Baseball’s first on-site clubhouse was unveiled at Tucker Field Saturday after more than a year of renovations.

The Fassnacht Clubhouse and Training Facility is a 6,200-square-foot space that includes a locker room, coaches’ offices, a players lounge and an indoor turf training space. Each player received a customized locker, and the existing batting cages at the field were also enclosed, according to an athletics department release.

Construction began on the clubhouse in June 2017 after the Arlington County Board approved the plans. The building was named after junior infielder Nate Fassnacht’s family, who were lead donors for the project.

The unveiling event Saturday was private and closed to the media. Athletic director Tanya Vogel, University President Thomas LeBlanc and Board of Trustees member and former baseball student-athlete Ave Tucker were among those who attended the ceremony, along with the baseball team and head coach Gregg Ritchie.

The $3.5 million project was funded through private donations – including an anonymous $2 million donation – and $500,000 of a $1 million gift from Tucker.

“This is nicer than the San Francisco Giants, the professional team’s locker room,” Tucker said in an interview Saturday. “This is state-of-the-art and top-notch.”

In 2012, the athletic department spent $3 million to renovate Barcroft Park, which has served as baseball’s home field since 1993. Upgrades included a synthetic turf field, renovated dugouts, a new press box, a ticket and concession area, stadium seating and a bullpen. Field No. 6 was renamed to honor Tucker in 2014.

Tucker, a 1977 graduate, joked the team had “no facilities” when he played for GW, but said the program’s growth has been a “great evolution” that impacts not only student-athletes but the community around Tucker Field.

“When GW’s not using the field, the youth of Arlington County get to use the field and now some of the batting cages,” Tucker said. “It’s not only giving opportunities to GW and to GW baseball players, but to all the youth in Arlington, and that’s a good feeling.”

GW finished last season with a 32–26 record and went 13–11 in Atlantic 10 play. The Colonials made A-10 history by becoming the first No. 7 seed in the A-10 Championship in May to advance to the third day of play in the tournament, held at Barcroft Park.

In June, three Colonials were selected in the MLB draft – the first time in 16 years three players were picked in the same draft.

The unveiling Saturday was the first time the team’s student-athletes had seen their new clubhouse.

“It’s very exciting,” Tucker said. “The expression of the players – they had not seen the clubhouse until today – was special.”