Tennessee baseball welcomes record crowd to home opener at renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium

Two Tennessee baseball fans stood on the first-base line Tuesday.

The game had ended, the No. 9 Vols having edged UNC Asheville 3-2. Most people had gone home, but there was still something left to see for this pair.

One pointed toward the left-field line, moving his hand in the direction of all the changes at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. They hung out and talked, admiring the newness.

Baseball returned to Knoxville for the first time this season as the Vols (3-1) hosted UNC Asheville (0-4) in their home opener. It marked the start of Tony Vitello’s seventh season and marked the start of a new era in another sense with a renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

“First-class is the right phrase,” Vitello said. “We are not done, which is exciting but for now we are going to enjoy this.”

UT tackled the first phase of a massive ballpark overhaul this offseason. A home opener-record crowd of 4,699 came out to see the Vols and the upgraded facility.

Fans were reminded of the newness immediately after entering Lindsey Nelson Stadium. A pair of matching banners were zip-tied to the railings at the top of the tunnels on either side of the home-plate entrance.

“Welcome back to Lindsey Nelson Stadium,” the banners read.

Down the left-field line, a pair of side-by-side metal staircases led fans up to the top of the section to the large standing-room only section, where many would line the railing to watch from a new vantage point. Others turned left to file into four-top tables that angle into the corner where the cross-field wind blew the familiar ballpark food smells.

ARCHITECT: Tony Vitello didn't build it, but renovated Lindsey Nelson Stadium was Tennessee coach's vision

Outfielder Kavares Tears took advantage of the same wind to homer in the second inning, giving the crowd its first big chance to cheer on another exciting edition of Tennessee baseball.

The crowd spoke to the reality of Tennessee’s standing — both with the fan base and in the college baseball world. Only 1,312 fans attended the season opener in Vitello’s first season. It had 1,297 the following season and 1,227 the year after that in 2020.

It had at least 4,000 in each of the past three seasons, including Tuesday’s record crowd. The demand has grown and grown as the adoration of Vitello’s program has exploded. The meshing of on-field success and the love of a fan base made these overdue changes come.

Those same key traits are why there are temporary bathrooms behind the left-field seating and fencing reminding that the changes are ongoing. There is more to come.

Vitello outlined prior changes to the ballpark Tuesday. The third porch added in left field in 2023 was a nice aesthetic. The second deck built in 2022 was emotional and exciting. The artificial turf added in 2019 was a reminder of what can happen with hard work.

These changes?

"It is surreal," Vitello said.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Welcome back Tennessee baseball: Vols open at new Lindsey Nelson Stadium