Cougar Field

Click to enlarge image

Click to enlarge image

Click to enlarge image

Click to enlarge image

Click to enlarge image

Click to enlarge image
It may be located on basically the same site as the old baseball grounds but Cougar Field, the University of Houston's on-campus baseball stadium, is a dramatic move to the future. A great baseball program at the University of Houston has a great ballpark to match.

On February 22, 1995, the UH baseball team moved permanently into one of the top college baseball stadiums in the country. The Cougars' beautiful home is a scaled down version of a major league park and it has already attracted fans from across the state who want to see a game in a great baseball environment.

The seating capacity of the park, containing a fully lighted, grass playing surface, is 3,500. However the stadium can accommodate up to 5,000 fans with a pair of grass berm areas located along the outfield lines. A canopy roof covers most of the stadium seats and there are 35 spaces for wheelchairs.

Seating and access for disabled fans are extremely convenient with two wide ramps located on each side of the park. Netting encompasses the reserved seating area so fans can be close to the action, yet safe from sharply hit foul balls.

The stadium houses the Cougars' clubhouse, which includes large, professional style locker rooms and offices for coaches. There is also a training area for on-site sports therapy as well as rooms for equipment, storage and laundry. The most recent addition to the complex is the brand new indoor hitting practice facility on the west end. The practice facility should prove to be among the best in the region.

Visiting teams and umpires can enjoy the trip to Houston as both are treated to separate quality locker room areas. The UH ticket office is even able to set up a separate branch of their department at the park's main gate.

Located on the upper deck behind home plate is perhaps the best college press box in the country. The press box features booths for radio and television, a 28-seat working press area for writers and ample room to operate the public address and scoreboard. Accommodating the media is an important criteria for Houston hosting future NCAA Regional events.

Once the good word about Houston's stadium got around, it didn't take long for the state's high school district and regional tournaments to select Cougar Field as its playoff site. Night after night in the spring, fans for different high school teams from around the region came on campus for playoff games. Of all the different teams from the state tournament, the one winner has been the university for its diamond of a stadium.

Even major league baseball's San Diego Padres were impressed with the university's facility when professionals played the Cougars in an exhibition game at Cougar Field in April of 1996. As a result Tony Gwynn Field was built at San Diego State.

"To have a stadium of this caliber is a tremendous boost for our program," said Houston head coach Rayner Noble. "It gives the kids a little extra pride about their team and their own performance."

Cougar Field Information

Seating Capacity3,500
Playing Field Distances
Foul Lines330
Power Alleys375
Center390
Height of Fence10 feet
In center field30 feet
Playing SurfaceNatural grass (Tif 419)

EVENTS HOSTED

  • 1999 NCAA Regional at Houston
  • 2000 NCAA Regional at Houston
  • 2000 NCAA Super Regional at Houston
  • 2004 Conference USA Tournament

    UH At Cougar Field

    YearWLPct.Attendance
    19951514.51718,031
    19962112.63617,687
    1997218.72413,920
    19982310.69725,927
    19992411.68634,143
    20002312.65749,690
    20011511.57719,715
    2002215.80835,631
    2003179.65423,252
    20041812.60043,001
    Totals198104.656280,997

    UH Home Runs At Cougar Field (entering 2004 season)

    Rk.Player (Years)No.
    1.J.P. Woodward (1999-00)18
    2.Bruce Rios (1996-99)14
    3.Dustin Carr (1994-97)12
    4.Chris Snyder (2000-02)11
    5.Jarrod Bitter (1998-00)10
    6.Tyson Schweitzer (1999-00)9
    7.Brett Cooley (2002-)8
      Kris Wilken (1998-00)8
     Goefrey Tomlinson (1995-97)8
    10.Eric Lee (1997-00)7
     Jason Pekar (1998-00)7
     Mike Medrano (1996-99)7