by www.LSUsports.net, LSU Sports Interactive
The new Tiger Park
LSU softball enters a new era this season!
After 12 seasons when over 160,000 fans watched the Tigers post an impressive 338-51 (.869) home record, LSU has finished construction on a new softball stadium on the University’s campus. The new facility provides the nationally recognized LSU Tigers softball program with one of the finest softball stadiums in the nation.
"First impressions are everything and the first impression of this stadium will be, in the lingo of the kids, ‘O.M.G.’ (Oh my God)," Girouard said at 2009 LSU Softball Media Day. "The stadium is gorgeous. There are stadiums in the country that are bigger, but there’s no question in my mind that this stadium has the most character. It’s the prettiest, the classiest and meets every need from fan to student-athlete. I think when people get in there tomorrow night that they will be blown away. The fans are just going to be so proud of LSU. This is a crown jewel and we’ve waited a long time to make it happen. It absolutely hit a grand slam.”
The new Tiger Park is located on Skip Bertman Drive, across from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and adjacent to the LSU Soccer Complex. Groundbreaking for the new Tiger Park began on Oct. 9, 2007.
All LSU fans have the opportunity to participate and join in the success of the project by making an online contribution by accessing www.MakeYourPitch.net/tigerpark, the official web site of the new Tiger softball stadium.
Tiger Park Amenities
- LSU Locker Room
- Outdoor Deck overlooking playing field
- Team Lounge
- Meeting Facility
- Stadium-Style Theater for Video Breakdown
- Athletic Training Facility
- Equipment Room
- Indoor Batting Cages
- Umpire Locker Rooms
- Luxury Suites
- Press Box
- Open Concourse
- Video Monitors
- Concession Stands
- Restrooms
- Ticket Booth
Seating Areas
- 587 Chairback Seats
- 702 Grandstand Seats
- Berm Seating to accomodate up to 1,200 additional fans
MakeYourPitch.net
For more on the New Tiger Park and donation opportunities, visit www.MakeYourPitch.net/tigerpark.
LSU Indoor Practice Facility
When the weather prevents the softball team from practicing at the new Tiger Park, the team moves to the indoor, climate-controlled football practice facility.
LSU student-athletes benefit from one of the most modern indoor facilities in the nation. Located at the site of the Charles McClendon Practice Facility, the indoor facility was built as part of a $15 million upgrade of the LSU physical plant in the late 1980's and early 1990's and houses a full football field.
Original Tiger Park (1997-2008)
In 2008, the LSU softball team completed its 12th and final season of play at the original Tiger Park. Built in 1996, the facility opened just prior to the inaugural 1997 season.
The original park was located adjacent to the W. T. "Dub" Robinson Tennis Stadium and the LSU Natatarium on the north end of the athletics complex.
After delays caused by Hurricane Katrina, LSU broke ground on the "new" Tiger Park on Oct. 9, 2007, and officially opened against McNeese State on Feb. 11 to begin the 2009 season. The new facility is located on Skip Bertman Drive adjacent to the Soccer Complex.
The original 1,000-seat facility (seating chart) was home to the LSU softball team since the program was reinstated in 1997.
In just 12 seasons, Tiger Park hosted five NCAA Regional tournaments and become one of the toughest places in the nation for visitors to play.
LSU had an astounding 338-51 (.869) record in the original Tiger Park, including a 140-34 (.805) Southeastern Conference mark. In 2001, the Tigers advanced through the NCAA Regional tournament at Tiger Park to its first berth in the Women’s College World Series.
Tiger Park was also been home to some amazing feats. On May 20, 2000, LSU and Southern Miss battled out 12 scoreless innings in NCAA Regional action before the Tigers plated the game-winner in the 13th.
From 1997-2008, LSU was 15-7 (.682) all-time in NCAA and SEC postseason games at the original Tiger Park.
In 2008, the final season at the original Tiger Park, an average of 866 fans watched as LSU won 25 regular-season home games, the largest average home attendance in LSU Tigers softball history.
