally officially open the Dignity Health Baseball Clubhouse,” Oberhelman said. “I thank all of you for your dedication to this project and for your loyalty to Cal Poly and Cal Poly baseball. Since there were so many people who donated to this project, it proves that this community really comes together around these special projects such as this.”
Over 100 people made donations for the project, including 33 at $100,000 or greater.
“I am amazed at the support and grit of the Cal Poly community, who found a way to elevate the college baseball environment at Baggett Stadium to one that is now world class,” said Jason Novi, a Mustang pitcher under Ritch Price from 1995-97. “The Dignity Health Baseball Clubhouse will not only provide a big-time advantage for our program on the field and in recruiting battles, but it will also enhance the development of the players and team culture off the field.”
“Don, (Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development) Ashley (Offermann) and Larry approached me in 2013 to share the vision of a next-generation baseball clubhouse facility,” added Maas, an infielder and outfielder from 1981-85, a 1984 All-American and 1985 Academic All-American. ‘The idea was bold but completely fitting to build on the legacy of such a storied program. As a Cal Poly alum, engineering grad and Mustang baseball player, I was thrilled to be a part of the ground floor capital raise. Paying it forward to a new era of student-athletes, staff, fans and the community is a small way to express deep gratitude for the opportunities afforded me through Cal Poly. And, after recently touring the completed facility with my wife and children, my wildest expectations of what was possible were smashed as the dream is now reality.”
Demolition of the old clubhouse was completed in June 2018. While the new clubhouse was being built, several additions were made to Baggett Stadium. In early 2018, backstop safety netting affording fans an unobstructed view of the action on the field was installed and new permanent seating behind the reserved sections raised the capacity to 3,138 fans.
A new $650,000 Daktronics videoboard, 36 feet wide by 20.4 feet high, featuring 1080-by-612 pixel resolution, LED lighting and 10-millimeter pixel pitch, was installed prior to the 2019 season. Private donors covered half of the cost while corporate sponsor and partner Learfield IMG covered the other half of the videoboard project.
In February, Cal Poly announced a $1 million gift from Bill Hoffman for the final phase of the four-year project to upgrade Baggett Stadium. The gift jump-starts a group of improvements at Baggett Stadium, including an improved entrance to the baseball and softball facilities, new ticket booth, renovations to the baseball press box, chair back seating, batters eye and other cosmetic enhancements.
“President Armstrong and vice president Cindy Villa and the teams that worked for them were unwavering in their support of this project,” Oberhelman said. “We had some setbacks and some challenges, but they were supportive and their teams were supportive throughout the entire construction process.
“Also, thanks to Alan Iftiniuk. It’s a tremendous partnership for us to have with Dignity Health. To have the naming rights for this project, their dedication to our community, the partnership between Dignity Health and Cal Poly Athletics is strong and vibrant and it’s because of this gentleman who has helped build this amazing relationship.
“I want to thank everybody who has helped support this project, I look forward to seeing everybody at a baseball game very very soon and Ride High!”
Added Iftiniuk at the ribbon-cutting ceremony: “Don has mentioned the collaboration that occurs between Dignity Health of the Central Coast and Cal Poly. There are many different collaborations that are going on from research to lots of work in various areas. One of the things we enjoy most is our collaboration with the student-athletes here at Cal Poly. Being a part of the development of this program has been so exciting and so rewarding for us. We can’t wait for everybody to see it and Go Mustangs!”
Armstrong, Sheedy and the rest of the Mustang players can’t wait to move in.
“I think the new clubhouse will provide a lot of opportunities for us as players both on the field and in the classroom,” said Armstrong. “With plenty of space to study, relax and prepare for games, I’m super excited to be able to utilize the first-class facilities on a daily basis.”
“This clubhouse is amazing!” added Sheedy. “It is a great addition to Baggett Stadium and I am beyond thankful to everyone who made it possible.”
A total of $12 million in private support has been invested in Baggett Stadium since 2014.
