-
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field
Long considered one of the best baseball facilities in the Southland Conference, as well as the state of Louisiana, Southeastern Louisiana University’s Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field received national recognition following the 2013 season as one of the best college ballparks in the nation.
Having visited a substantial number of NCAA Division I ballparks over the course of two seasons, the staff at StadiumJourney.com ranked Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field as the 16th-best overall.
The website’s review of Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field called the ballpark “an under-the-radar college baseball mid-major gem” and said it “has the classic elements which provide a great college baseball atmosphere.”
“I’m glad to see the rest of the nation taking notice,” athletics director Jay Artigues said. “’The Pat’ is one of the best atmospheres in all of college baseball. You can see from our home record just how tough it is for visiting teams to come to Alumni Field.”
Over the years, it has provided Southeastern with a sizable home-field advantage, as the Lions have either led, or been second in, the Southland in attendance each of the past 15 full seasons. SLU ranked 27th nationally in total attendance during the 2021 season and 29th in average attendance per game.
Following a subsequent review in 2015, The Pat still ranked as the best in the Southland and well ahead of several of college baseball’s elite programs. Southeastern’s gem ranked ahead of ballparks at Baylor, Coastal Carolina, Dallas Baptist, Florida, Georgia Tech, Houston, Kentucky, Louisiana Tech, Louisville, Miami, Missouri, Oregon State, South Alabama, Southern Miss and UC Santa Barbara.
Since the 2015 review, Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field has gained an artificial turf playing surface, a video scoreboard, premium seating under the grandstand, additional box seats down both lines, upgraded restrooms and a new team clubhouse facility.
Upgrades for the 2018 season included new ADA-compliant bleachers and box seats down the left-field line. The ballpark also became the first in the state of Louisiana with energy-efficient LED lighting, meeting the NCAA standard for regional and national television broadcasts.
In addition to the team clubhouse facility, a new entrance plaza, permanent ticket booth and satellite concession stand down the right-field line came online during the 2024 season.
The stadium, which is named in honor of all Southeastern alumni and dedicated to Hall of Fame coach Pat Kenelly, comfortably seats 2,000 spectators. Capacity crowds are easily accommodated for matchups with nationally ranked opponents such as Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Southern Miss and Tulane.
Host of the 1992 Trans America Athletic Conference Tournament, as well as the 2004 and 2021 Southland Conference Tournaments and bracket play in the 2022 Southland Tournament, the facility has undergone a series of aggressive makeovers in the past few years.
New to the ballpark in 2013 was a brick backstop along with poles and netting system. Infield drainage was improved, and the diamond re-sodded, while the most visible upgrade in recent years involved the installation of a decorative perimeter fence.
Prior to the 2012 season, field lighting was upgraded and the Lions’ bullpen moved from the field of play, relocating behind the scoreboard in left field next to the new hitting facility. Constructed in 2011, and made possible by a generous donation from Hammond residents John and Georgianne Poteet, the hitting facility is 3,000-square feet of covered, lighted cages usable in inclement weather.
For the past decade, crowds at The Pat have placed Southeastern consistently at or near the top of the Southland Conference rankings in attendance.
Directions to Southeastern's Campus
FROM EASTBOUND I-10, I-12 (Baton Rouge): Take I-10, I-12 to Hammond to Interstate 55 North. Go North on Interstate 55 to the Wardline Rd./University Ave. exit (No. 32). Bear right off of exit until you come to a stop light. Go directly through the stop light and at the next stop light (N. General Pershing) is the campus.
FROM WESTBOUND I-10, I-12 (Biloxi/Slidell): Take I-10, I-12 to Hammond to Interstate 55 North. Go North on Interstate 55 to the Wardline Rd./University Ave. exit (No. 32). Bear right off of exit until you come to a stop light. Go directly through the stop light and at the next stop light (N. General Pershing) is the campus.
FROM NORTHBOUND I-55 (New Orleans/LaPlace): Go North on Interstate 55 to the Wardline Rd./University Ave. exit (No. 32). Bear right off of exit until you come to a stop light. Go directly through the stop light and at the next stop light (N. General Pershing) is the campus.
FROM SOUTHBOUND I-55 (Jackson, Miss.): Go South on Interstate 55 to the Wardline Rd./University Ave. exit (No. 32). Bear right off of exit until you come to a stop light. Go directly through the stop light and at the next stop light (N. General Pershing) is the campus.
Directions to Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field
Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field is the picturesque home to Lions Baseball. Once you reach the stop light at General Pershing, turn right and head into campus for approximately 3/4 of a mile. You will see the stadium on your left at the corner of N. General Pershing and W. Dakota.
