Lismore will be Australia's baseball capital: Major League 'guru'

"IN THE 25 times I've been here this is the only place I've seen in the country with this many fields in one location."

Inspecting the Albert Park baseball facility today were (from left) Major League Baseball’s Murray ‘field guru’ Cook with Lismore City Council’s Tourism and Events Manager Mitch Lowe and Baseball Australia's Justin Drew.

LISMORE'S Albert Park baseball fields will become the new headquarters of baseball in Australia if a $4.5 million upgrade of the facility is green lit by the NSW Government.

Lismore City Council and Baseball Australia have prepared a funding application to expand the field ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, when baseball will become an Olympic sport.

This week the field was inspected by Major League Baseball's leading global authority on stadiums and facilities Murray Cook - known as the "field guru” - who raved about the potential for Albert Park.

"There is tremendous potential here... with the right level of investment, proper design and construction, this facility can certainly host elite baseball programs and spring training camps for international teams,” Mr Cook said.

Cook flew out of the US to share his insight into how Albert Park could be made into a world-class facility.

The $4.47 million being sought from the NSW Government would allow the park to cater for international teams and training camps as well as national events.

"In the 25 times I've been here this is the only place I've seen in the country with this many fields in one location,” Mr Cook said.

"If this was set up right, it could become the premier baseball destination in the Pacific Rim.”

Lismore City Council tourism and events manager Mitch Lowe said Cook's expertise was vital to "ensure we get things right from the start and deliver a world-class facility”.

"Baseball Australia has indicated it would commit to hosting key national events, international team training camps and national team activities in Lismore for at least five years if the upgrade was funded,” Mitch said.

Baseball Australia CEO Brett Pickett said the upgrade would inject more than $9 million per year into Lismore's economy.

"The Lismore community have a proud baseball history and there is clearly a willingness at Council and community level to make this unique opportunity a reality,” Mr Pickett said.

"With Murray's site inspection and input into this project, what we are proposing is becoming more real every day.

"It will provide a great home for Australian Baseball operations as we prepare for qualification to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.”