The final season for a Valley baseball landmark begins this Friday. It is the end of an era. 40 years to be exact.
Arizona State University baseball has played home games at Packard Stadium since 1974. The collegiate ballpark will close its gates at the end of this season to make way for the teams’ move to Phoenix Municipal Stadium next season. Associate Athletic Director Don Bocchi said there has been mixed emotions.
“I think we went through stages. I think some of them went through the angry stage, ‘Well how can you do this?’ to the point where they understood that stadiums don’t last forever," Bocchi explained.
Packard’s lighting is sub-par for night games and is not well equipped to handle nationally televised games. It would not be cheap to rebuild the current facility. The university put estimates at approximately $50 million to demolish the stadium and build a new ballpark. It will cost approximately $6 million to move the baseball program two-miles north to Phoenix Muni, according to Bocchi.
The university will honor Packard with 40th Anniversary patches worn on players’ caps and by celebrating memorable teams who have played at the stadium. ASU opens the final season at Packard Stadium vs. Baylor on Friday.