Overview

This project is to develop a concept plan for a new clubhouse at USA Baseball National Training Complex. The amount of programming and level of events occurring at the NTC will require additional facilities such as team locker rooms (preferably four), umpire locker rooms, multipurpose meeting space, interview/press conference space, media workspace and hospitality areas.

With the development of these facilities, regional and national events such as the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship and the ACC Baseball Championship, in addition to more local tournament and event rentals, will continue to be scheduled at the NTC. These regional and national events will bring tremendous exposure to the Town and the National Training Complex as well as positive economic impact.

Map

See Project Location Map.

Schedule

• Consultant Selection: Mid-December to February 2012
• The project is scheduled to be completed on or before July 1, 2019

Budget

The estimated cost to construct the Clubhouse is $6.5 million.

In October 2011, the Town of Cary approved an inter-local agreement with Wake County that provided for $10 million in inter-local funding, with a funding commitment on the part of Cary to provide equal to or exceeding an additional ten million dollars ($10,000,000) for a grand total of 20 million dollars. Below are the projects to be funded with inter-local funding:

· WakeMed Soccer Park - $9.1 million
· USA Baseball National Training Center - $6.5 million
· Cary Tennis Park - $4.5 million

= $20.1 million

Background

In 2007, the Town of Cary completed construction of the 20-acre USA Baseball National Training Complex (USA Baseball NTC), located within the 221 acre Thomas Brooks Park in west Cary. The USA Baseball National Training Complex consists of four lighted baseball fields – a stadium field (Coleman Field) and three training fields – all with dimensions of 330 feet down the lines and 400 feet in centerfield. All fields are maintained at Major League Baseball standards.

Current Amenities
The signature baseball field includes canopied seating for 1,754 with additional grass seating for approximately 1,800 people. Patron amenities at Coleman Field include restrooms, concessions, a press box which includes 2 suites, official scorer’s room, sound room and press row. The restrooms and concessions serve the entire complex. The entrance to the complex includes a plaza, ticketing structure, and merchandising facility. The three training fields each have individual scorekeeper/announcer shelters, and spectator seating for 120 people. Between Coleman Field and the Training Fields is a central plaza. There is parking for approximately 600 vehicles and road access connecting to other facilities within Brooks Park.

Identified Improvements
During the design of the USA Baseball Complex, a need for a Clubhouse and a Pitching/Batting Facility for training was identified and designed as a part of the project. These facilities were to be located across the entrance plaza from the retail store between the parking lot and Coleman Field. Due to budget limitations, these facilities were not built. Today, the area intended for the Clubhouse and Pitching/Batting Facility is a large expanse of turf that was graded during construction in anticipation of adding the facilities in the future.

The Clubhouse would provide USA Baseball staff and coaches' offices, locker rooms for teams and umpires, and a meeting/conference area. The Pitching/Batting Facility was designed as a covered, open air facility adjacent to the clubhouse.

Contact

Doug McRainey, Director
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department
316 N. Academy Street
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 469-4066
(919) 469-4344 (fax)
doug.mcrainey@townofcary.org