Fresno State Athletics
Bulldog Diamond -- Where Players Realize Their Dreams
3/7/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 7, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - The ringing of balls ricocheting off aluminum bats echo throughout Fresno State's north campus every afternoon announcing to everyone who can hear that spring is here again and softball season is in full swing. Shouts of encouragement, instruction and pure excitement fill the air and although the passerby cannot easily see the team warming up through the Bulldog Diamond fence, the pure smell of freshly trimmed grass- even the sound of the lawn mower moving slowly through the outfield, plays upon the nostalgic senses reminding every softball fan that it is time to fill the seats of Bulldog Diamond.
Considered the premier major-league style softball stadium in the country, Bulldog Diamond celebrates its fifth birthday with a gift to its fans - the addition of first base risers to increase the capacity size to now 5,767 strong.
Built in 1996, the facility boasts sunken dugouts, lights, concession stands, restrooms, a contemporary scoreboard and message center as well as top of the line practice facilities, batting cages and an enclosed and elevated press box with 24 telephone lines. There is no other collegiate softball facility that can compare to the elegance and style and grace that Bulldog Diamond exudes or the draw of committed fans that flock to a program because of its hard-nosed work ethic.
"It's hard to believe the facility is already five years old," said associate athletic director and senior woman administrator Diane Milutinovich. "The athletic department is always trying to find a way to give fans a way to watch their Bulldogs and give them the opportunity to enjoy watching outstanding student-athletes. These riser seats give a real advantage to people who want to purchase season tickets but don't have the financial means or don't want to buy a seat option. They just want to go year-by-year. For $78 they will get a quality seat in the main concourse. We hope that gives people an opportunity to buy a season ticket and get a quality seat."
Filling those seats will not be a problem. As with every year in the program's thick and excellent history, the Bulldogs have topped fan charts across the nation and the attendance forecast is not changing for the coming 2000 season.
As one of the top ranked softball programs in the nation boasting tremendous athletes such as three-time All-American Amanda Scott and the active winningest coach in NCAA Division I history Margie Wright, it is no wonder that the Fresno State softball team has officially led the nation in fan attendance for seven of the past nine years (NCAA has kept records since 1991) and unofficially in 12 of the past 14 seasons.
Fresno State has maintained a strong grip on the fan support since 1996. As a result, Fresno State has led the way in total and average attendance the last four consecutive years in the NCAA by drawing 176,323 fans through the gates at Bulldog Diamond.
As a result the Bulldogs currently hold four NCAA attendance records, including most in a single-date (5,427), single-season (55,746) and average single-season (2,557). Having set a new single-season record in ticket sales for the last five years straight, including sales surpassing the 1,000 plateau for the last four consecutive years, the Bulldogs' NCAA all-time single-date largest crowd is 5,427 set on Feb. 24, 1996 against UCLA. What can the Bulldogs do to top all of that?
These records reflect the attendance of dedicated fans and electrifying atmosphere that goes along with watching Fresno State softball. There is an extra incentive set for Fresno State softball goers across the Valley as the Bulldogs enter their home schedule this season - to break the NCAA attendance record not once but twice - with the likes of UCLA and Arizona dotting the slate.
"We want to break the attendance record for the UCLA game which is traditionally one of our biggest games of the season. Then we want to break that record with the Arizona doubleheader. They are two of our biggest rivalries and they are always ranked in the top five," Milutinovich said. "It creates a brilliant stage of fastpitch softball that no diehard would ever want to miss."
And, she added, with the Bulldogs strong following, Fresno State is most likely going to make it. Three local businesses, Hallowell Chevrolet, Rally's Hamburgers and Jack's Car Wash have signed on as the support cast and are offering their establishments as ticket outlets in the Valley.
The 2000 Hallowell Chevrolet Classic, a four-day seven-team Top 25 tournament field, gets underway March 9 and will run through March 12. On that Sunday the Bulldogs host UCLA and have their first chance to tackle the NCAA attendance mark. For this event fans can get two for one general admission coupons at four major retail outlets in the area: Save Mart Supermarkets, Union 76, Edwards Theatres and Bank of America.
Then, only a week later, Rally's Hamburgers and Jack's Car Wash will be the next locations for the hottest ticket in town. With the Arizona doubleheader on tap for March 14, fans will be able to purchase general admission tickets only at Rally's Hamburgers or Jack's Car Wash locations. These sponsors have pre-purchased 4,000 tickets to be sold at their locations and are hoping fans can be that "extra player" in the field for the Bulldogs.
No matter whether or not the Bulldogs defeat the NCAA attendance records twice over, you, the fans, are guaranteed an experience that will keep you coming back for more. And for that, the athletic department at Fresno State thanks you for your exuberance and commitment to a program that is run first-class.
