Industry News

Virginia ballpark renamed in honour of fans

The athletics department of the University of Virginia is to rename its baseball stadium after two long-term supporters following an anonymous donation to the venue’s redevelopment project.

Davenport Field will henceforth be known as Disharoon Park in honour of Leslie B. Disharoon and Ann Merriwether Disharoon. The move is pending approval from the University of Virginia Board of Visitors on March 2.

Ann passed away in 2013 and her husband, Leslie, remains an active supporter of the university’s baseball programme. The university said the name change has been made possible following a “generous commitment” from an anonymous donor.

Leslie has served as a member of the Virginia Athletics Foundation Board of Trustees, and on the boards of various other institutions and foundations.

“We are very grateful to our donors, and in particular, this couple who are honouring one of the great Virginia baseball couples of all time in the Disharoons,” said Virginia head baseball coach Brian O’Connor. “Les has been a father figure to our programme during my time as coach here and Ann was just as caring and involved while she was with us. To have their name associated with our ballpark is truly meaningful for UVA baseball.”

The anonymous donation forms part of the $18.76m (£13.4m/€15.2m) expansion of the stadium, which is nearing completion.

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