Santa Clara University

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Jan. 28, 2004 – Santa Clara University today announced that Stephen Schott, owner of the Oakland Athletics, has agreed to give $4 million toward the construction of a new SCU baseball stadium. Schott is a 1960 SCU alumnus and was a pitcher for the Broncos.

The announcement follows the Jan. 27 unanimous approval by the Santa Clara City Council of a change in its El Camino Real master plan, giving the green light to develop detailed plans for a 1,500-seat, grass-field stadium. It will be located east of the University’s intramural and baseball practice fields, across El Camino Real at Campbell Avenue, and will be called the Stephen Schott Baseball Stadium.

Preliminary plans for the $7.5 million stadium project call for: chairback seating, VIP suite, clubhouse, locker rooms, press box, batting cages, concessions, ticket office, restrooms, and parking.

“I’m grateful to my classmate and former Santa Clara pitcher for his generous contribution,” said SCU President Paul Locatelli, S.J., in making the announcement. “This gift opens a new chapter for Bronco baseball by building on a fine tradition that Steve shares."

Schott said,“This facility has been a long-time dream and is now a reality.”

“We intend to build a state-of the-art stadium,” he said. “I am as excited as the rest of the athletic department and alumni about this project."

Schott, owner and managing partner of the A’s since 1995, is president and owner of Citation Homes, Santa Clara. The former member of the Board of Trustees is part of a long legacy at the Jesuit university: His father, brother, son, one daughter, four nephews, three nieces, and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law hold Santa Clara degrees. Schott received the Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1989, and established a $1 million endowment for the Stephen and Patricia Schott Professor in 1992.

"This is such an exciting time for the Bronco baseball program," said SCU baseball coach Mark O'Brien.  "We are in the process of building a program that can return Santa Clara University to the College World Series. The construction of a new stadium will be a major factor in our ability to continue to attract the best players in the nation to compete for conference and national championships."

The Broncos open their 2004 season Friday with a three-game series versus the University of California, Riverside, followed by a two-game opening homestand on Feb. 9-10 against Brigham Young University.

Baseball has been played at the University since 1883, and for the last few decades the team shared Buck Shaw Stadium first with football, then men’s and women’s soccer. Bronco baseball has produced 46 major leaguers, 26 All-Americans, and 212 all-conference performers while capturing 10 league championships and making 12 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including a national runner-up finish in the 1962 College World Series.

"I am delighted that we can build a new home for our baseball program," said Cheryl Levick, SCU director of athletics and recreation.  "This is a long-awaited addition to our first-class athletics complex at Santa Clara University, and is a strong testament to the loyalty and dedication of our alumni.  This capstone facility will be suitable for hosting NCAA postseason events and is an important piece of the athletic component of the university’s capital campaign."

Today’s announcement came a week after the University announced it had passed the $200 million mark in its $350 million fund-raising campaign, to raise money for scholarships, faculty, technology, and new buildings including a new library and business school.

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MEDIA: To arrange an interview with Steve Schott, contact Sam Spear, 925-256-7810.

To arrange an interview with Cheryl Levick, contact Richard Kilwien, at 408-554-2114. 

About Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University, a comprehensive Jesuit, Catholic university located in California's Silicon Valley, offers its 8,047 students rigorous undergraduate curricula in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, plus master's and law degrees. Distinguished nationally by the fourth-highest graduation rate among all U.S. master's universities, California's oldest higher-education institution demonstrates faith-inspired values of ethics and social justice. More information is online at www.scu.edu.