NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vandy United’s commitment to reimagining one of Vanderbilt’s most beloved venues reached new heights Tuesday with placement of the final steel beam on the new right-field facility at Hawkins Field ahead of the 2027 season.
The topping out ceremony marked completion of the project’s structural framework, with many of the baseball program’s most loyal supporters and dedicated National Commodore Club members joining Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee, Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Relations John Lutz, National Commodore Club Senior Executive Director and Senior Associate Athletic Director Mark Carter and decorated baseball head coach Tim Corbin in attendance.
“We are here because of the members of the National Commodore Club, and we are grateful,” Lee said. “You can build a baseball diamond pretty much anywhere. But it takes more than chalk lines and a fence to make that ballpark part of a community. At Vanderbilt, Hawkins Field is a part of who we are. It reflects our best collaborative traditions and boldest championship ambitions. Together, with your unwavering support and with Mortenson and Populous bringing it to life, Hawkins Field will always be a place where history happens and futures take shape.”
NCC supporters and construction workers from the Nashville-based Mortenson Company signed the final beam before it was hoisted and installed, as well as a ceremonial beam that will remain on display in the new structure. The age-old construction tradition also featured a modern twist befitting the home of the two-time national champions. Along with placing the traditional fir tree atop the final beam, the VandyBoys added a pair of baseball bats as well.
“Looking at all the Vandy United projects, what’s synonymous with change is leadership—from Daniel Diermeier and Candice Storey Lee and everyone who surrounds them,” Corbin said. “When people come to this ballpark, we want them to think this is different—this is Vanderbilt, this is Nashville. What you’re about to see here in the next year is an extraordinary undertaking by a lot of different people, a lot of people who have chosen to give to this project and believe in this program. In the 25 years I’ve been here, a lot of things change. But what hasn’t changed is the consistency of how we go about doing what we’re doing. That is what we’re most proud of.”
The right-field facility exemplifies Vandy United’s emphasis on creating the premier student-athlete experience and an unparalleled game-day experience for fans.
Coach Corbin’s student-athletes will utilize a new pitching lab and weight room located in the facility, while fans at Hawkins Field will enjoy expanded seating and hospitality options. These include the Party Deck 360 Bar (2,800 square feet, located on the main concourse) and 60 ft. 6Bar (3,730 square feet, located on the upper concourse) to provide new levels of hospitality for coming together with friends, family, alumni and supporters.
The right-field facility is part of overall and ongoing efforts that, with support from the community, will encompass approximately 50,000 square feet of new or improved space at Hawkins Field. The overall vision began to take shape in 2023 and was propelled forward by an anonymous Vandy baseball alumnus and his alumna spouse matching all qualifying gifts and pledges by other baseball alumni, up to $10 million. Additional Hawkins Field enhancements are a key part of the recently announced next phase of Vandy United.
“I’d like to thank Candice and our mutual boss, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier—Daniel is an avid supporter of Vanderbilt Athletics,” Lutz said. “We are the hottest school in the country, I see it everywhere I go. That’s all the pieces fitting together. It’s the continued academic excellence that is manifested in scholarships and other resources. And then it’s the athletic piece, which is valuable in its own right and because it enhances the lifestyle for everyone here. For that, I want to thank the members of the National Commodore Club. It is your direct support that makes all of these things happen across athletics."