Lupton Stadium Prepared to Host Fort Worth Regional

Oregon State and TCU are both accustomed to playing in the post-season. TCU has qualified for regionals the last six years, and Oregon State has made trips to Omaha in three of the last four.

However, where Corvallis has been a frequent site for NCAA Regionals and Super Reginals over the last few years, Fort Worth has not. Fort Worth and TCU will be hosting their first ever NCAA regional come tomorrow afternoon.

The regional, which has already sold out, features two in-state powerhouses in TCU and Texas A&M. Texas A&M will play Oregon State in Friday’s 12 PM regional opener, while TCU will play Wright State in the nightcap at 5 PM. The two in-state schools are sure to draw large throngs of fans, creating what could prove to be a valuable home field advantage, unless the Aggies and Horned Frogs meet at some point in the tournament, causing mayhem, I'm sure. 

"They have chants for everything and they may have the longest fight song in the world," Brandie Davison of TCU's Sports Information Department said of the Aggies."It's a sight to behold for sure."

The Aggies and Horned Frogs have met one time already this season-- a midweek game that Texas A&M won 4-3 in extra innings. 

Considered one of the premier baseball facilities in collegiate baseball, Lupton Stadium features 3,500 seats and a unique two-deck structure that allows every seat to be extremely close to the playing surface for a great vantage point of all the exciting on-field action. A canti-leveled roof system covers part of the stadium grandstands protecting fans from the hot Texas sun as well as the unexpected rain. Seats range from lower-deck chairdeck to upper-level club seats as well as general admission bleacher seating. Additional seating areas can be found in the spacious berm area located behind the first-base line. Lupton Stadium the Developed Walk of Champions honoring the former TCU greats in addition to a new videoboard that was installed prior to the beginning of the 2006 campaign. 

"On our lower deck, you're staring right at the batter on deck and your two feet from him," Davidson said. "The upper deck is an amazing view, you're right on top of the field. There's not a bad seat in the house."

TCU's Athletic Department and baseball program is fresh off hosting the Mountain West Conference tournament, which was televised, so this weekend's regional seems like an easier feat to pull off for those involved. There will definitely be more fans coming through the turnstiles this weekend, but as far as baseball is concerned-- the bases are still 90 feet apart. 

"We're anticipating 3,500 or 3,600 people at every session depending on who's playing. It's one of those things where when we draw in more people, we're trying to leave an impression. We've beefed up concessions and added some things... the NCAA limits us in terms of the game experence in terms of the video board, but we try to do whatever we can."

"In terms of the stadium, it's perfectly fine and ready to go any day of the week."

The Fort Worth Regional opens tomorrow at 12:00 PM Pacific, as Oregon State plays Texas A&M. 

--Jake (jake.buildingthedam@gmail.com)