DUBAI: Baseball United, the first professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and South Asia, has announced plans to build the first professional baseball field and ballpark in the region.

The new ballpark will be in Dubai, the city in which Baseball United played its historic inaugural games last year.

“Our league has brought together so many powerful ingredients to help make baseball the Middle East and South Asia’s next great sport,” said Kash Shaikh, chairman, CEO and co-founder of Baseball United.

“From our passionate fanbase and legendary co-owners, to our world-class players and historic franchises, we’ve worked hard to bring the best of baseball to Dubai. The only thing that has been missing was a place to call home.

“We wanted a true, purpose-built baseball ballpark that can serve as the launchpad for professional baseball across the region. We wanted something that was entrepreneurial and right-sized, that combined new technology while paying homage to baseball’s 150-year tradition. Thanks to the hard work of our team and the shared vision of our incredible partners, we can now make that dream a reality.”

The new ballpark will be built within The Sevens sports and entertainment complex, located on Al-Ain Road (E66), a short drive from downtown Dubai.

Tentatively called Baseball United Ballpark, with negotiations for naming rights still ongoing, the field will feature a dual fiber, synthetic turf playing surface. The turf includes an organic infill and geotextile fabric optimized to ensure performance in Dubai’s high temperatures. The LED lighting system will generate more than 15 million lumens from eight lighting towers and 94 total fixtures, including the most advanced BallTracker technology available. The ballpark’s moveable, modular seating configuration will enable space for up to 6,500 fans.

Baseball United will construct above-ground dugouts, foul lines and foul poles, and a professional-grade netting system. In addition to a state-of-the-art LED content wall, the new ballpark will include a traditional scoreboard modeled on the 19th century professional games in the US.

The ballpark will have four different seating sections, including the ultra-premium Diamond Club, optimal sight-line infield boxes, value-priced outfield boxes, and Baseball United’s signature VVIP On-Field Cabanas.

The ballpark’s dimensions are modeled on Yankee Stadium, one of the most famous baseball stadiums in the world, with the fences measuring 318 feet (97 m) to left field, 314 feet (96 m) to right field, and 408 feet (124 m) to center field.

The playing field will be named after Major League Baseball legend and Baseball United co-founder and board member, Barry Larkin, who teamed up with Shaikh, John Miedreich and Mariano Rivera to create Baseball United in 2022.

Larkin is considered one of the best shortstops in the history of the game, making 12 All-Star teams and winning three Gold Glove Awards. Larkin was World Series Champion and the 1995 National League MVP. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.

“I am truly honored to have my name associated with this historic field,” Larkin said. “For me, it has been a dream come true to bring this league to life with Kash, John, and the entire Baseball United team. We’ve already played the first professional baseball games in the UAE, and now, to have a field and ballpark of our own — it’s incredible. I can’t wait to step foot on that field later this year.”

Baseball United has teamed up with some of the best stadium and pitch builders in the world to create its ballpark. The league will partner with UK-based SIS Pitches on the turf, netting, and overall field development, Iowa (US)-based Musco Lighting on the lighting system, and Dubai-based Al-Laith for the seating.

Field construction begins this week, with the field scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Baseball United’s two signature professional events next year — the Baseball United Cup and Baseball United Season One will both take place in the new ballpark.

Baseball United may also opt to host its Arab Classic national team event at the new ballpark in November during the final stages of construction.

“We are excited to partner with Baseball United to make history again here in Dubai,” said Mathew Tait, general manager, Emirates Dubai 7s and The Sevens stadium. “Adding baseball to our venue aligns perfectly with our strategy to make The Sevens the region’s premier multisport destination. We can’t wait to ‘play ball’ here in Dubai.”