Rosenblatt Stadium

Omaha's Rosenblatt Stadium has hosted the last 39 College World Series. Andy Lyons/Allsport

Address: 1202 Bert Murphy Drive, Omaha, NE 68107

Built: 1948

Capacity: 24,700

Surface: Grass

Dimensions: Left field 332 feet. Center field: 408. Right field: 332 feet.

Rosenblatt Stadium, the host stadium for the College World Series since 1964, celebrated its 50th birthday in 1998.

Known to Omaha locals as "The Blatt," the single-deck ballpark retains a classic, intimate feeling, despite undergoing major renovations -- both structural and cosmetic -- over the years to accommodate the CWS.

The home of the Omaha Royals, the Kansas City Royals' Class AAA farm team, boasts a press box and luxury box/dining area that surpass quite a few major league parks.

Most of the seats are in the large grandstand that stretches from foulpole to foulpole, but there are also four large sets of bleachers beyond the fence. A large, exploding scoreboard -- in the shape of the Royals' crown logo -- looms beyond the outfield.

This year, seating was expanded down the left field line, then the right. A new playing surface was put in, new turf with drainage that can divert up to 6 inches of water in an hour.

A stadium club with enclosed seating and a restaurant was added. Parking has expanded on an almost annual basis. In 1994, a state-of-the-art press box replaced an old wooden structure on the roof, and a new face was put on the stadium itself.

Larry Foster, city acting parks and recreation director, said $35 million has been spent since the start of the renovation.

Foster said more than $7 million was spent this year to replace wooden bleachers in the outfield with high-quality plastic ones with backs. It added about 500 more seats, putting the capacity at 24,700. Fences were moved back in the power alleys in the outfield to 375 feet and fences were raised 2 feet to 8 feet.

The tournament also will welcome its 5 millionth fan this year.

"Every wise marketer realizes you want to put the best face on a product," Poppe said. "Omaha does that with this stadium. It speaks volumes for the city when fans see this on national television."