Ever wonder where teamwork and Tulane spirit collide? Right here at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium. This baseball stadium is the proud home of the Tulane Green Wave.
From 1893 to 1989 the team played at Tulane Diamond. It sat just 100 feet from where we are now. This stadium is named for Robert Turchin. He was a World War II vet and a Tulane grad from 1943. His wife Lillian Turchin also played a huge role. She led the 1990 drive to get this stadium built.
Turchin Stadium first opened in 1991. But after the 2005 season renovations began. Hurricane Katrina hit and almost destroyed everything. The project had to start all over. The team hoped to play in the renovated stadium in 2006. But they ended up playing the whole season at Zephyr Field in Metairie. Heavy rain in 2007 delayed the opening further. It finally reopened in 2008. The final cost was about $10.5 million.
In 2008 “Greer Field” was added to the name. It honored Phil Greer the chair of Tulane’s board. The renovated stadium reopened on February 22. The Green Wave won 6-0 against Illinois-Chicago. It was a sellout crowd with 5093 fans. That season Turchin hosted the Conference USA baseball tournament.
From 2011 to 2014 Turchin hosted the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class 5A state tournament. Tulane has won over 75% of its games here since it opened. In 2013 the Green Wave ranked 31st in Division I baseball attendance. They averaged 2080 fans per home game.
The field has some interesting dimensions. Foul lines are 325 feet. Center field is 400 feet. Power alleys measure 370 feet. The outfield fence is eight feet high. But center field has a twelve-foot fence. The field is FieldTurf.
Greer Field at Turchin Stadium has a capacity of 5000. A record crowd of 5215 packed the stadium. It was on April 26 2016 against LSU. The stadium offers 2700 chair-back seats. There are even private suites on the first baseline’s upper tier.
Entering the stadium you’ll find Goldring Plaza. The entrance floor has bricks with names of Green Wave supporters. Inside the main gate are pictures of Tulane baseball action. A brick wall lines the walkway and playing field.
Look at the multi-tiered press box. Five panels list Green Wave accomplishments. These include College World Series appearances. Also Super Regionals and conference championships. Retired numbers of Cary Livingston Milt Retif and Joe Brockhoff are honored. A 35′ x 19′ video scoreboard sits above the left field wall.
If you get hungry here you can enjoy food and drink. There are hot dogs nachos and corn dogs. Snack on candy chips peanuts or popcorn. The Taste of New Orleans tent has local flavors. Try a cheeseburger or alligator sausage poboy. Wash it down with Coca-Cola products or Abita Strawberry beer.
Tulane fans are loyal and engaged. They’ve consistently packed Turchin Stadium since 1991. For select games cheerleaders lead the fight song. After Green Wave runs fans chant the Hullabaloo.
So next time you’re in New Orleans come experience the excitement of college baseball here. The Green Wave spirit and the stadium’s history make it special.