Maestri Field at Privateer Park

The ballpark opened in 1979 and is named after Ron Maestri, who coached the team from 1972 to 1984 and from 2014 to 2015, and athletic director, where he served for 21 years ending his term in 2000. The stadium was also the home of the New Orleans Zephyrs minor-league baseball team (1993–1996) prior to Zephyr Field opening in 1997. In 1996, the stadium hosted the AAU Junior Olympics baseball competition. Maestri returned to coach the Privateers beginning with the 2014 season. ==Stadium features==

The facility has all-aluminum seating and a brick and wrought-iron facade which dramatically changed the park's appearance. Maestri Field had a complete surface facelift prior to the 2006 season. The facelift included a complete reworking of the entire playing surface. Included in the renovation were new irrigation and drainage systems. Also, the entire sand-based Bermuda grass surface was skinned, laser graded and resodded. Improvements also included a 10’ halo around the home plate area and a surrounding warning track enclosing the entire grass surface. ==Awards and highlights==

Meanwhile, the playing surface remains one of the best in America. In January 1991, the field and the UNO baseball staff were honored by the American Baseball Coaches Association with the Groundskeeper of the Year Award for the nation's best field. The field passed one of its biggest tests in 1993 when the New Orleans Zephyrs - then the Class AAA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers - played 64 home dates in their debut season successfully. UNO has finished among the top 15 in NCAA home attendance eight times, including 10th in 1990 and 15th in 1996. The UNO attendance mark was set in 1987 when 85,884 (including postseason games) passed through its gates. The park has played host to other events, including an exhibition series featuring the Italian National Team in the summer of 1990. UNO played host to and won the American South Conference Toumament in 1989. UNO and Maestri Field have also been host for the 1982 NCAA South Regional, the 1987 South II Regional, the 1984 American Legion World Series and a 1987 American Legion regional tourney. ==Gallery==

File:Maestri Field at Privateer Park Grandstand Exterior.jpg|Maestri Field at Privateer Park Grandstand Exterior File:Maestri Field at Privateer Park Grandstand Exterior, Third Base Side.jpg|Maestri Field at Privateer Park Grandstand Exterior, Third Base Side File:Maestri Field at Privateer Park Grandstand Interior.jpg|Maestri Field at Privateer Park Grandstand Interior File:Maestri Field at Privateer Park Infield.jpg|Maestri Field at Privateer Park and Indoor Facility File:Maestri Field at Privateer Park and UNO Lakefront Arena.jpg|Maestri Field at Privateer Park and UNO Lakefront Arena ==See also==