History

The new Tiger Park (2009-Present)

Located on Skip Bertman Drive off the banks of the Mississippi River, Tiger Park is the crown jewel of college softball.

LSU moved into the state-of-the-art facility prior to the 2009 season. The park features 1,289 chair back and bench back seats, a party deck on the third base side and a 30-seat suite above the first base line. There also is seating for 960 additional fans located in the Tiger Terrace. An additional 500 permanent seating was implemented in right-center field prior to the 2019 season.

Also in 2019, a upgraded videoboard was installed and continues to be behind the right-field fence and is a full high definition media board. The board is 655 square feet and has the capabilities to do a full live production with cameras and replay.

The two-story Tiger Park clubhouse provides the resources necessary to sustain LSU’s championship tradition of excellence. The first story possesses spacious indoor batting cages, an umpire locker room and a training facility.

On the second level, the hallways featured with plaques honoring LSU’s NFCA All-Americans and All-SEC selections leading into the locker room, team lounge, video theater and coaches offices. The hallway also features a mural dedicated to opening night when 2,172 fans gathered to watch LSU embark on the next chapter of its storied history by christening Tiger Park with a 6-0 victory over McNeese State on February 11.

Prior the first-ever game at the facility, LSU honored its softball past and present as former alumni joined the current team on the field for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Retired head coach Yvette Girouard cut the ribbon and spoke during the dedication along with LSU Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva, then-Chancellor Mike Martin and former Athletics Director Skip Bertman.

The Tiger Park concourse pays tribute to the program’s rich tradition which includes plaques spotlighting the, now, five Women’s College World Series teams from 2001, 2004, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017. LSU enters the 2020 season with 18 total championships which include nine SEC Western Division titles along with five SEC regular season and five SEC Tournament crowns.

The field at Tiger Park also received an extensive set of upgrades prior to the 2019 season. The playing surface was stripped and an upgraded drainage and irrigation system was installed throughout the entire field. The outfield will return to a Celebration Bermuda grass surface. These advanced systems and upgrades will greatly enhance the efficiency in which the field returns to a practice or game ready condition.

Among the upgrades, the Mike Moore Softball Performance Center has been added to the facility and is one of the top indoor facilities among college softball and the biggest indoor facility among the SEC with space of 14,500 square feet. The facility was named after Mr. Mike Moore on May 4. During his life, Mr. Moore was an avid and very active fan of LSU Athletics. Mr. Moore and his family were season ticket holders for multiple sports and often traveled across the country to watch the Tigers play. Mr. Moore tragically passed away while traveling with his wife supporting the LSU Softball team in Palm Springs, California in February of 2015. Before his passing, Mr. Moore and his family made a financial commitment to the LSU Softball program for the Performance Center.

Inside the Mike Moore Softball Performance Center, there is a space specifically dedicated to a 1,279 square foot softball weight room to go along with 770 square feet on the second floor specifically for cardio equipment. It is believed to be the first-ever dedicated softball weight room among the nation.

The facility has a full sized infield with custom, motorized netting surrounding the entire surface. This allows the team to participate in full infield, hitting, slapping or pitching drills regardless of weather conditions outside.

Each hitting lane has wired electricity which provides the staff and student-athletes the capability to set up multiple batting machines throughout the facility. The facility is also wired for a custom multi-camera system that will provide the student-athletes and staff with a chance to immediately review film during practice.

The building is equipped with 517 square feet of storage space and a 240 square foot locker room area. Lighting is energy efficient with impact-resistant LED fixtures. A custom turf, that mirrors real grass in terms of playability and performance, was installed with LSU branding through the entire indoor.

From 2009-22, the new Tiger Park has seen more than 654,000 fans come through its gates. The Tigers earned the most wins in the new park with 38 in 2015. LSU has an overall record of 367-97-1 (.790) in the park, with a conference record of 106-57-1 (.649).

In October 2010, Tiger Park was rated the fifth-best architecture building by the LSU Faculty Senate Monthly Newsletter. Below is what the newsletter wrote about the park.

“Best seen at night, when its gables and overhang seem to brighten into a shimmering white sails winging through cool ebony skies, the softball stadium shows that LSU can come up with a building that plays to something other than the local taste for plantation imagery and Greco-Roman bric-a-brac. Welling out of a hillock in a way that suggests strong shoulders on the brink of swinging a home run, the softball stadium evidences a modest freshness that brings a smile and popcorn and hot dogs.”

Stadium Information
Seating Capacity: 2,671

Playing Field Distances
Foul Lines:
200 ft.
Power Alleys: 210 ft.
Centerfield: 220 ft.

