Since its opening in 2005, Jim Patterson Stadium has provided the University of Louisville baseball program with one of the great home field advantages in all of college baseball. With an initial seating capacity of 2,500 upon opening, the ballpark underwent an expansion project prior to the 2013 season increasing capacity to more than 4,000 and maintaining Jim Patterson Stadium as one of the elite facilities in the nation.

Spearheaded by the leadership gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Patterson, the privately funded expansion of Jim Patterson Stadium was a $4 million facility development plan which featured the addition of 1,500 chair back seats, a 6,400 sq. ft. terrace directly accessible above the chair back seats and a two-tiered ground level terrace extending from the first and third base dugouts. The project also included an expanded press box, which doubled the previous space used to facilitate media and hospitality, and a visiting team locker room behind the third base dugout.

The expansion doubled the number of chair back seats taking the total to 3,000 while the overall seating capacity of more than 4,000 places Jim Patterson Stadium among the Top 30 of university controlled collegiate ballparks in the nation. The increased permanent seating enables Louisville to host NCAA Regional and Super Regional games without the additional expense of temporary bleacher rentals. Since its opening, Jim Patterson Stadium has hosted nine NCAA Regionals (2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022) and six NCAA Super Regionals (2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019).

Prior to the 2023 season, enhancements were done to the entrance and concourse of the stadium behind another generous lead gift from Jim Patterson. A new entry gate featuring six new columns with arched entry ways was built in addition to the third base concourse being widened to provide additional space for concessions while improving the flow of patrons.

After starting construction in August of 2004, the University of Louisville unveiled Jim Patterson Stadium, located at the corner of Central Avenue and Third Street, on Friday, April 15, 2005, when the Cardinals battled East Carolina in front of a then-school record crowd of 3,213.

A pregame ceremony to officially dedicate the stadium featured UofL graduate, former baseball team walk-on and local entrepreneur Jim Patterson, whose seven-figure donation led the drive to construct the $8.5 million ballpark. Joining Patterson were Louisville Mayor Jerry Abrahamson, UofL Board of Trustees Chairman Junior Bridgeman, U.S. Representative Anne M. Northup, UofL President Dr. James Ramsey, UofL Vice president for Athletics Tom Jurich, and more than 100 UofL baseball alumni.

Along with the 3,000 chairback seats, Jim Patterson Stadium has a tiered, turf berm in left field. The press box features an expanded television suite, two radio booths, game operations booth, an expanded seating area for non-broadcast media, an AD suite and a development suite. The ballpark measures 330 feet down the lines, 375 to the power alleys and 402 to straightaway center. Prior to the 2015 season, the University of Louisville partnered with ANC Sports for the installation of a new LED video board in right-centerfield at Jim Patterson Stadium. The all-digital surface more than quadrupled the size of the previous video space and measures 36-feet wide and 23-feet tall.

The playing surface is FieldTurf, providing the Cardinals with one of the nation’s best surfaces. The exterior of the ballpark has elements that mirror UofL’s nearby football facility.

The adjacent building along the first base side of the ballpark houses the baseball offices, while the basement of the building features three pitching/batting cages, full club house facilities with a players’ lounge, theatre style team-meeting room, weight room, equipment room, computer lab, training room and laundry facilities.

The first eight feet of the roof supports are constructed with green brick from the left field wall at historic Parkway Field, and infield dirt was taken from Parkway and placed in the batters box as a tribute to a facility that has seen the likes of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Honus Wagner, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Satchel Paige, Pee Wee Reese and Jackie Robinson among others.

In January of 2007, crews converted the home plate area from dirt into a field turf surface complete with permanent batters boxes. The only dirt on the field is on the pitcher’s mound.

The 2008 off-season included a complete reconstruction of the left field berm, with terracing giving the fans a place for a lawn chair or blanket. Children of all ages can enjoy the playground beyond the fence in centerfield.

The Cardinals have won more than 77 percent of their games at Jim Patterson Stadium since opening the gates during the 2005 season. Of the 15 NCAA postseason rounds contested at Jim Patterson Stadium, the Louisville baseball program has advanced through 12 of those, including sweeping the 2019 NCAA Regional and NCAA Super Regional to clinch the program’s fifth College World Series appearance. In NCAA Championship games at Jim Patterson Stadium, the Cardinals have produced a 37-10 record overall.

Jim Patterson Stadium Details

Seating for 4,000 including 3,000 chairback seats
Main press box with two radio booths, a television suite featuring two booths, an AD suite and a development suite
The surface is Field Turf, same as Cardinal Stadium
Part of a $20-million athletic complex
6,400 sq. ft. terrace directly accessible above the chairback seats
Two-tiered ground level terrace extending from the first and third base dugouts
Locker room, players' lounge, training room, equipment room, batting and pitching cages located in basement of the adjacent building
Louisville baseball offices located in a large first floor suite in the building
Locker room and clubhouse attached to visiting dugout
All areas of the park are accessible to those with disability
Exterior construction has elements that mirror Cardinal Stadium
There is a tiered berm in left field and a covered party deck
The first eight feet of the roof supports is constructed with green brick from the left field wall at historic Parkway Field
Dimensions: LF-330', LC-375', CF-402', RC-377', RF-330'
Eight light towers with 200 separate fixtures

University of Louisville Athletics