Vincent–Beck Stadium

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Vincent–Beck Stadium
The Beck
Map
Former namesCardinal Field (1969–1981)
LocationJim Gilligan Way, Beaumont, TX 77705
Coordinates30°02′05.8″N 94°04′30″W / 30.034944°N 94.07500°W / 30.034944; -94.07500
Public transit(BMT) Virginia and Rolfe Christopher
OwnerLamar University
OperatorLamar University
Seating type700 chairback seats
2,800 bleacher seats
Capacity3,500
Record attendance3,563 vs LSU (February 24, 2016)[2]
  • Attendance only available from 1991 season forward
Field sizeLeft Field: 325 ft (99 m)
Left Center: 370 ft (113 m)
Center Field: 380 ft (116 m)
Right Center 370 ft (113 m)
Right Field: 325 ft (99 m)
Field shapeSymmetrical
SurfaceInfield – Hellas Fusion Triple Play (2019–)[1]
Olympia Turf (2008–2018)
Natural Grass (1969–2007)
Outfield – Hellas Fusion XP2 (2019–)
Natural Grass (1969–2018)
ScoreboardElectronic with video screen
Construction
Opened1969 (1969)
RenovatedMinor Renovations: 1990, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2018–2019
Major Renovations: 2006, 2010
Expanded1981, 1982 (1982) – 1983 (1983) (seats added for Beaumont Golden Gators minor league team)
Tenants
Lamar Cardinals (NCAA) (1969–present)
Beaumont Golden Gators (TL) (1983–1986)
Beaumont Bullfrogs (CBL) (1994)

Vincent–Beck Stadium (formerly Cardinal Field) is a ballpark located in Beaumont, Texas, on Jim Gilligan Way on the campus of Lamar University. The stadium was built in 1969 and has a current capacity of 3,500 spectators. It is the home stadium of the Lamar Cardinals baseball team. It was also home to the Beaumont Golden Gators, a minor league Double-A Texas League affiliate of the San Diego Padres (1983–1986) as well as the Beaumont Bullfrogs of the Central Baseball League (1994). The facility is named after former Major League Baseball coach Al Vincent and Bryan Beck, a former member of the Lamar University board of regents.

The ballpark hosted the Sun Belt Conference baseball tournament in 1993 and the Southland Conference baseball tournament in 2001, 2002, and 2006.[3][4]

As the 2015 season began, the Cardinals had a 900-436–4 win–loss record at Vincent–Beck Stadium for a 67.3% winning record.[5]

The stadium has been expanded several times and has had numerous renovations over its existence. Ground breaking for installation of new turf at the stadium was held on October 22, 2018. The project was completed in January, 2019.[6] Infield turf is Hellas Construction Fusion Triple play. Outfield turf is Hellas Construction Fusion XP2.[7][8] Estimated cost for the project is $1.5 million.[9] Other improvements in 2019 were concentrated on the dugouts. Protective netting was installed, and dugout drainage was improved.[6]

Features

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The stadium includes the following:

  • Lighting for night games
  • Twenty foot tall batter's eye in center field
  • Three foot brick wall extending from dugout to dugout behind home plate
  • Dugouts
  • Pressbox with two radio broadcast booths and additional media working space
  • 700 chairback seats and total permanent capacity of 3,500
  • Locker Rooms including 35 custom built oak lockers
  • Players Lounge
  • All weather batting cages
  • Hellas Fusion turf - Infield (Fusion XP) and Outfield (Fusion XP2)
  • 9,600 sq ft Indoor Practice Facility[10]

Recovery from Hurricane Rita

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Vincent–Beck Stadium was severely damaged by Hurricane Rita in 2005. The following repairs and enhancements were made to the stadium before and during the 2006 baseball season.[11]

  • Replace press box – press box had been blown off its supports and was damaged
  • Replace outfield fences – Fences were blown down
  • Replace field lights
  • Replace score board – new scoreboard was an enhancement and included a small video board
  • Replace seats

On January 9, 2007, the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded Lamar University $1.1 million to help with the uninsured portion of the loss.[12]

Attendance

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Source:[2][13]

Top ten attendance

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Date Opponent Attendance
Top Ten Single Game Crowds
February 24, 2016 LSU 3,563
March 16, 2004 Texas A&M 3,416
March 28, 1998 Western Kentucky 3,306
March 30, 1994 LSU 3,079
March 22, 1992 Texas 2,523
March 3, 2023 Penn 2,014
April 20, 2022 Houston Baptist 1,923
April 8, 2009 Rice 1,845
March 22, 2011 Rice 1,827
March 10, 1999 Rice 1,820
  • Note: Attendance is limited to 1991 season forward. Attendance is not available for earlier seasons.

