College of Charleston plans $14 million improvements to athletic facilities

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The College of Charleston Department of Athletics is pursuing funding to complete a $14 million renovation project at the Patriots Point Athletic Complex, Director of Athletics Matt Roberts informed the CofC board of trustees on Oct. 21.

The planned improvements, designed in coordination with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, include construction of a new field house for the CofC baseball team, renovations to the baseball stadium that would double seating capacity to more than 3,000, and upgrades to the tennis complex, the college said in a news release.

“Since 2001, the Patriot’s Point Athletic Complex has served as the home for hundreds of CofC student-athletes competing in the sports of baseball, soccer, softball and tennis,” Roberts said in a statement. “We are thrilled to launch a capital campaign that will address our facilities needs and elevate the student-athlete experience for many years to come.”

An overhaul of the complex has long been needed, Roberts said.

“The current footprint is phenomenal, but the facilities were built over 20 years ago,” he said. “Typically, in athletics, the lifespan of a facility before you go in and do some upgrades is around 10 years.”

For the last two decades, CofC baseball, softball and men’s and women’s soccer have all shared one central facility. As the teams continue to grow in size and stature, the facilities and fan amenities need to catch up as well, Roberts said.

The baseball team’s new, all-purpose field house will include a locker room for 45 players, training facility with a hydrotherapy area, team meeting and video room, coaches’ offices, updated batting cages and an outdoor patio and club room for donors and VIP guests.

“This will be a game-changer for us, helping us attract recruits and ensure our current student-athletes have the ultimate experience competing at The College,” said Chad Holbrook, CofC head baseball coach, in a statement. “This will be a one-of-a-kind facility all of our supporters, former players and current student-athletes will be extremely proud of.”

At the tennis complex, the clubhouse plans include a total redesign with a remote training facility, lounge area with views of all courts, terrace with a retractable canopy, back porch with an outdoor kitchen and a fire pit and cabanas on the singles side of the complex. All nine courts will also be resurfaced.

No exact timeline for construction has been set, as CofC continues to work with coaches and designers at McMillan Pazdan Smith to nail down specific plans for the expanded facilities.

Once the baseball and softball teams move out of their current locker rooms, renovations will begin to convert the previously shared field house into locker rooms and training facilities for both men’s and women’s soccer.

“We are excited about the opportunity to enhance our overall experience at the Patriots Point Athletics Complex for both our fans and our student-athletes and coaches,” college President Andrew T. Hsu said in a statement. “As a top mid-major program, the College of Charleston needs to have facilities that reflect the high quality and competitive talents of our teams.”