After 18 months, the groundbreaking renovations to Eastern Michigan University baseball’s Oestrike Stadium are complete.
From full-field turf installation, ESPN broadcast enhancements, an all-gray playing surface and much more, players, coaches and fans alike will have a vastly different experience at the ballpark when the 2026 season begins in February.
"It's been a long time in the making, and [the baseball program] now have the facility they deserve, a fully-turfed, state-of-the-art field that can compete with any facility in the conference," said Scott Wetherbee, Eastern Michigan Vice President/Director of Athletics in a statement.
When a patron walks into the facility for the first time, they are greeted by the renovations and expansion of the concourse; the main entrance walls are newly painted two shades of gray featuring beige block “E” lettering intertwined in the design.
Walking through the concourse and stepping foot in the seating area, the gray playing surface on the pitcher’s mound, warning track and throughout the infield immediately pops to the naked eye — the first of its kind at the Division I level.
The gray playing surface is an extension of the Crosby Field design inside Rynearson Stadium, with Eastern Michigan also being the only Division I football field to feature the unique color in an effort to represent the school’s “blue-collar mentality,” according to the EMU Athletics website.
A newly installed checkered turf design has also become prevalent throughout the stadium, an improvement on the existing greenery separating the infield and outfield.
With the team coming off their first conference tournament appearance this year since 2018, Eagles head coach Robbie Britt emphasized the value of these improvements as the team begins the preliminary steps of gearing up for another campaign.
"Our program is incredibly grateful for the support and investment in our facilities — this project started as a vision nearly two years ago, and it's incredible to see that come to fruition,” Britt said in a statement to EMU Athletics.
