Dudy Noble Field Opening Weekend
This weekend, the Mississippi State baseball program will open the finest facility in college baseball when the new Dudy Noble Field opens its gates for the first series of the 2019 season. The weekend will feature a bevy of special promotions, dedications and recognitions, with a complete list provided below to help the Diamond Dawg faithful plan for the historic weekend.ย
The largest on-campus facility in college baseball, the rebuilt Dudy Noble Field features a 360-degree view of the playing surface with 130,000-square feet of space along the concourse and berm areas. The three-year baseball facility project totaling $68 million is set to open against Youngstown State. The project includes 96 Left Field Lounge rigs, 20 suites, 12 Left Field Loft units, three unique fan areas โ Farm Bureau Triple Crown Club, Charlie and Dana Stephenson Omaha Club and The Rooftop Club โ along with double the concession points of sale.
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Boasting 33-straight seasons of selling out the reserved seating areas, Dudy Noble Field owns 17 of the top 20 largest on-campus crowds in college baseball history and the top four on-campus NCAA Super Regional attendances.
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Former Diamond Dawgs are invited to join us for the historic opening weekend, with each former student-athlete receiving two complimentary tickets to each game. Tickets must be claimed in advance via HailState.com/tickets using the promo code received in your alumni email. If you have questions, or did not receive the alumni email, please visitย HailState.com/openingweekendย for more information.
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General admission tickets are available for purchase viaย HailState.com/ticketsย for $5 per game.
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The festivities for the weekend will include the following schedule of events:
Friday, February 15 โ Official Ribbon Cutting & Statue Unveiling ย
Opening Day at the new Dudy Noble Field
Giveaway: 1,000 Inaugural Season commemorative baseballs
Live music pregame in the Right Field Plaza beginning at 2 p.m.
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Schedule of Events:
1:30 p.m. โ Ribbon Cutting & Statue Unveiling (Holliman Family Gate)
-ย Featured guests: Will Clark, Rafael Palmeiro and Ron Polk
- Unveiling of Rafael Palmeiro & Will Clark "Thunder and Lightning" statues, sculpted and generously donated by Dr. Rusty Reid
-ย Recognition of construction and project management teams
3:40 p.m. โ Ceremonial opening of the stadium and first pitch by former head coach Ron Polk
4:00 p.m. โ First Pitch vs Youngstown State
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Saturday, February 16 โ Ron Polk Ring of Honor Inductions
Giveaway: 1,000 Inaugural Season commemorative cups
Live music pregame in the Right Field Plaza beginning at 10 a.m.
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Schedule of Events:
10:00 a.m. โ Gates openย
10:00 a.m. โ Diamond Dawgs Alumni Tailgate Opens
11:35 a.m. โ Ceremonial first pitches by Ring of Honor inductees Jeff Brantley, Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro
12:00 p.m. โ First pitch vs Youngstown State (Game 1)
approx. 3:15 p.m. โ Ron Polk Ring of Honor induction ceremony (Adkerson Plaza)
-ย Featured guests: Jeff Brantley, Will Clark, family of the late David "Boo" Ferriss, family of the late C.R. "Dudy" Noble, Rafael Palmeiro and Ron Polk
- Welcome & opening by Jim Ellis, the Voice of the Diamond Dawgs
- Dedication of Richard Adkerson Plaza
- Dedication and unveiling of Ron Polk Ring of Honor Plaque
- Induction ceremony for the Inaugural Ron Polk Ring of Honor
NOTE: Adkerson Plaza will be cleared following ceremony for re-entry with tickets
approx 3:45 p.m. โ First pitch vs Youngstown State (Game 2)
Diamond Dawg Alumni
Tickets โ Please refer to your email for the weekend ticket code. Tickets can be purchased at hailstate.com/tickets.ย
If you did not receive the email, please contact Ali Martin at amartin@athletics.msstate.edu.
Tailgate - The Alumni Tailgate will takeย place on Saturday, beginning at 10 AM on the left field terrace
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