View source for Siebert Field

{{Short description|University of Minnesota baseball park}}
{{Infobox stadium 
|stadium_name = Siebert Field 
|nickname =
|image = [[Image:Siebert Field.jpg|250px|center|Siebert Field]]
|location = Minneapolis, Minnesota
|coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|44.9826|N|93.2297|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}}}
|broke_ground = 
|opened = 1971, 2013 
|closed = 
|demolished = 
|owner = [[University of Minnesota]] 
|operator = University of Minnesota 
|surface = Mondo Turf ([[Artificial turf|artificial]])
|construction_cost = [[United States dollar|$]]7.2 million<ref name=siebert>{{cite web |url=http://www.gophersports.com/facilities/siebert-field.html |publisher=gophersports.com |title=Siebert Field |accessdate=19 July 2014}}</ref> 
|architect = DLR Group<ref name=siebert></ref> 
|former_names = Bierman Field (1971–78) 
|tenants = [[Minnesota Golden Gophers baseball|Minnesota Golden Gophers]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]])<br>(1971–2011, 2013–present) 
|seating_capacity = 1,420<ref name=siebert></ref> 
|record_attendance =
|dimensions = Left – {{convert|330|ft|0|abbr=on}}<br> LC – {{convert|365|ft|abbr=on}}<br> Center – {{convert|390|ft|0|abbr=on}}<br> RC – {{convert|365|ft|abbr=on}}<br> Right – {{convert|330|ft|0|abbr=on}}
}}

'''Siebert Field''' is a [[baseball park]] in [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]], in the [[United States]]. It is the home venue for the [[University of Minnesota]]<!--men's--> [[Minnesota Golden Gophers baseball|Golden Gophers]] of the [[Big Ten Conference]], and is named in honor of [[Dick Siebert]], a former head coach who led the Gophers to three national titles. From 1971 to 1978, the venue was known as '''Bierman Field''' in honor of [[Bernie Bierman]].<ref name=history>{{cite web |url=https://www.mygophersports.com/renew/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=1607701F-841B-48C7-9841-42D2C8177EF9| title=Siebert Field History |publisher=mygophersports.com |accessdate=19 July 2014}}</ref>

==History==
In 1971, Siebert Field was built to replace the university's former baseball venue, '''Delta Field''', which was located beyond the left field fence of the present facility.<ref name=history></ref> Siebert Field, which featured natural grass and a capacity of 1,500, was constructed on a single large block near [[Dinkytown]]. The original facility was demolished in 2012 and replaced with a brand new ballpark at the same location. The new facility bears the same name as its predecessor. 

===Old Siebert Field===
The Old Siebert Field hosted its first game on April 23, 1971 – a 2–1 Gopher victory over [[Creighton Bluejays baseball|Creighton]]. At the time, the ballpark was considered one of the most modern in collegiate athletics, with an electronic scoreboard, automatic irrigation, and a state-of-the-art press box.<ref name=Hron>{{cite web |url=http://www.minnpost.com/sports/2012/05/us-magical-baseball-era-ends-tuesday-last-game-siebert-field |last=Hron |first=Jayson |title=U's magical baseball era ends Tuesday with last game at Siebert Field |publisher=MinnPost |date=1 May 2012 |accessdate=19 July 2014}}</ref> In addition to serving as the Golden Gophers' primary home venue, the old Siebert Field occasionally hosted other events and teams, including numerous Minnesota State High School League baseball tournament games. In 1994–1995, Siebert Field was home to an independent professional team, the Minneapolis Loons, of the now-defunct [[Independent_league_baseball#Defunct_independent_baseball_leagues|North Central League]].<ref name=ballparkreviews>{{cite web |url=http://www.ballparkreviews.com/minn/siebert.htm |publisher=ballparkreviews.com |title= Siebert Field |accessdate=19 July 2014}}</ref> Three NCAA Regional tournaments were played there in [[1974 NCAA Division I baseball tournament#District_4_at_Minneapolis.2C_MN|1974]], [[1977 NCAA Division I baseball tournament#Mideast_Regional_at_Minneapolis.2C_MN|1977]], and [[2000 NCAA Division I baseball tournament|2000]], respectively, as well as six [[Big Ten Conference baseball tournament]]s: [[1984 Big Ten Conference Baseball Tournament|1984]], [[1986 Big Ten Conference Baseball Tournament|1986]], [[2000 Big Ten Conference Baseball Tournament|2000]], [[2002 Big Ten Conference Baseball Tournament|2002]], [[2003 Big Ten Conference Baseball Tournament|2003]], and [[2004 Big Ten Conference Baseball Tournament|2004]].<ref name=history></ref>
[[Image:Siebert Field exterior.JPG|thumb|right|200px|The old Siebert Field façade.]]
As the old Siebert Field aged, its infrastructure, particularly the grandstand, became dilapidated. As a result, the University of Minnesota men's baseball team, which had routinely played cold-weather games at the former [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]] (an indoor venue), began favoring the downtown-located Metrodome over Siebert as their primary home stadium.<ref name=campbell>{{cite web|last=Campbell|first=Dave|title=Gophers Break Ground on the New Siebert Field|url=http://www.postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1499501|work=PostBulletin.com|publisher=The Associated Press|date=12 June 2012|accessdate=19 July 2014}}</ref> In 2004, the team played the majority of its home games at the Metrodome for the first time – a trend that continued until 2010, when all home games were played at the Metrodome (save for one which was played at nearby [[Target Field]]).<ref name=Krammer>{{cite web |url=http://www.mndaily.com/2012/01/17/university-build-75-million-baseball-stadium |last=Krammer |first=Andrew |title=University to build $7.5 million baseball stadium |publisher=Minnesota Daily |date=17 January 2012 |accessdate=19 July 2014}}</ref> The 2011 schedule also called for the team's home games to be played at the Metrodome; however, the [[Hubert_H._Humphrey_Metrodome#2010_roof_incident_and_replacement|collapse of the Metrodome's roof]] and the subsequent heavy damage to the stadium forced the Gophers to move elsewhere. Games scheduled in March were moved to other cities or canceled. Twelve home games against [[Big Ten Conference]] opponents were moved to Target Field, while three midweek non-conference games were played at Siebert Field.<ref name=revise>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/116482848.html |title=Gophers revise baseball schedule: Big Ten home games at Target Field |publisher=[[Star Tribune]] |date=19 February 2011 |accessdate=19 July 2014}}</ref>