Original Tiger Park Records and History
Streaks at the original Tiger Park (1997-2008):
Longest Winning Streak: 30 games (April 12, 2006 - March 18, 2007)
Longest Losing Streak: 4 games (March 25, 2005 - April 6, 2005)
Tournaments Hosted at the original Tiger Park (1997-2008):
NCAA Regional Tournament (5): 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2008
SEC Tournament (1): 2008
2008 NCAA Softball Attendance Leaders*
| School |
Dates |
Att. |
Avg. | |
| 1. | Alabama |
27 |
51,024 |
1,890 |
| 2. | Arizona |
21 |
39,435 |
1,878 |
| 3. | Michigan |
14 |
22,666 |
1,619 |
| 4. | Fresno St. |
20 |
28,964 |
1,448 |
| 5. | Texas A&M |
22 |
27,705 |
1,259 |
| 6. | Baylor |
16 |
14,918 |
923 |
| 7. | Florida |
26 |
24,118 |
928 |
| 8. | Arizona St. |
44 |
39,736 |
903 |
| 9. | LSU |
25 |
21,652 |
866 |
| 10. | Oklahoma |
19 |
14,921 |
785 |
* regular-season games only
Top 10 Attendance Figures in original Tiger Park
| Date | Opponent (Tournament) |
Attendance | |
| 1. | April 28, 2007 | Tennessee |
2,326 |
| 2. | April 29, 2007 | Tennessee |
1,531 |
| 3. | May 22, 1999 | Southern Miss (NCAA Regional) |
1,506* |
| 4. | May 18, 2008 | UL-Lafayette (NCAA Regional) |
1,454 |
| 5. | May 18, 2001 | Penn State (NCAA Regional) |
1,426* |
| 6. | March 24, 2007 | Alabama |
1,371 |
| 7. | May 9, 2008 | Alabama (SEC Tournament) |
1,337* |
| 8. | May 17, 2008 | UL-Lafayette (NCAA Regional) |
1,316* |
| 9. | May 20, 2000 | Southern (NCAA Regional) |
1,280* |
| 10. | March 20, 2004 | Georgia |
1,238 |
* - Denotes Session Attendance
LSU's Record in the original Tiger Park
| Year |
Overall |
Pct. |
SEC |
Pct. |
| 1997 |
27-4 |
.871 |
10-4 |
.714 |
| 1998 |
28-2 |
.933 |
12-1 |
.923 |
| 1999 |
30-3 |
.909 |
15-1 |
.938 |
| 2000 |
31-4 |
.886 |
13-1 |
.929 |
| 2001 |
29-1 |
.967 |
14-1 |
.933 |
| 2002 |
28-3 |
.903 |
13-2 |
.867 |
| 2003 |
29-6 |
.829 |
12-3 |
.800 |
| 2004 |
21-7 |
.750 |
9-5 |
.643 |
| 2005 |
21-8 |
.724 |
7-8 |
.467 |
| 2006 |
34-3 |
.919 |
12-3 |
.800 |
| 2007 |
30-4 |
.882 |
11-3 |
.786 |
| 2008 |
30-6 |
.882 |
12-2 |
.786 |
| Total |
338-51 |
.869 |
140-34 |
.805 |
Year-by-Year Attendance in the original Tiger Park*
| Year |
Total |
Dates |
Average |
| 1997 |
8,910 |
17 |
524 |
| 1998 |
7,383 |
17 |
434 |
| 1999 |
11,708 |
21 |
557 |
| 2000 |
12,315 |
26 |
473 |
| 2001 |
12,589 |
23 |
547 |
| 2002 |
14,262 |
31 |
460 |
| 2003 |
14,602 |
22 |
663 |
| 2004 |
12,924 |
18 |
718 |
| 2005 |
12,780 |
19 |
672 |
| 2006 |
14,731 |
24 |
613 |
| 2007 |
17,313 |
21 |
824 |
| 2008 |
21,652 |
25 |
866 |
| Total |
161,169 |
264 |
610 |
* regular-season games only
