Expansion of Texas’ Disch-Falk Field not in immediate plans as SEC move looms

The University of Texas baseball team will open its final season as a member of the Big 12 Friday night when it hosts the University of San Diego at Disch-Falk Field.

With the season getting started, the athletic department’s move to the SEC looms on July 1. Within that move, Longhorns baseball will take a step up in class to what has long been the best college baseball conference in the country.

As that move plays out, Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte indicated Tuesday night during a town hall meeting that there are no wholesale changes planned for the 49-year-old, 7,211-seat venue. When the topic was broached during a Q&A, Del Conte was wary of over-expanding Disch-Falk and potentially playing midweek games in front of empty seats.

Ultimately, Texas will assess demand after the move to the SEC, and presumably after at least one season as a member. For what it’s worth, the Longhorns are generally among the national leaders in attendance. In 2023, they averaged 6,729 fans across 36 games at Disch-Falk, good for No. 6 nationally in terms of per game average.

With infrastructure at Disch-Falk an issue, including the inability to install grass because of the overhang making it difficult to grow, Texas will introduce the Yeti Yard, a field-level space in left-center field.

“It’s a place where people can come in, watch the game from that angle, enjoy the atmosphere,” Del Conte said. “That’s another way to improve the game experience at baseball.”

Beyond the opening weekend series against the Toreros, Texas does not leave Disch-Field through the end of the month, hosting Houston Christian on Tuesday, Cal Poly Feb. 23-25, and St. John’s on Feb. 27.

The Longhorns, No. 16 in the D1Baseball.com top 25 to open the season, will face No. 2 and reigning national champion LSU on March 1 in Houston as part of the Astros Foundation College Classic at Minute Maid Park in Houston.