Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark - Facilities - Grand Canyon University Athletics

Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark

Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark Opening Night 2018

Phoenix, AZ Feb.16, 2024 : Grand Canyon pitcher Daniel Avitia (13) takes the mound for their season opener at GCU Ballpark. GCU beat Georgetown 5-2. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Baseball

By the Numbers

Capacity	4,000
Field opened	1962
Dedicated	1987
Record at field	1,443-694-8 (.675)
Stadium opened	2018
Record at stadium	138-78 (.639)

Top Crowds

Crowd	Date	Opponent
5,294	2/14/25	Vanderbilt
5,281	2/16/24	Georgetown
5,261	2/18/22	Nevada
5,015	3/29/22	Arizona
4,562	2/15/19	Wichita State

What They're Saying

"The SEC is really who sets the standard for facilities ... I'm thinking, did we get an SEC stadium here in the Valley? It's just really gorgeous."
Mike Rooney, ESPN Analyst

"What an outstanding new venue here at GCU Baseball. Simply first class."
Kendall Rogers, D1Baseball.com

"A ballpark that compares favorably to other ballparks in the spring-training-heavy Phoenix area, as well as other upper-level NCAA ballparks."
Kevin Reichard, Baseball Digest

The 2018 season marked the opening of the most expansive facelift in the 57-year history of the Grand Canyon baseball facility.

The field remains in place from Dr. Dave Brazell’s initial designs in 1962. On January 22, 2018, the university officially announced that the field will retain the name of the founder and developer of GCU Baseball as Brazell Field.

The immaculate playing surface now has a shiny, new stadium surrounding it. Named GCU Ballpark, the facility brought with it many firsts for the successful program. Ballpark Digest named GCU Ballpark the top ballpark improvement across all baseball in 2018.

Following the venue's debut season in 2018, construction crews went back to work to put the finishing touches on the facility for a 2019 launch. The ballpark became even more fan friendly with chairback field-level seating, covered dugouts and camera wells to complete the new facility, replacing temporary seating sections that were in place for 2018.

Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark debuted to a then-program record crowd of 3,749 fans on Feb. 16, 2018 to watch the Lopes narrowly miss an upset of No. 4 TCU, falling 2-1.

New amenities that arrived with the facility included chairback seating, a turf berm, a multi-room press box, an on-site team shop, a ticket office, an upper-level concourse, a state-of-the-art sound system, a sizable entertainment deck, wireless internet access and classroom space.

Alongside the ballpark is an artificial turf practice field and batting cages. The Tim Salmon Clubhouse remains in its place just steps outside of GCU Ballpark.

A video board was added beyond the right-center field wall in May 2022, paired with an upgraded traditional scoreboard set in the left field wall in 2023.

The 2018 edition of the GCU baseball facility was the latest and greatest in a long line of renovations made on site. But while the structures surrounding the playing surface have changed throughout the years, the layout of the field remains identical to Brazell’s designs when the field was relocated to its current position on the west end of campus.

Over time, the stadium has evolved from simple wooden bleachers and chainlink fence to one of the West’s top collegiate baseball venues. Past renovations have included a press box, signature gold bleachers, foul netting, green-brick backstops and dugouts, and a mesh awning to shade fans.

Brazell started the program from scratch in 1953 and built it into a small-school powerhouse. He wore many hats during his tenure at Grand Canyon College including men’s basketball coach, men’s golf coach, athletic director, and chairman of the Physical Education Department. But some of his most notable accomplishments came on the diamond where he coached the program in its first 28 seasons, leading the Lopes to a 728-385-8 (.654) record.

The 1979 and 1980 NAIA Coach of the Year, Brazell led the Lopes to their first NAIA Championship in 1980. His No. 20 jersey is one of three retired numbers.

Amid a hard-fought battle with cancer, Brazell made frequent check-ins to watch a new stadium rise around his playing surface. He had the chance to attend a game during the facility's inaugural season in 2018. Brazell passed away at 93 on Oct. 17, 2018.

Through his final years, Brazell’s passion for the university was on full display as he sat courtside at a GCU Arena basketball game or in the stands at the baseball facility that has featured his name since 1987.

GCU Ballpark Year-by-Year

Year	Record	Average	Cumulative	Largest
2018	20-11	971	29,144	3,749 - 2/16 vs. TCU
2019	18-12	808	24,227	4,562 - 2/15 vs. Wichita State
2020	8-5	1,041	12,487	3,843 - 2/14 vs. Oklahoma State
2021	20-12	470	15,038	1,214 - 4/21 vs. Arizona State
2022	17-10	1,365	36,842	5,261 - 2/18 vs. Nevada
2023	20-9	1,339	38,821	4,457 - 2/18 vs. Tennessee
2024	17-10	1,337	36,100	5,281 - 2/16 vs. Georgetown
2025	18-9	1,059	28,597	5,294 - 2/14 vs. Vanderbilt
8 seasons	138-78 (.639)	1,203	221,256