A minor league baseball team owned by the Altoona Curve is set to take the field in spring 2006, following the Penn State Board of Trustees' approval of a new baseball stadium on Friday.

Chuck Greenberg, Altoona Curve president and managing partner, said the new team will be based out of State College and will play in the New York-Penn League.

Greenberg, who was on the University Park campus yesterday for meetings about the stadium, said there are still several steps that need to be taken before construction can begin. "We hope that the finalization of funding will happen just around the corner," he said. "Everyday we are coming closer to bringing the project to fruition."

That funding will come from the Centre County Industrial Development Authority under Pennsylvania Act 40, which guarantees up to $15 million for the project.

Gary Schultz, Penn State senior vice president for finance and business, said the new stadium will be owned by the university but operated by the minor league team, which will employ its general manager, sales and marketing personnel, groundskeeper and box office personnel.

Greenberg said he and the Curve were excited when the Board of Trustees approved the project.

"We've been working with the university for a while now," he said. "We were delighted to hear that the project was approved by the board."

Pete Liske, director of major gifts for Intercollegiate Athletics, said construction on the project is expected to begin in May.

"We would like to begin moving dirt on the project by May 1," he said. "If everything goes as planned from there, the stadium will open in May or June of 2006."

The first team to play in the new stadium will be the minor league team. Since the stadium will open after the end of the Nittany Lions' season, Penn State will begin playing in the stadium in the 2007 season.

Greenberg said although the project is currently in its early stages, it should progress as scheduled.

"We have an awful lot of work ahead of us," he said. "But everyone has been doing a good job of sticking to a very aggressive timetable."

In addition to providing a new home for the Nittany Lions and the minor league team, the stadium will also serve as a tourist attraction for State College and Centre County.

"The stadium will provide a new outlet for entertainment in the summer," Schultz, said. "It will be a place that appeals to both students and families."

Jason Bell, the men's baseball team pitching coach, said the new stadium would help increase the team's fan base.

"All summer long, baseball will be on peoples minds," Bell said. "It's a form of cheap entertainment for the whole family."

Bell said the new stadium would also help out recruitment and the current team members.

"It gives them [the team] the opportunity to play in a great facility and opens up opportunities for us, like possibly hosting a regional tournament."

Liske said the new stadium will elevate Penn State's baseball status in the Big Ten.

"We will go from the worst facility in the Big Ten to arguably the best facility," he said. "It's something that the baseball team and coaches are very excited about."