When Texas Longhorns baseball starts the 2027 season at UFCU Disch-Falk Field for its 51st season, the facility will look different thanks to renovations that will begin on Thursday with head coach Jim Schlossnagle hoping to have the playing surface completed by the new year, at the latest.
“It’s going to be a challenging off season in terms of October, November, December without a field, but get the Round Rock Express helping us out over the course of the next several weeks, as well as the rest of the facilities
on campus, give us a chance to to get some work in,” Schlossnagle said on Monday.
The first task is to remove the 10-year-old FieldTurf surface to allow the resurfacing of the entire field, which has a crown that forces batters to hit uphill and then run uphill to first base, originally installed to aid drainage.
“The overall general scope is to take the turf off, redo, flatten the field, redo the underbelly of the field, and then put the new turf back on,” Schlossnagle said.
The school engineered the turf to make it play faster than the slow FieldTurf surface installed in 2016.
“My goal is to have it as play as close to dirt and grass as we can. so where there’s supposed to be grass, have it play a little slower, where there’s supposed to be dirt, have it play a little faster, so that when we go to a dirt and grass field — which isn’t that often, but it is in Omaha and certainly at some key places in our conference — then it doesn’t put us at a disadvantage,” Schlossnagle said.
The new turf will place a higher demand on playing infield for the Longhorns.
“We’re also going to make a few changes out in the outfield, give us a little more space for some seating during the season,” Schlossnagle said. “So the left field will come in a little bit, the visitor bullpen will change a little bit, but should be super awesome, not just for the players, but really for the fans. Trying to create a better fan experience in the outfield, kind of like we had in this regional and super regional.”
Texas installed a party deck in left field for the postseason with food, a cash bar, televisions, seating, and shade.
In a decision that will make the traditionally pitcher-friendly stadium more offensive, the outfield fence will move in between eight and 10 feet and feature ribbon board displays.
“By the time we get to the season, certainly by the time we get to SEC play, the outfield’s really going to look cool.” Schlossnagle said. “It’s really going to give the the ballpark some new character and color and an opportunity for fans, too. It’s going to be awesome.”
