College baseball has returned (finally).
It’s opening day in the Big 12 with 14 different games to watch, including a memory-lane matchup between Texas Tech and former foe Oklahoma in Arlington, Texas, on Friday. Now, because it’s February, not every one of the league’s schools are hosting games at their home ballpark. Arizona, Arizona State and Baylor are the only three schools hosting home games for their season-opener on Friday.
The league will showcase 28 more games before the end of the weekend, so it’s only appropriate that we dip our toes into some of the league’s baseball lore today. I’ll be attempting to rank all 14 of the Big 12’s home stadiums (Colorado and Iowa State don’t currently sponsor baseball) from the best to worst places to catch a game.
I should preface these stadium rankings with the fact that I am by no means a tour guide of the league’s home baseball sites (I think I’ve only been to two of them?), but thanks to the internet, I can dig to my heart’s content and assemble my list of Big 12 ballparks on a scale of rad, cool and meh. Enjoy.
1. O’BRATE STADIUM, OKLAHOMA STATE
Built: 2021
Capacity: 8,000
The Draw: With one of the newest stadiums on this list, Oklahoma State installed a 360-degree concourse, including outfield decks, to cement baseball at the school for the long haul. Former President George W. Bush even christened it with the very first pitch. The Cowboys are 110-42-1 at O’Brate since moving into their new home.
2. LUPTON STADIUM, TCU
Built: 2003 (Updated 2016, 2022)
Capacity: 4,500
The Draw: The Horned Frogs are known for one of the league’s rowdiest student sections. It’s hosted two league tournaments and seven different NCAA Regionals since opening shortly after the turn of the century. The place has been given a couple of quick facelifts, and the team facilities look top-notch.
3. MILLER PARK, BYU
Built: 2001
Capacity: 2,204
The Draw: Other than arguably the most beautiful view on this list, Miller Park ties modest seating with an up-close view of the action in a venue feeling that of a campus landmark. I’ve been a couple of times, and it’s like taking a hike without the whole burning calories thing.
4. DAN LAW FIELD. AT RIP GRIFFIN PARK, TEXAS TECH
Built: 1988 (Updated 2012)
Capacity: 4,432
The Draw: Lubbock is already a great college town, and the view of campus might just be my favorite thing about this stadium. It’s gorgeous, and sunsets do this place a tremendous service. With well over 1,093 wins here, Texas Tech has one of the best home-field advantages in the league hands down.
5. PHOENIX MUNICIPAL STADIUM, ARIZONA STATE
Built: 1964 (Updated 2015)
Capacity: 8,775
The Draw: The “Phoenix Muni,” as its referred to locally, has been around the block. The Sun Devils called it their permanent home in 2015, but has accommodated both, the San Francisco Giants and Oakland (Sacramento? Las Vegas?) Athletics, in its long history. Includes desert sunsets, and that’s about all you need to sell your date on a night out.
6. CHARLIE MONFORT FIELD AT AMERICA FIRST BALLPARK, UTAH
Built: 2026
Capacity: 3,000
The Draw: It’s the newest stadium in the league, plain and simple. Some big benefactors, including Colorado Rockies owner and Utah alum Charlie Monfort, helped finance a gorgeous new home for the Utes rivaling that of BYU. They’ll play their first official game at their new stadium against Grand Canyon on March 6.
7. BAYLOR BALLPARK, BAYLOR
Built: 1999
Capacity: 5,000
The Draw: Cornered along the Brazos River, Baylor plays baseball about as close to one of the state’s most identifiable, and longest, rivers. Any stadium with a brick entrance is almost always going to win extra points, too. Set the scene for Baylor’s notable walk-off win over Clemson in the 2005 Super Regional.
8. KENDRICK FAMILY BALLPARK, WEST VIRGINIA
Built: 2015
Capacity: 3,500
The Draw: While modest in size, Kendrick’s best quality is a view complete with rolling hills and blue skies. It almost feels removed from most everything around it, campus included, keeping the focus on baseball and baseball only. Kendrick received Ballpark of the Year by BaseballParks.com the year it opened.
9. TOINTON FAMILY STADIUM, KANSAS STATE
Built: 2001 (Updated 2020)
Capacity: 2,331
The Draw: This is a family ballpark. Its latest upgrades, totaling $15 million, brought K-State up to par with much of the country without infringing on what makes Tointon, well, Tointon. The entrance is one of the best in the league, and perhaps better than the facility itself is the placement of the school’s football, basketball and baseball stadiums all within a stone’s throw. Pretty cool.
10. HOGLUND BALLPARK, KANSAS
Built: 1988 (Updated 2014)
Capacity: 2,500
The Draw: Kansas has raised its student-section profile as of late, and that’s all great for attendance numbers and keeping the Fitzgerald train buzzing, but Hoglund remains a fairly cookie-cutter stadium by all accounts. Few steps needed to find your seat.
11. HI CORBETT FIELD, ARIZONA
Built: 1937 (Updated several times)
Capacity: 9,500
The Draw: Beginning in 2012, Arizona moved into Hi Corbett Field while still a member of the Pac-12 to give one of Tucson’s oldest baseball facilities a permanent tenant; the Colorado Rockies previously called the stadium its home for spring training until 2010. It’s got a sizeable outfield and can pack fans with nearly five-digit seating.
12. UC BASEBALL STADIUM, CINCINNATI
Built: 2004
Capacity: 3,085
The Draw: As close to a “downtown ballpark” as the league could offer, but it’s pretty obvious the school’s basketball arena does a disservice to the skyline. It completes a hub of athletics facilities, but it’s almost a little too compact upon my initial review. Maybe it surprises you in-person, but its in walking distance of campus. Winning.
13. JOHN EULIANO PARK, UCF
Built: 2001 (Updated 2018)
Capacity: 3,841
The Draw: There’s a tropical vibe to the Knights’ home, and the latest improvements seemed long overdue according to the images provided by the school online. Still, I can’t help but wonder what rounding out the third baseline seating could look like. Just feels like something they left the door open on should the money arrive. Well, all in time.
14. SCHROEDER PARK, HOUSTON
Built: 1995 (Updated 2024)
Capacity: 3,500
The Draw: Houston laid down new turf in 2024, but has hosted multiple NCAA Regional, Super Regional and Conference USA events at their home field since the late 1990s. A new player facility looks great, but certainly sticks out against the ballpark itself.
