The 16,000 square foot facility will be one of two recreational structures erected on the property. Early in 2008 a second facility for soccer and lacrosse will be built on the northwest corner of the field.

The Absolute Baseball Academy will feature a full 90 foot infield for year round practicing with a 60 foot infield marked out for softball and slow pitch. When the infield is not in use the facility will contain ten batting cages plus a long toss area.

Neil Gidney is president of the two million dollar facility. “I would like to thank councillor Hodges and architect Bill Evans for the time and effort put into making this day a reality”, said Gidney. “This building will provide first class training and teaching opportunities for players and coaches throughout Alberta and will obviously bring added exposure to the Calgary Vipers”.

Vipers All-Star third baseman Carlos Duncan will be the featured hitting instructor at the academy with Vipers right hander Tom Lyons acting as pitching coach. Vipers field manager Mike Busch and team president Peter Young are also partners in the venture. Busch will make numerous trips to Calgary in the off-season for coaching clinics.