SUNS: Tiki Terrace among upgrades to Baseball Grounds

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Before hosting a Jacksonville Suns game for the first time April 7, the team’s new ownership, along with the City of Jacksonville and SMG, are enhancing guest areas around the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. 

The team announced the projects at a press conference Tuesday afternoon near the construction site of a left-field Tiki Terrace.

The Suns’ major additions to the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville are a group picnic area directly behind the Suns bullpen and a Tiki Terrace near the left-field foul pole. Improvements include the renovation of all 12 private Suites and the expansion of the suite-level Sundowner Lounge to give all fans a climate-controlled space to overlook the playing field. 

These and other projects total more than $1.8 million invested by Suns ownership, Jacksonville Baseball, LLC, and are scheduled for completion by Opening Day. 

“Fans will see a fresh look at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, as the renovations and facility improvements create a unique environment for affordable family fun,” said Suns owner Ken Babby. “We are extremely grateful that the City of Jacksonville, SMG and several local partners collaborated with us to begin to fulfill our vision for a ballpark that shines by its hospitality and extraordinary fan experience.”

The City of Jacksonville Sports & Entertainment Division and SMG have helped guide the process of the improvements and facilitated the City’s cleaning and maintenance of the ballpark to prepare for the 2016 season. 

For the major projects, Pete Popovic of Fast Forward Sports Group serves as the Construction Manager. The Design and Construction team consists of all Jacksonville-based firms – RS&H, Inc. provides Architectural & Engineering services; Birken Construction, Inc. is the General Trades Contractor; Miller Electric is the Electrical Contractor; W.W. Gay is the Plumbing Contractor.

The following are details of the major guest-area projects the Suns announced on Tuesday, representing the largest single set of ballpark renovations by the club since the stadium opened in 2003.

In addition, the Suns also upgraded food service equipment, reconstructed and refurbished portable concession stands and added a digital menu board system. The ballpark will also have new lighting and furniture in several areas.