LEXINGTON, Ky. — With only three weeks remaining in Nick Mingione’s inaugural season as Kentucky’s coach, the Wildcats are in prime position to host a regional tournament at Cliff Hagan Stadium. UK, currently ranked as a top-five seed in two major publication’s projections, is in line for its first ever national seed, meaning the Wildcats would host a super regional if they won the regional.
“We’re ready,” UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart told Catsillustrated.com on Wednesday afternoon. “We remember how we did it before. We’re not new to hosting postseason play in other sports. We’re very comfortable in our preparation. My operation folks do a tremendous job. Our event people do a tremendous job. We’re more than ready. We’re excited about the possibility of this year and going forward.”
In the past, Cliff Hagan Stadium's 3,000 seat capacity has been viewed as a challenge when it comes to hosting. The Wildcats hosted a regional tournament in 2006 after winning the SEC, but in 2012, a year where UK finished 43-16 in the regular season and were expected to host, it was sent to Gary, Ind. as a two-seed in Purdue’s bracket.
Many people, including former UK head coach Gary Henderson, were stunned with the NCAA’s decision.
“I think the same thing you do,” Henderson told the Lexington Herald Leader in 2012. “I think we got screwed. But that's just what it is. Then you move on."
At the time, NCAA chairman Kyle Kallander said UK’s non-conference schedule was the reason it wasn’t selected as a host. In an article by Matt May at Catspause.com in 2012, Barnhart said he was never specifically told by the NCAA that UK’s facilities were a part of the decision for the Wildcats not to host. However, the school was prepared to host the tournament and had brought in additional seating prior to the selection show.
Cliff Hagan Stadium, aside from its small capacity, is surrounded by dorms, UK's track facility and Nutter Training Facility, making parking and access to the field difficult for large crowds.
When UK hosted in 2006, the school once moved temporary seating down the left field line to increase the capacity to 5,000. Barnhart expects seating to be added down the left field line this postseason, but more bleachers could be placed beyond the left field wall.
“I think we can get (the capacity) up there,” Barnhart said. “We bring in (seats) down the left field line and the outside the left field fence. We’re in pretty good shape. We can add some more.”
Barnhart said he hopes the temporary seating will make the capacity close to 4,500. The largest crowd at Cliff Hagan Stadium this season was on April 18 when 4,018 people attended UK’s 11-7 win over the University of Louisville.
That this discussion is even taking place is a sign of impressive progress by Mingione’s club this season. Despite winning at least 30 games the past two seasons, the Wildcats haven’t played in the postseason since 2014. UK is in the top five in national rank, RPI and strength of schedule by D1baseball.com. This means the Wildcats are a lock for regional play and also a likely host.
Barnhart, who hired Mingione last summer when Henderson resigned after eight seasons, has been impressed with the new head coach.
“Obviously they’ve had quite a turnaround in some of the same guys who have made remarkable turns in terms of their personal performances,” Barnhart said. “Just the energy that Nick has created on our team has been a lot of fun to watch. It’s galvanized our fan base and they’ve got us in a really cool position as we head down the last few weeks of the season.”
EDIT: The original version of this story stated UK hoped to increase capacity to 6,000. A UK spokesperson said "We're looking at a capacity of 4,500 for a potential regional."
