If you want fans to come out and support your team, you need to have an appealing location, lots of seating and a comfortable atmosphere. All of these exemplify why The Park, home to the Virginia softball team, is outdated and in need of a replacement.
For the past six seasons, coach Cheryl Sprangel has lead the softball team to successive winning campaigns at The Park and feels at home in the venue.
"It's a nice area out here -- we know this is ours," Sprangel said. "Basically we don't have to worry about intramurals going on or anything like that."
For those who are not familiar with The Park, it's located near the Law School off Massie Road and supports many of the University's outdoor intramural sports. The softball complex at The Park seats approximately 200 spectators and is located in the far back of the area.
Jason Bauman, associate athletic director for facilities and operations, expressed many of the same concerns that the softball team has voiced with their current playing field.
"I think the location is not very appealing," Bowers said. "To the general public, it's difficult to communicate where it is."
Location is just one of many problems the team hasexpressed with their current venue. The field also lacks lights, without which the team cannot play any night games and is forced to hold their games early in the afternoon. That, coupled with the distant location, hinders the ability of fans to come out and support the team.
Most families cannot leave their jobs early enough to catch a game that starts at three or four in the afternoon, so attracting fans on a weekday is a tough feat to accomplish. Many University students also have this problem with many having class in the afternoon.
"It's kind of far out -- that doesn't help as far as drawing spectators and things like that, as opposed to the baseball stadium," Sprangel said. Baseball is "in a great location. People walk by and can see the sign 'baseball today' and they think 'oh let's go out and watch a game.'"
The University is working on bringing the softball team into the new age and providing them with a new stadium, but until then, softball will continue to be played at The Park.
"We are trying to create more of a master plan for softball -- in what ways can we enhance that intercollegiate facility," Bowers said. "We don't have an exact timeline yet, but we're certainly going to review lights, dugouts and a press box."
In terms of venues, Virginia is not on the same level with other ACC schools who have built newer facilities for their softball programs.
"As far as in line with other ACC schools, it's probably at the bottom of the conference," Sprangel said. "Everyone else has managed to find a way to build a new stadium."
The Park, though, remains home to the Cavaliers and the team will still cling to fond memories. Sprangel has had many memorable moments at The Park in her six years here.
"My very first year here we beat Florida State twice in a doubleheader," she said. "That was probably two big wins I'll never forget."
Rojas also will take away many memories after her fourth and final season comes to a close this year. Her favorite moment was "when we beat Florida State in the ACC tournament my first year," she said.
Until Virginia softball receives a new home, The Park will continue to host the Cavaliers' winning tradition.
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