Durham Bulls Athletic Park gets a facelift
The Durham Bulls have been playing baseball since 1902, but it wasn’t until 1998 that they began their inaugural season at Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP) as the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Since then, they’ve become a staple of the city of Durham, North Carolina, winning various class, league and division titles over the past two decades.
Recently, Skanska completed a $10 million, 39,000 square-foot renovation project to upgrade DBAP’s facilities. These upgrades comply with the Durham Bulls Organization’s Player Development License with Major League Baseball, and they will enhance the experience of both the players and fans.
“We had a very short window between seasons to get this project completed. Our teams worked around the clock to ensure the facility was ready for opening day and because of their commitment and dedication, we finished ahead of our required schedule,” explained Beth Sayman, VP and project executive.
Included in the upgrades is a new office area for the Durham Bulls front office staff. Staff are enjoying new offices and cubicles, along with a new conference room to hold meetings.
The home and visiting clubhouses at DBAP feature extensive changes, with the Durham Bulls locker room having doubled in size. The locker room features homages to the team’s history on the walls. There is also a locker room for female referees and trainers.
One anticipated addition is the 3,750 square-foot air-conditioned indoor batting facility. Our team added this facility to the outside of the stadium, and it features two hitting tunnels and windows so fans can watch the players bat before games.
“The new batting tunnel is probably my favorite part of all the upgrades. The new addition allows fans to get up close and personal to get a firsthand look at batting practice,” said Beth.
The sidewalks outside of the batting tunnels were created using CarbonCure Technologies. CarbonCure injects captured carbon emissions (CO2) into fresh concrete where it immediately mineralizes, preventing CO2 from being released into the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. The mineralized CO2 is permanently embedded, trapping it in the sidewalk forever.
Our team created new front office space that includes a kitchen, breakroom and conference room for Bulls staff employees.
“I’m incredibly proud of how our team performed during the renovation of this facility. Not only did we exceed the City of Durham’s M/WBE goal by achieving over 18 percent participation, but we completed the project under budget and are returning the savings to the City of Durham and the Durham Bulls for other projects,” said Beth.
The Ballpark Corner Store features upgrades that fans will enjoy. The store includes additional square footage to house the latest Bulls gear, along with a TV wall and new fixtures.
The new Hall of Fame hallway, which is located right next to the Bull’s Store shop, honors the past and pays tribute to the Bulls' storied history. This museum space houses memorabilia, trophies and two digital interactive screens for fans to explore the club's history.
“It’s been great to see the team getting to use the upgraded spaces. The Durham Bulls have such a storied history and it’s impressive to view that history throughout the stadium and in the new Hall of Fame hallway,” said Beth.