TUCSON, Ariz. -- Following an $8 Million offseason renovation, Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium is set for its Grand Re-Opening in the Wildcats' home opener on Thursday, Feb. 14 vs. New Mexico at 6 p.m. MST. Ninth-ranked Arizona hosts the Lobos on Thursday prior to welcoming in #7 Alabama, Cal State Fullerton, Illinois-Chicago and South Florida for the Hillenbrand Invitational, Friday through Sunday. One of the stadium's initial donors Doby Hillenbrand, Arizona Athletics Director Dave Heeke and Wildcat head coach Mike Candrea will perform a ribbon-cutting ceremony prior to first pitch to formally open the renovated stadium.

THE GAME
New Mexico at #9 Arizona
Thursday, Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. MST
Live Stream || Live Stats || Follow on Twitter || Tickets

ARIZONA AT HILLENBRAND STADIUM

Year Opened:	1993 (27th season)
Dimensions:	Lines - 200, Center - 220
Capacity:	2,639
Overall Record:	721-93 (.886)
Pac-10/12 Games:	249-70 (.786)
NCAA Regionals:	69-7 (.904)
Top Winning Streaks:	70 games, 5/5/00-4/6/02
	45 games, 5/3/96-3/6/98
	29 games, 1995-96
	28 games, 1993-94
	26 games, 1994-95
	25 games, 2017-18

NOTES ON THE NEW DIGS

• A shade structure will provide the majority of the infield seats with limited cover from the sun during the spring and early summer day games.
• Two premium seating areas will feature unique experiences for fans. The Club Level, a 40-seat air-conditioned indoor section, will offer a luxury atmosphere with a private restroom and access to food and drinks. The Field Level will provide premier vantage points with chairback seating behind home plate.
• Pole-less netting will stretch from dugout to dugout, protecting all fans in infield seats from foul balls without obstructions caused from supporting poles. The removal of poles behind home plate will provide improved sightlines for every seat behind home plate.  
• The Alumni plaza, a standing-room only viewing area will be located above the seating areas down the third base line, will recognize the rich and storied tradition of Arizona softball and provide an area for Arizona softball alumnae to watch the game together.
• A brand new concourse will feature upgraded restrooms and concession areas to go along with a new ticket office, A Store and entrances to the stadium.
• Amenities for players include enlarged home and visiting dugouts, complete with restrooms as well as a water station. The bullpens have been renovated as well as the padding on outfield and infield walls.

NOTES ON THE CATS

• The Wildcats are coming off a 3-2 weekend at the USF Opening Weekend Invitational, including victories over #19 Michigan, USF and Illinois State and losses to fifth-ranked Florida and NC State.
• Arizona hit 11 home runs last weekend in Tampa, including four from Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza. Both Arizona's 11 total homers and Palomino-Cardoza's four lead the Pac-12.
• Palomino-Cardoza is one of four Wildcats to have hit multiple home runs last weekend. Dejah Mulipola is second in the Pac-12 with three homers while Jessie Harper and Malia Martinez had two apiece.
• The Wildcats dropped to No. 9 in the NFCA Top 25 after starting the season ranked No. 7. Arizona will welcome seventh-ranked Alabama to Hillenbrand this weekend, UA's second top-10 opponent and third ranked foe through two weeks of 2019. The last time UA played three ranked teams in its first nine games was 2010.
• Arizona head coach Mike Candrea is second in NCAA history with 1,566 career victories in 31 years. He trails only Michigan's Carol Hutchins, who has won 1,574 games over 35 seasons.