UConn’s Elliot Ballpark opening postponed amid coronavirus outbreak

The University of Connecticut (UConn) has postponed the opening of its new baseball facility Elliot Ballpark to next year as collegiate athletics has been cancelled due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic outbreak.

UConn Elliot Ballpark was set to open on 29 March for the spring sports.

UConn baseball head coach Jim Penders said in a Twitter video: “We’ve waited 17 years for that ballpark to come online. Unfortunately, we have to wait for one more. We’re all tending to more important things right now.”

Meanwhile, UConn confirmed that the construction of the new soccer and softball stadiums and the practice recreation fields will continue at the park.

Heightened safety measures have been taken by the construction crew to protect themselves against the Covid-19 virus.

The 1,500 capacity-stadium was set to open for the spring games even though the construction of the park was not 100% completed.

While the work for the press boxes was scheduled to be completed in time for the games, the concession stands and restrooms were not expected to be open until next year.

The Joseph J Morrone Stadium at the Rizza Family Soccer Complex, the new 4,000-seat soccer stadium, is expected to be ready for the start of the new seasons in August.

The turf is expected to be completed in summer, allowing it to be open for respective preseasons that begin in early August.

At present, the footings for the main stands on the east side are set while the west and south stands are in place.

The construction of the two buildings that will flank the west stand along Jim Calhoun Way is also ongoing.

The performance centre is not expected to be fully completed until mid-October while the locker rooms and training rooms will be ready for use at the beginning of the year.