LSU’s Record in the Tiger Park

Year
Overall
Pct.
SEC
Pct.
1997
27-4
.871
10-4
.714
1998
28-2
.933
12-1
.923
1999
30-3
.909
15-1
.938
2000
31-4
.886
13-1
.929
2001
29-1
.967
14-1
.933
2002
28-3
.903
13-2
.867
2003
29-6
.829
12-3
.800
2004
21-7
.750
9-5
.643
2005
21-8
.724
7-8
.467
2006
34-3
.919
12-3
.800
2007
30-3
.882
11-3
.786
2008
30-6
.833
12-2
.857
Original Tiger Park (388 games) 338-50 .871 140-34 .805
2009 19-8-1 .696 7-6-1 .536
2010 31-5 .861 13-1 .929
2011 21-6 .778 8-6 .571
2012 24-7 .774 10-4 .714
2013 26-6 .813 9-3 .750
2014 19-11 .679 7-5 .583
2015 38-5 .884 9-3 .750
2016 31-9 .775 5-7 .416
2017 31-6 .838 9-3 .750
2018 35-4 .897 10-2 .833
2019 29-9 .750 6-6 .500
2020 18-0 1.000 0-0 .000
2021 22-12 .647 7-5 .583
2022 23-9 .719 6-6 .500
2023
New Tiger Park (465 games) 367-97-1 .790 106-57-1 .649
Total (853 games)
705-147-1
.827
246-91-1
.729

Top 10 Attendance Figures in New Tiger Park

Rank Date Opponent (Tournament)
Attendance
1. March 25, 2016 Florida (DH) 3,242
2. May 23, 2015 Arizona (NCAA Super Regional) 3,231
2. April 27, 2013 Alabama 3,231
4. April 30, 2022 Florida 3,039
5. May 24, 2015 Arizona (NCAA Super Regional) 2,968
6. March 13, 2022 Alabama 2,923
7. March 16, 2019 Florida 2,771
8. March 13, 2016 Alabama 2,767
9. April 4, 2015 Ole Miss 2,694
10. May 4, 2019 Alabama 2,652

Year-by-Year Attendance in the new Tiger Park

Year
Total
Dates
Average
2009
33,133
28
1,183
2010
42,686
36
1,185
2011
33,694
27
1,247
2012
38,145
31
1,230
2013 46,354 32 1,448
2014 42,979 30 1,432
2015 57,090 35 1,631
2016 75,094 40 1,877
2017 49,817 28 1,779
2018 53,310 36 1,481
2019 56,839 36 1,578
2020 25,793 17 1,517
2021 32,601 32 1,018
2022 64,741 32 2,023
2023
Total
638,331
432
1,478

Original Tiger Park (1997-2008)

In 2008, the LSU softball team completed its 12th and final season of play at the original Tiger Park. Built in 1996, the facility opened just prior to the inaugural 1997 season.

The original park was located adjacent to the W. T. “Dub” Robinson Tennis Stadium and the LSU Natatarium on the north end of the athletics complex.

After delays caused by Hurricane Katrina, LSU broke ground on the “new” Tiger Park on Oct. 9, 2007, and officially opened against McNeese State on Feb. 11 to begin the 2009 season. The new facility is located on Skip Bertman Drive adjacent to the Soccer Complex.

The original 1,000-seat facility (seating chart) was home to the LSU softball team since the program was reinstated in 1997.

In just 12 seasons, Tiger Park hosted five NCAA Regional tournaments and became one of the toughest places in the nation for visitors to play.

LSU had an astounding 338-51 (.869) record in the original Tiger Park, including a 140-34 (.805) Southeastern Conference mark. In 2001, the Tigers advanced through the NCAA Regional tournament at Tiger Park to its first berth in the Women’s College World Series.

Tiger Park was also been home to some amazing feats. On May 20, 2000, LSU and Southern Miss battled out 12 scoreless innings in NCAA Regional action before the Tigers plated the game-winner in the 13th.

From 1997-2008, LSU was 15-7 (.682) all-time in NCAA and SEC postseason games at the original Tiger Park.

In 2008, the final season at the original Tiger Park, an average of 866 fans watched as LSU won 25 regular-season home games, the largest average home attendance in LSU Tigers softball history.

Original Tiger Park Records and History

Streaks at the original Tiger Park (1997-2008):
Longest Winning Streak:
30 games (April 12, 2006 – March 18, 2007)
Longest Losing Streak: 4 games (March 25, 2005 – April 6, 2005)

Tournaments Hosted at the original Tiger Park (1997-2008):
NCAA Regional Tournament (5): 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2008
SEC Tournament (1): 2008

Top 10 Attendance Figures in original Tiger Park

Rank Date Opponent (Tournament)
Attendance
1. April 28, 2007 Tennessee
2,326
2. April 29, 2007 Tennessee
1,531
3. May 22, 1999 Southern Miss (NCAA Regional)
1,506*
4. May 18, 2008 UL-Lafayette (NCAA Regional)
1,454
5. May 18, 2001 Penn State (NCAA Regional)
1,426*
6. March 24, 2007 Alabama
1,371
7. May 9, 2008 Alabama (SEC Tournament)
1,337*
8. May 17, 2008 UL-Lafayette (NCAA Regional)
1,316*
9. May 20, 2000 Southern (NCAA Regional)
1,280*
10. March 20, 2004 Georgia
1,238

* – Denotes Session Attendance

Year-by-Year Attendance in the original Tiger Park*

Year
Total
Dates
Average
1997
8,910
17
524
1998
7,383
17
434
1999
11,708
21
557
2000
12,315
26
473
2001
12,589
23
547
2002
14,262
31
460
2003
14,602
22
663
2004
12,924
18
718
2005
12,780
19
672
2006
14,731
24
613
2007
17,313
21
824
2008
21,652
25
866
Total
161,169
264
610

* regular-season games only