Yearly attendance

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Below is a list of the attendance by year from the 1991 season forward.
Source:[2][13]

Season Average High High Opponent
Yearly Attendance
2023 1,351 2,014 Penn
2022 1,097 1,923 Houston Baptist
2021 668 1,202 Houston
2020 799* 987* Akron
2019 748 1,091 BYU
2018 524 1,111 McNeese
2017 524 1,122 Illinois, Milwaukee
2016 818 3,563 LSU
2015 724 1,032 Illinois, New Mexico State
2014 763 1,252 New Orleans
2013 645 1,039 Nicholls
2012 820 1,727 Rice
2011 856 1,827 Rice
2010 526 1,113 Rice
2009 515 1,845 Rice
2008 450 706 Louisiana–Lafayette
2007 484 1,312 Rice
2006 548 1,054 Texas A&M
2005 641 1,564 Rice
2004 696 3,416 Texas A&M
2003 599 1,549 Texas–Arlington
2002 497 1,262 McNeese State
2001 466 1,479 Texas–Arlington
2000 494 1,628 Rice
1999 527 1,820 Rice
1998 352 3,306 Western Kentucky
1997 571 1,103 Rice
1996 511 1,648 Texas A&M
1995 437 832 Texas State
1994 758 3,079 LSU
1993 697 1,706 Arkansas State
1992 378 2,523 Texas
1991 212 1,134 Sam Houston State
  • Note: Games scheduled after March 11, 2020, cancelled due to COVID-19 precautions.

As of the 2023 season.

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Views from Vincent-Beck Stadium
  • Vincent-Beck Stadium infield and batter's cage
    Infield and batter's cage
  • Chair back seating
    Chair back seating
  • Vincent-Beck Stadium infield and outfield from the right field seats
    Playing field from the right field seats
  • Vincent-Beck Stadium Scoreboard
    Vincent-Beck Stadium scoreboard
  • Playing field from the left field seats
    Playing field from the left field seats
  • Grandstands from the left field seats
    Looking toward the press box
  • Ramp to left field line deck
    Ramp to left field line deck
  • Picnic area along the left field line
    Picnic area along the left field line
  • Championship honors board at the stadium
    Championship honors board at the stadium
  • Indoor training facility
    9,600 sq ft indoor training facility

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Vincent-Beck Olympia Turf Project Completed". Lamar University Department of Athletics. February 19, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Cardinals complete comeback, down No. 5 LSU". Lamar Cardinals Athletics. February 24, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  3. ^ "Facilities - Vincent-Beck Stadium". www.lamarcardinals.com. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
  4. ^ "Vincent-Beck Stadium". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  5. ^ "Lamar Cardinal Baseball (Games 1-4)" (PDF). Lamar University Department of Athletics. Retrieved February 14, 2015. The Cards hold an impressive 900-436-4 record within its walls, winning 67 percent of the games played at home.
  6. ^ a b Matt Faye (January 25, 2019). "Lamar baseball returns to updated Vincent Beck Stadium". Hearst Newspapers, II LLC. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  7. ^ Cooper Welch (October 24, 2018). "Cardinal Baseball Announces New Turf Field". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  8. ^ "HELLAS CONSTRUCTION SELECTED BY LAMAR UNIVERSITY FOR BASEBALL STADIUM UPGRADE". Hellas Construction. October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  9. ^ "Quarterly Board of Regents Meeting August 16 - 17, 2018 Lost Pines, TX" (PDF). Texas State University System. August 16, 2018. p. 509. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  10. ^ "LAMAR'S STRAIT BASEBALL TRAINING FACILITY NOW COMPLETE". Lamar University Department of Athletics. November 10, 2010. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  11. ^ "Lamar University 2020 Baseball Media Guide". Lamar University Athletics. 30 January 2020. pp. 8–9. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  12. ^ "FEMA Awards Another $5.1 Million In Rita Disaster Aid To Texas | FEMA.gov". www.fema.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-07-14.
  13. ^ a b "Lamar University Cardinals". NCAA Statistics. NCAA.org. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
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