Drive Announce Stadium Enhancements to Fluor Field at the West End

Greenville, SC - During a special press luncheon today, the Greenville Drive and the City of Greenville announced detailed enhancement plans, for Fluor Field at the West End. The new fan amenities include seats atop the Green Monster, an all-new club area extension on the suite level, a Ticket Plan Holder Lounge, enhancements to the Fieldhouse rooftop experience, and renovations to the Main Street and Field Street Plazas.

Drive Owner/President Craig Brown and Greenville Mayor Knox White made the joint announcement, representing the continuation of one of the best public-private partnerships in the country, which began with Fluor Field's groundbreaking in May 2005.

"From the start the Drive has always been focused on becoming part of the Fabric of the Upstate Community, being a team that was an integral part of its Community versus just being a team that was simply located in a community," stated Brown. "The Drive's mission has been to consistently deliver a top quality fan experience - that ranges from stadium cleanliness, family-affordable entertainment, and strong engagement with the Community."

Mayor White added, "There's no denying the cumulative strength of the City of Greenville and the Drive. Fluor Field has been a driving force for the revitalization of Greenville's award-winning downtown and the rebirth of its Historic West End. You can walk from one end of Main Street to the other on any given day, and get a sense of the excitement and vibrancy of our beautiful Downtown. There's no other Downtown in America that compares to what we have in Greenville, and our Downtown took a significant step forward when the Drive and Fluor Field arrived on the scene 11 years ago."

The original team that led the design and construction of Fluor Field in 2005 was reconvened for this latest project, ensuring that the enhancements will fit Fluor Field's unique, award-winning, and intimate atmosphere. The team includes Bob Carlson as the lead architect from DLR Group, David Glenn from Centennial American Properties, and Parks McLeod from McLeod Landscape Architects. Trehel Corporation will serve as the general contractor.

MAIN STREET AND FIELD STREET PLAZAS

Both entry points to Fluor Field will receive a facelift, including backlit naming rights signage fixed atop the gates, as well as all-new brick pavers. Construction of a new Will Call ticket pick-up area will be integrated into the entry, to alleviate congestion around the Box Office windows, while a roll-up door will be installed to the backside of the Team Store, bringing Drive and Red Sox merchandise out to the fans. The Main Street Plaza will also be enhanced with all-new greenery and LED marquee signage, with the existing marquee signage relocated to Field Street. 

GREEN MONSTER SEATING

Fluor Field was designed as a replica of Fenway Park so to further reflect its Major League affiliate's home field heritage, 100 seats will be added atop the iconic Green Monster. These seats will provide one of the most unique vantage points at Fluor Field, sitting more than 30 feet above field level.

In conjunction with the Green Monster seats, the Drive front office will move into the second floor of the Fieldhouse building with a bridge connecting to the seating area for ADA accessibility.

CLUB LEVEL

The area where the Upper Deck open-air suite currently resides will be extended all the way to the light pole, creating more than 3,700 square feet of fully air-conditioned Club Level space. The area will be enclosed with bi-fold doors, creating a unique atmosphere on both game days and for non-game day events. The Club Level will accommodate up to 200 people for banquet setting, and includes stadium seating overlooking Fluor Field.

TICKET PLAN HOLDER LOUNGE

The current front office space at Fluor Field will be completely transformed into a unique lounge for Drive Ticket Plan Holders. This amenity will provide all Drive Ticket Plan Holders with access to the area, as well as an upgrade opportunity with food and beverage options included for select games.

The 2,500 square foot space will have entry points from both Field Street and the concourse level inside the ballpark, providing a unique atmosphere for game days and non-game day events.

ROOFTOP EXPERIENCE

Fluor Field meets Wrigley Field as the Drive will enhance the rooftop experience atop the adjacent Fieldhouse building. This area will accommodate up to 75 people, providing picturesque views of the ballpark and Downtown Greenville. An awning for weather protection, bathrooms, and food and beverage stations will be added to the rooftop, as well as an express elevator with service from the ground floor to the roof. A distinctive, backlit Greenville Drive sign will also be installed on the rooftop, visible throughout Fluor Field.

While each of the projects above will be completed prior to the 2017 season, significant enhancements began at Fluor Field leading up to this season. A state-of-the art, high definition video board, measuring 28' x 50' was installed, while the former video board was donated to Furman athletics. 

In conjunction with the new video board, Fluor Field was outfitted with an all-new audio system. 84 additional directional speakers were added to the setup, with the objective being to provide a clearer (not necessarily louder) listening experience.

And finally, the 500 Club received several upgrades prior to the start of the 2016 season, which included an extension to the existing roof, a louver enclosing system on two of the sides, all-new graphics, lighting, signage, and a new naming rights partner with The Iron Yard.

"Over the past 18 months we have been working diligently with the City of Greenville to secure the future of baseball in Greenville for years to come," noted Brown. "We knew we already had one of the best stadiums located in one of the best Downtown's in America. Our goal was to maintain and enhance what we already have versus trying to change it. We wanted to preserve what everyone loves about Fluor Field - the open views through both of its entrances, the open nature of the concourses, its replica nature of Fenway Park and its textile heritage, including its most distinctive antique brick taken from an Upstate mill."

Brown added, "In short, we have always tried to maintain a Major League look and feel to Fluor Field, while delivering the access and intimacy that makes Minor League Baseball so uniquely appealing."