Baseball United debut Dubai ballpark

Article posted by Coliseum, November 13^th, 2024

Image: Baseball United

Baseball United, the Middle East’s first professional baseball league, has completed the construction of a ballpark in Dubai and hosted its first matches.

Arab News said the Baseball United Ballpark is the first baseball ground in the region and that it took just 38 days to build.

It debuted to the public with the Arab Classic Tournament, which saw nine nations from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and South Asia take part in the largest international baseball tournament in the region’s history.

Baseball United Ballpark, with field dimensions mirrored after the iconic Yankee Stadium, is the only professional field within 10,000 km of Dubai.

The field will be home to all Baseball United events, tournaments and its upcoming league season, as well as serving as a launchpad for international events with top baseball teams from around the world.

Baseball United Chairman and CEO Kash Shaikh shared the news of the ballpark — as well as several other record-setting milestones — at a press conference held in partnership with Dubai Sports Council and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

Prominent figures attended, including Baseball United co-owners and Major League Baseball legends Barry Larkin, Mariano Rivera, Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus.

Government officials from the UAE, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic were also present.

Shaikh said, “We have come a long way in a short time. In just two short years — fueled by the belief and support of the Dubai government, regional baseball federations, baseball legends, baseball fans around the world, and the will and resilience of our own Baseball United team — we’ve all made history.

“And we’ve made that history over and over again. I say that with no exaggeration or hyperbole, because everything we are doing together has truly never been done before.

“Together, we’ve transported a completely new sport to a completely new part of the world, and we’ve built another bridge to connect people to Dubai as one of the world’s greatest sports and entertainment destinations.”

The historic new ballpark is not only the first in the United Arab Emirates and GCC region, but it will serve as the only professional baseball grounds across a more than 10,000km stretch of territory ranging from Morocco in North Africa to India, Bangladesh, and several countries within Southwest Asia.

It has been built within The Sevens sports and entertainment complex, located on Al-Ain Road, just a short drive from downtown Dubai.

The new field features a dual fiber, synthetic turf playing surface. The turf includes an organic infill and geotextile fabric optimized to ensure performance in Dubai’s high temperatures.

The LED lighting system will generate more than 15 million lumens across eight lighting towers and 94 total fixtures, including the most advanced BallTracker® technology available.

The ballpark’s moveable, modular seating configuration will enable space for up to 6,500 fans.

Baseball United has constructed above-ground dugouts, foul lines and foul poles, and a professional grade netting system.

In addition to a state-of-the-art LED content wall, the new ballpark includes a traditional scoreboard modeled after 19th century professional games in the U.S.

The ballpark also boasts four different seating sections, including the ultra-premium Diamond Club, optimal sight-line Infield Boxes, value-priced Outfield Boxes, and Baseball United’s signature VVIP On-Field Cabanas.

Shaikh added, “Growing the game at the grassroots and national team levels is so important to our mission at Baseball United. We know that this is where and how we build the foundation of this sport in the region. We transformed an empty oval of dirt and dust into a world-class baseball field in just 38 days so that these national teams and their players would be the first to play at our new ballpark.

“Our new field will enable so many other opportunities like this one for so many countries, communities and athletes. It is truly a game-changer for Dubai and the region. We can’t wait to host everyone at the ballpark.”

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