Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, has unveiled plans to build the region's first-ever professional baseball field and ballpark.
The new facility will be located in Dubai, where Baseball United held its historic inaugural games last year.
This landmark ballpark will be situated within The Sevens sports and entertainment complex on Al-Ain Road (E66), just a short drive from downtown Dubai.
Tentatively named Baseball United Ballpark, the facility will feature a dual fibre, synthetic turf playing surface designed to withstand Dubai’s high temperatures.
The state-of-the-art LED lighting system will include eight towers and 94 fixtures, providing over 15 million lumens, along with advanced BallTracker® technology. The ballpark will accommodate up to 6,500 fans with a moveable, modular seating arrangement.
The new ballpark will also feature above-ground dugouts, foul lines, foul poles, and a professional-grade netting system. Among its highlights will be a modern LED content wall and a traditional scoreboard inspired by 19th-century US baseball.
Seating options will include the ultra-premium Diamond Club, Infield Boxes, value-priced Outfield Boxes, and signature VVIP On-Field Cabanas.
"Our league has brought together so many powerful ingredients to help make baseball the Middle East and South Asia’s next great sport," said Kash Shaikh, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder, Baseball United.
"From our passionate fanbase and legendary co-owners, to our world-class players and historic franchises, we’ve worked hard to bring the best of baseball to Dubai. The only thing that has been missing was a place to call home. We wanted a true, purpose-built baseball ballpark that can serve as the launchpad for professional baseball across the region," he added.
The ballpark’s dimensions will be modelled after Yankee Stadium, with fences at 318 feet to left field, 314 feet to right field, and 408 feet to centre field.
The field will be named after Major League Baseball legend and Baseball United Co-Founder Barry Larkin, a 12-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner.
"I am truly honoured to have my name associated with this historic field. For me, it has been a dream come true to bring this league to life with Kash, John, and the entire Baseball United team," said Larkin.
Field construction begins this week, with the ballpark expected to be completed by the end of the year. It will host Baseball United’s two major events next year: the Baseball United Cup and Season One, with the possibility of also hosting the Arab Classic national team event this November.
The new Baseball United Ballpark will be located near the cricket ovals at The Sevens, creating the region’s first combined bat-and-ball sports complex.
Introducing BU Ballpark, the future home of Baseball United 🏟️ This is more than just a stadium. BU Ballpark represents the growth of our league, the passion of our fans, and the future of the game. Get ready to turn the page with us - this is just the beginning ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/OwTLgAvrPW
— Baseball United (@BaseballUnited) September 3, 2024
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