In 2012, the Gophers continued using the Metrodome as its primary home venue, save for one game at Target Field and one game at Siebert Field, the latter of which was held on May 1, and was the final game played at that facility – a 9–2 win over [[University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)|St. Thomas]].<ref name=2012sched>{{cite web |url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/010512aaa.html |title= Gopher Baseball Features 39 Home Games in 2012 |publisher=gophersports.com |date=5 January 2012 |accessdate=19 July 2014}}</ref><ref name=foley>{{cite web|last=Foley|first=Brian|title=Minnesota Holds Groundbreaking Event for Renovations|url=http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2012/06/12/minnesota-holds-groundbreaking-event-for-renovations/|work=CollegeBaseballDaily.com|accessdate=19 July 2014|date=12 June 2012}}</ref> 

===New Siebert Field===
A groundbreaking was held at the new facility on June 11, 2012, after which the reconstruction project began, including the demolition of the old facility, building of the new grandstands and dugouts, and installation of the new playing surface and {{convert|36|by|30|ft|0|adj=on}} [[Daktronics]] scoreboard.<ref name=foley></ref><ref name=siebert></ref> The new Siebert Field hosted its first game on April 5, 2013, which the Gophers won 7–0 over [[Ohio State Buckeyes baseball|Ohio State]].<ref name=2013sched>{{cite web |url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-basebl/archive/minn-m-basebl-sched-2012.html |title=2012–2013 Schedule |publisher=gophersports.com |accessdate=19 July 2014}}</ref>

Additional upgrades to the new facility are ongoing. Lights were installed prior to the 2014 season, and its first night game was played on April 25. Prospective upgrades, including construction of an indoor training facility, upgraded home and visitor locker rooms, new offices, an umpires’ locker room, and a canopy, have no timetable for completion.<ref name="gotlieb">{{cite web |url=http://www.mndaily.com/sports/baseball/2014/04/28/siebert-field-lights-sky-first-time |last=Gotlieb |first=Nate |title=Siebert Field lights up sky for first time |publisher=Minnesota Daily |date=29 April 2014 |accessdate=19 July 2014}}</ref>{{outdated source|date=February 2025|reason=The source is (as of writing) over a decade old, were those plans finalized, further delayed or cancelled?}}

==Location==
Siebert Field is located at the intersection of 15th Avenue SE and 8th Street SE in Minneapolis. The block <!--containing Siebert Field-->is bounded by 15th Avenue SE and railroad tracks to the northwest and north; 8th Street SE, to the northeast; 5th Street SE, to the southwest; and railroad tracks to the south and southeast. The field itself is set back from 15th Avenue, with a football practice field in between. The facility is adjacent to other University athletic facilities including track-and-field, football, softball, and indoor sports venues.

The diamond has an unorthodox southeastern alignment (home plate to center field); the recommended orientation is {{nowrap|east-northeast.<ref name=ofbblrles>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/documents/0/8/0/268272080/2018_Official_Baseball_Rules.pdf |publisher=Major League Baseball |title=Official Baseball Rules: 2.01 Layout of the Field |date=2018 |page=2}}</ref>}} The [[elevation]] of the field is approximately {{nowrap|{{convert|800|ft|round=5}}}} above [[sea level]].

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA Division I baseball venues]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{Commons category|Siebert Field}}
*[http://www.gophersports.com/facilities/siebert-field.html Official Siebert Field information page]

{{University of Minnesota campus}}
{{Big Ten Conference baseball venue navbox}}
{{Minnesota NCAA Division I college baseball venue navbox}}

[[Category:College baseball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers sports venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Minneapolis]]
[[Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers baseball]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Baseball in Minneapolis]]