The Atlanta Braves’ Ft. Bragg Game, Part 2: From Brainchild to Ballpark
Hitting the Ground Running
MLB knows a few people.
What was needed here was a full-scale temporary facility for a single event. A field was needed. Stadium-like seating was needed. Scoreboards. Media support. Locker rooms. Concessions. Fencing. Walls. Some semblance of transportation or parking.
You’ve got 4 months. Go.
The @Braves, @Marlins will play "Fort Bragg Game" on Sunday, July 3, as @MLB, @MLB_PLAYERS celebrate our military. pic.twitter.com/wobSxvHJsk
— Mike Teevan (@MRTeevs) March 8, 2016
MLB and the MLB Players’ Association hired it out. Turns out there are actually people who have done similar things.
- The people who organize the now-annual hockey events in non-hockey arenas that have to be constructed? Got ’em… BaAM Productions.
- The people who have designed and built many of the new baseball stadiums around the country? Got ’em… POPULOUS.
- Need folks who know all about landscape service and how to get materials to build a field to major league specs? Got ’em… Brightview
Obviously, the timelines were incredibly tight, but here’s what happened:
- March 8: Groundbreaking
- April 19: Broadcasting survey trip with ESPN
- Mid-May: Installation of 12,500 seats began
- May 20: The field was declared complete
- May 23: Event planning meeting in New York City
- June 13: ‘Overlay’ installation began (items others than the seating and the field)
- June 17: MLB site visit
This picture shows roughly where things stood on April 20th. Check the link for more AP photos.
MLB puts finishing touches on Fort Bragg baseball field: https://t.co/XyW7nkERCK
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) June 26, 2016
Results
Today – Monday, June 27th – the Ft. Bragg ballpark site is expected to be declared “operational” and fully ready for the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins to play next Sunday evening.
Less than 16 weeks between groundbreaking and completion. That’s an incredible accomplishment.
Christina Douglas, Bragg Media Relations Chief told me that the level of professionalism and experience among the crews in charge of construction has been exceptional. The entire transformation has been experience of a lifetime as she has watched it unfold.
Clearly, it took that kind of pre-planning and dedication to pull off. We don’t – and likely will not – have figures on how much MLB and the MLBPA spent to make this happen, but regardless of the cost, you simply cannot get this done without people who (a) know what they are doing, and (b) want to get it done.
It’s a special gift for the United State Military… and a job well done.
Next: The Nuts and Bolts of it All