POST-SHOW RECAP
Photos by Robert Augsdorfer
of 2023 with two fields due to spacing issues . The new practice facility now houses team offices along the east side and an indoor facility on the north side with a full workout facility and synthetic field . The practice facility also has a brand-new irrigation system for the natural grass fields . The irrigation system is controlled in a room under the grandstands that run along the south side of the practice fields .
On the south end of the stadium , there is another indoor synthetic field , which now serves as a backstage area for Daily ’ s Place , a concert venue adjacent to the stadium . Clay mentioned that the field is no longer used for team practices , but will be used for gameday activities for fans .
The tour of the Jaguars ’ facilities not only included the fields , but also the shop areas where the field crew keeps their equipment and the paint room . The Jaguars were also gracious enough to give a behind-the-scenes look at their game day locker room facilities .
The next stop on the tour was the athletic facility for Flagler College ( NCAA Division II ), which included the soccer , softball , baseball and lacrosse fields . The soccer and softball fields are 419 bermudagrass with a skinned infield for softball , the baseball field has a
synthetic infield with a natural grass outfield and the lacrosse field is all synthetic .
The facility is in the care of Brad Hernandez , facilities and game operations coordinator for Flagler College , with some help from Kyle Hutchings , a contractor and owner of AgrowPro .
The soccer field was opened in 2002 and had upgrades in 2010 with new windscreens , sound system and upgrades to the bench areas and seating expansion in 2013 . The current locker room facilities were completed in 2011 . There is also a practice field for soccer beyond the outfield wall of the softball field .
The softball field was opened in 2009 , but received a new scoreboard in 2013 and , in 2023 , an LED lighting system and sod behind home plate and along the dugouts were installed .
The baseball field originally opened in 2000 and was dedicated in April 2011 , named in honor of St . Augustine native Walter Irvine Drysdale . In 2015 , a synthetic turf infield was laid down except for the pitcher ’ s mound , which remains a traditional clay surface . The synthetic surface extends a few feet into the outfield where it stops , and natural grass covers the rest of the outfield along with clay warning track . According to Hernandez , the ballfield offers a challenge for left-handed power hitters with a high rightfield wall which Flagler ’ s Athletic Director , Jud Damon , an avid Boston Red Sox fan , has dubbed the “ red monster .”
The lacrosse field is the newest field at the facility , having opened in 2021 . The synthetic field was installed by SCG Fields with BrockFill infill . The field also features a new LED lighting system . In addition to lacrosse , the field also hosts intramural athletics .
Future projects at Flagler College include installing LED lights for baseball and soccer and renovations to parking , concessions , restrooms and locker room facilities .
The final stop was Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University ( NCAA Division II ) next to Daytona Beach International Airport . Their fields include baseball , softball , soccer ( both a game field and a practice field ), a track and field complex and a synthetic turf field for lacrosse . There is also a synthetic turf softball field with a significantly smaller seating capacity .
The complex was originally built in 1994 , the soccer field was completed in 1995 , baseball in 2000 , track in 2006 , softball in 2011 and lacrosse in 2012 . All fields are in the care of Jason Maldonado and span 25 acres .
– Seminar on Wheels recap by Robert Augsdorfer , assistant editor .
20 SportsField Management | March 2024 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com