Hoover Met Stadium
Hoover, Alabama

After 18 years without any major improvements, the City of Hoover undertook a major renovation of the Hoover Met Stadium, home of the Chicago White Sox AA baseball team known as the Birmingham Barons, to improve drainage and playability. In 2004, the Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc. Landscape Division was selected by the City of Hoover to recommend strategies to improve the Stadium’s playing surface. GM&C was charged with completing the project between the December 1, the end of the football season and March 15, the start of the minor league baseball season. The sand based sod in the infield and outfield had lost the vertical drainage capacity and the field was noticeably holding water during rain events. The scope of the renovations included new under drainage system, new irrigation, new grading plan and 8'' sand profile for Tift sport grass. The project was completed on time and within the allocated budget. The project cost for the improvements was $400,000.