Wayne E McGahee III and Wayne McGahee III | Tallahassee Democrat

Wayne McGahee/Democrat

Florida State is currently in the process of major facility upgrades across multiple sports.

One of the facilities that is most in the need for a renovation is FSU baseball's Dick Howser Stadium.

It hasn't been renovated since 2004, but that's going to change over the next few years.

FSU is currently in the process of fundraising for a roughly $25 million project designed by Gensler architects along with EMI Architects to completely update the stadium.

The administration has the option to do the renovations in $5 million phases, but there is also the option to do more than one phase at a time.

"It’s a pretty comprehensive program," Associate Athletics Director for Facilities and Event Management Bernie Waxman, who is running point for the project, told the Tallahassee Democrat.

"It’s been 15 years since we’ve done anything substantial so we’re due for upgrades. It’s just time."

FSU is currently in the process of putting in a new video board for the stadium as a part of phase one of the renovations.

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The new Panasonic video board measures 60.5 feet wide and 32.75 feet tall, offering 1,981 square feet of video, nearly seven times larger than the previous video portion of the scoreboard that had been in place since the 2004 season.

Only Mississippi State has a larger video board in college baseball.

But that is just one of many changes to come.

Over the next few years -- depending on the fundraising -- FSU's renovations will include:

*New seats in the grandstands.

*Updating the open-air suites along the first base side.

*Improving the dugout suites.

*Improved lighting.

*Updating the concession stands.

*Renovating the weight room and the Tradition Room, updating the dugouts and the clubhouse.

*Renovating the concourses.

“These are extensive updates to the baseball stadium," FSU Deputy Athletics Director for External Operations Karl Hicks told the Tallahassee Democrat.

"It’s stuff that’s needed. It would give it a completely new look. Those plans are in place.”

Those are the changes that are happening to the current facilities, but that's not all that's going to be taking place.

FSU will also be adding new features to the stadium down both the left- and right-field lines.

Beyond the left field wall, FSU is planning to build visitor locker room -- something that the stadium currently does not have -- and also planning to build out the ticket booth that is facing the softball stadium.

FSU plans to put in a hospitality area over the ticket booth that will overlook the stadium.

FSU also wants to add standing-room-only area along the right-field line and behind the screen. It will be built up so fans can stand behind the screen and watch the game from that area.

“It touches on improving the look of the area in right field to make it blend a little more comfortably with the rest of campus," Waxman said.

Underneath the standing-room-only area, FSU plans to build a facility that will serve as the Seminoles' bullpen on game day.

FSU will also build a separate facility behind the right field bleachers that will be used for infield drills and a batting cage.

“They currently don’t have any space to do infield drills," Waxman said.

"We’re talking about potentially creating a space for that that could double as a bullpen, that could double as a batting cage. It’s a really extensive plan that first seeks to give the baseball players what they need to continue their trade.”

Basically, the only thing that won't be changing in Dick Howser Stadium is the dimensions of Mike Martin Field.

“A complete redo of the stadium without changing the basic format of what’s there says it best," Waxman said.

"We’re going to upgrade everything. We’re going to do the 15-year fix. It’s still a great venue. It just needs to be refreshed.”

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Photos: Independence Bowl 2017