http://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/2018/01/16/florida-state-starting-complete-redo-dick-howser-stadium/1035329001/
FSU is currently in the process of fundraising for a roughly $25 million project designed by Gensler architects along with EMI Architects to completely update the stadium.
The administration has the option to do the renovations in $5 million phases, but there is also the option to do more than one phase at a time.
"It’s been 15 years since we’ve done anything substantial so we’re due for upgrades. It’s just time."
FSU is currently in the process of putting in a new video board for the stadium as a part of phase one of the renovations.
The new Panasonic video board measures 60.5 feet wide and 32.75 feet tall, offering 1,981 square feet of video, nearly seven times larger than the previous video portion of the scoreboard that had been in place since the 2004 season.
Only Mississippi State has a larger video board in college baseball.
But that is just one of many changes to come.
Over the next few years -- depending on the fundraising -- FSU's renovations will include:
*New seats in the grandstands.
*Updating the open-air suites along the first base side.
*Improving the dugout suites.
*Improved lighting.
*Updating the concession stands.
*Renovating the weight room and the Tradition Room, updating the dugouts and the clubhouse.
*Renovating the concourses.
Beyond the left field wall, FSU is planning to build visitor locker room -- something that the stadium currently does not have -- and also planning to build out the ticket booth that is facing the softball stadium.
FSU plans to put in a hospitality area over the ticket booth that will overlook the stadium.
FSU also wants to add standing-room-only area along the right-field line and behind the screen. It will be built up so fans can stand behind the screen and watch the game from that area.
“It touches on improving the look of the area in right field to make it blend a little more comfortably with the rest of campus," Waxman said.
Underneath the standing-room-only area, FSU plans to build a facility that will serve as the Seminoles' bullpen on game day.
FSU will also build a separate facility behind the right field bleachers that will be used for infield drills and a batting cage.
“They currently don’t have any space to do infield drills," Waxman said.
"We’re talking about potentially creating a space for that that could double as a bullpen, that could double as a batting cage. It’s a really extensive plan that first seeks to give the baseball players what they need to continue their trade.”
Basically, the only thing that won't be changing in Dick Howser Stadium is the dimensions of Mike Martin Field.
The Don Veller Seminole Golf Course — where both the men's and women's golf teams play — is going to be reconstructed by Nicklaus Design, which is run by golf legend Jack Nicklaus and his son Jack Nicklaus Jr.
Nicklaus Jr. is leading the design team for the renovations.
"We’re still looking at the golf project with the Nicklaus design team with the hop - but not a guarantee because we still have to raise some money - that we can start to do something this fall," said FSU Deputy Athletics Director for External Operations Karl Hicks.
"To time the construction on a golf course with grass growing season in Florida, you have to start construction sometime between September and November to ensure the course is ready to be played the following fall."
The design for the course has been completed, but that doesn't mean that it will be exactly like the completed project.
“There’s a plan in place for the 18 holes, but when they start doing the course, Jack or his son will come out and make small changes depending on what they see," FSU Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Event Management Bernie Waxman, who is leading the project for FSU, told the Tallahassee Democrat.
The project is going to cost FSU roughly $10 million -- $6 million for the course and $4 million for the clubhouse and practice area -- but the fundraising is almost complete.
Softball and soccer will also be receiving new scoreboards, but both venues will also be receiving shading enhancements.
The Seminole Softball Complex will also be undergoing significant changes.
FSU is increasing the width and depth of the dugouts, and building out the practice deck so that the program can have its own hospitality area.
The Tucker Civic Center -- where both the FSU men's and women's basketball programs play -- is getting a players lounge on the second floor.
“It’s a meeting space. It’s a hospitality space," Hicks said.
"The women had talked about having a video breakdown area. It will be a really nice amenity for both teams. Fans won’t necessarily see that, but people that are coming into the program will because they’ll be visiting the coaches there.”
It's the second phase of the process of renovating the Tucker Center. The first saw a complete redesign of the inside of the arena as well as new locker rooms for both teams.
All facilities will be undergoing wiring changes as FSU prepares for the launch of the ACC network in 2019.
The facilities will be getting fiber optic cable to help with the HD signals that will be coming back to Seminole Production's command center in the Coyle E. Moore Athletic Center.
FSU will also be adding extra camera platforms for the different venues.
“We’re already operating a quasi-television network," Hicks said.
"The quasi-television network that we’re operating right now is mostly digital and board shows. We’re producing things for ESPN 3 and ACC Network Extra and we will be morphing to one that’s going to produce events for cable distribution."
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