Lindsey Nelson Stadium

Opened in 1993 and renovated in 2010 and 2018, Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is home to Tennessee baseball.

Renovation

Time Lapse of Field Renovations

Lindsey Nelson Stadium underwent a major renovation prior to the 2019 season to convert the playing surface from natural grass to field turf. Carolina Green performed the work on Robert M. Lindsay Field. The 126,000 square-foot surface that was installed is a product of FieldTurf, which is the industry leader in artificial turf. The state-of-the-art field turf is the first of its kind and has been designed to feel and play more like a traditional baseball playing surface.

The new surface provides the ability to host more tournaments that will positively affect commerce by bringing more people to campus and Knoxville. Additionally, the ability to host camps without compromising the playing field will allow the staff to form closer relationships with the baseball community and others around the state of Tennessee. More community service activities and alumni events will now be able to take place on the field as well.

Along with the field conversion, work was also done to the outfield wall, bullpens, batting cages and Tennessee's locker room, increasing its size.

In 2006, the University of Tennessee unveiled a plan to transform Lindsey Nelson Stadium into a premier baseball facility that would enable the Vols to compete at a championship level.

The Campaign for Tennessee Baseball was created in a phased approach. Phase I was completed in time for the 2009 baseball season. This phase included $400,000 improvements to the field and expanded seating down the first base line.

A new team locker room, club area, weight room, and training room were also constructed to enhance the facilities used by players to prepare for games. Phase I also included new coach and administrative offices and a plaza above the right field line seating to provide an easy gathering space for fans and additional concessions and restrooms.

Phase II renovations were completed for the 2010 season. This phase included the construction of 370 MVP Field Level seats, which are designed to bring fans closer to the game than ever before while also providing a meaningful contribution to the Campaign for Tennessee Baseball.

Located directly behind home plate, these seats feature chairback seating with cup holders and access to an interior club room where fans can enjoy refreshments prior to and during the game. New batting cages were also constructed along the right field line with a playground above the cages for children to enjoy during the game. This phase also included improvements to the visiting team locker room and a brick facade on the field interior.

About Lindsey Nelson

Legendary sports broadcaster Lindsey Nelson (center) is a Ford C. Frick Award winner and spent 17 seasons as the New York Mets' play-by-play announcer.

The University of Tennessee's baseball facility is named in honor of one of the school's most distinguished alums.

The late broadcasting legend Lindsey Nelson, a native of Columbia, Tenn., began his storied association with his alma mater in the late 1930s as an undergraduate.

He served as a student assistant to legendary Tennessee football coach Gen. Robert R. Neyland, started the Vol Radio Network in 1949 and later assumed the post of sports information director in 1951.

Nelson moved to the national network level in the 1950s, announcing college football and professional baseball for the Liberty Broadcasting Network.

The staggering list of sporting events broadcast by Nelson on radio and television includes the World Series, the Davis Cup, the Masters, the National Open, the Rose, Cotton and Sugar Bowls, the NFL Championship Game, the NBA Championships and the NIT Tournament.

His ties to baseball are legendary as he served as the New York Mets' lead broadcaster for 17 seasons and as the voice of the San Francisco Giants for three campaigns.

He was named National Sportscaster of the Year on five occasions, and has been inducted into no less that 12 halls of fame throughout the nation.

Nelson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, N.Y., in 1988, the New York Mets' Hall of Fame at Shea Stadium, the State of New York Sports Hall of Fame, the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame in Salisbury, N.C., the American Sportscasters Hall of Fame in New York City, the Mutual Broadcasting Hall of Fame in Nashville, the East Tennessee Hall of Fame for the Performing Arts in Knoxville, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, and the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame in Baton Rouge, La.

Ground Rules and Field Information

Ground Rules:

1. The field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is completely enclosed. The only way a ball can leave the field is in the dugout area, over the fence or through the gate.
2. Dugout Limitation: Any ball that rolls over the top and into the dugout is a dead ball. All of the tartan lip is live. If the ball hits any part of the dugout, it is a dead ball.
3. The foul poles, flag pole, light standards and scoreboard are all outside the park.
4. The backstop does not have any apparent holes, but the padding has spaces that the ball can lodge in, which would result in a dead ball and book rule applied.
5. Benches in bullpen are live.
6. Tarp Area: Any ball that lodges under, behind or in the cylinder of the tarp is dead. A player may have one knee on the tarp to make a catch.
7. Players are not allowed to warm up or hit pepper in the dugout area.

Field Information:

Capacity: 4,283

Surface: Field Turf

Dimensions: L-320, LC-360, C-390, RC-360, R-320

Fence Height: 10.5 feet

First Game: Feb. 23, 1993 - Tennessee 14, East Tennessee State 5

Largest Crowd: 5,086 vs. Oklahoma State, May 28, 1995

Directions to Lindsey Stadium

From McGhee Tyson Airport: Turn north on U.S. Highway 129 leaving airport. After crossing the Tennessee River bridge just outside of Knoxville, exit onto Neyland Drive (Tennessee Highway 153). Turn left (south) at the bottom of the exit ramp and follow road until Thompson-Boling Arena is visible. Turn left onto Lake Loudoun Boulevard. Turn left at stoplight. Follow Chamique Holdsclaw Drive to stadium area.

From I-40 east (from Nashville) and I-75 north (from Chattanooga): Follow I-40 and I-75 to I-40/I-75 junction in west Knoxville. Continue on I-40 east to U.S. Highway 129 south. Follow 129 south to the exit for Neyland Drive (Tennessee Highway 153). Turn left (south) at the bottom of the exit ramp and follow the road until Thompson-Boling Arena is visible. Turn left onto Lake Loudoun Boulevard. Turn left at stoplight. Follow Chamique Holdsclaw Drive to stadium area.

From I-40 west (from Asheville, N.C.): Follow I-40 west to the James White Parkway exit. Follow Parkway to Neyland Drive (Tennessee Highway 153) until Thompson-Boling Arena is visible. Turn right onto Lake Loudoun Boulevard. Turn left at stoplight. Follow Chamique Holdsclaw Drive to stadium area.

From I-75 south (from Lexington, Ky.): Follow I-75 south to I-275 south just past Merchants Road. Follow I-275 to I-40 east. Exit I-40 east onto James White Parkway and follow Parkway to Neyland Drive (Tennessee Highway 153) until Thompson-Boling Arena is visible. Turn left at stoplight. Follow Chamique Holdsclaw Drive to stadium area.