MountainStar Sports Group Unveils $3.25 Million in Renovations to Southwest University Park

Six years later and Southwest University Park is far from its end goal.

In fact, today members of MountainStar Sports Group unveiled their $3.25 million offseason renovations to the stadium, including redesigned hospitality areas, a retractable pitching mound, new locker rooms and a new spark to the stadium with the Locomotive FC fully integrated.

"Our ownership group takes significant pride in ensuring that Southwest University Park is all times a first-class facility comparable to the best venues in Minor League Baseball," MSSG CEO Josh Hunt said. "To that end, MountainStar has invested more than $19 million, including $3.25 million in 2019, over six years in into the city-owned property to continue to innovate, design and build new exciting attractions. El Paso deserves a first-class venue and that's what we intend to provide year in and year out."

Resting atop the City Hall Grill, the Wooftop Deck features a private party deck with a full-service bar, televisions galore, lounge seating and games like mini golf, corn hole and ping-pong. It's the perfect spot for group nights or outings with the family.

On the first base side, the Fiesta Patio launched this season in order to give fans both access to a cantina-like area and also a perfect field view of the game. For Locomotive FC Soccer, this spot places people right behind the south goal for added excitement during games.

Some fans moaned on SportsTalk when the park announced their extended protective netting feature across the first and third base line. But at a closer look, there are areas where the netting can be retracted in order to allow player-to-fan engagement. Ultimately this was made for fans' safety when they go to games.

For sports junkies like myself, the retractable pitching mound feature truly captured my attention. Head groundskeeper Travis Howard explained that the process takes 10 minutes where the mound essentially digresses underground and allows the grounds crew to switch from baseball to soccer in a swift manner.

There's also now Locomotive FC branding throughout the stadium, from the renovated soccer lockerroom to simple concession stands. The Locomotive FC has a new designated team shop located east of the stadium along with a massive Locomotive train that has a deafening train whistle.