New look: Sydney Blue Sox players Matt Williams and Jacob Younis help paint their home ground sky blue. Picture: Carlos Furtado
BASEBALL fans young and old joined together last week to give the Sydney Blue Sox's home ground a much-needed makeover.
After three years of staring at dull, lifeless concrete, team management decided it was time to enlist the help of the community and paint the stadium blue.
Blue Sox assistant general manager Matt Cooper said the painting wasn't just about improving the look of the stadium but also connecting with the community.
"We had 60 volunteers come out and help us on the day," Cooper said.
"Our entire playing and coaching staff got involved and we even had the Australian Baseball League's chief executive Peter Wermuth helping us."
Blacktown Council supplied the Blue Sox with 100 litres of paint which was used to double coat the stadium's concrete pillars, stairwells and the ticket booth into an eye-catching sky blue.
"I think it will really add to our match day atmosphere," Cooper said.
"It gives the stadium a real homely feel to it which the fans will love."
Foundation Blue Sox player Matt Williams was one of the volunteers who helped, alongside his 82-year-old grandfather Allan Chorley.
Williams said his grandfather was one of the team's biggest fans and attended every home game as a season member.
"He was out painting with the roller and he did as much work as the rest of us," he said.
The Blue Sox will settle into their new-look stadium with a three-match exhibition series against the Australian national team on October 26-28. Two weeks later they will return to Blacktown International Sportpark for round two of the Australian Baseball League against Brisbane.