Construction moving fast on Fred Hill Training Complex for Rutgers baseball, softball teams Watch video
It's a bird ... it's a plane ... it's a new athletics facility at Rutgers?
The new indoor practice arena for the Rutgers baseball and softball teams has entered the construction phase, and the sight of a new addition to the campus skyline can be startling for those who became accustomed to seeing things one way.
The last completely new athletics structure added to Rutgers campus was the original Hale Center in 1987. The indoor practice bubble used by football and nine teams during the winter months was erected in 1985.
"It's reality now," baseball coach Joe Litterio said. "I'm already planning out the fall season and taking into consideration now that we will have that. Whereas when you don't have anything, you have to get outside right away in September to take advantage of the warm weather, I'm flirting with the idea of starting later in the fall."
The facility is a game-changer for the baseball and softball teams, who, like all Northeast-based teams, start the season behind their counterparts from the west and south.
A September start to the fall season leaves an awkward five-week break before re-starting for the preseason. The later fall season available in warm-weather climates allows for a smoother lead in to games.
Softball coach Jay Nelson has reiterated many of the same challenges and same reasons for optimism as Litterio.
"It's been an idea for eight years or so and now it's a reality," Litterio said. "As a program, we're very excited to have it. The kids are talking about it and the excitement is there."
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Named the Fred Hill Training Complex in honor of the legendary former Rutgers baseball coach and Litterio's mentor, the facility is a 22,500-foot structure located adjacent to the Rutgers Athletics Center on Livingston Campus.
It was approved by Rutgers Board of Governors in February with a price tag of $3.25 million, all of which was privately financed with a huge hand from the Bainton and Bauer families.
Former athletics director Julie Hermann held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the facility in October, but fundraising outreach actually began during predecessor Tim Pernetti's tenure.
Architecture renderings have been public since November 2014.
The complex, with a canopy facade that is scarlet-colored on the ends and white in the middle, is tentatively expected to be operational by late August or early September.
"Once I saw the steel delivered, that's when I got excited," Litterio said. "They did the foundation first and they had the trucks moving dirt for a while.
"But once they put that first beam up, that's when reality set in that they are moving on this thing and it's going up quick."
Litterio gets frequent excited status updates from players living on campus.
"The kids are always talking about it," Litterio said. "They see the white and red canopy going on and they say, 'It's happening.'"
Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.