ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – Despite having a dismal 3-13 record, the University of New Mexico baseball team found out Monday that $3 million will be spent on a new stadium.

“There’s certainly justification in our mind for the renovation to the facility,” said UNM Athletic Director Paul Krebs.

The Lobos currently practice on a three-decades-old field but play games in the cavernous and empty Isotopes Park, which is owned and operated by the city of Albuquerque.

UNM officials say they have enjoyed their stay at Isotopes Park but will feel more comfortable and see benefits in a new stadium at Lobo Field south of The Pit.

“Light it, new playing surface, dugouts, press box,” Krebs listed among the many improvements the new stadium will have.

Monday the UNM Board of Regents approved the use of a $2 million Severance Tax Bond, which was allocated by the 2010 Legislature for a new baseball complex.

“It’s not money that could be used somewhere else on campus,” Krebs said.  “If we didn’t use it specifically for this project it would revert back to the state.”

And while the state is in need of more money, the athletic department says this is money well spent.

“We view this as an economic-development piece,” Krebs continued.  “We’re putting people to work. We’re creating a facility that will attract eventd generating not only income for our athletic programt generate income for our community.”

Construction is expected to start in the summer with games possibly being played at the new stadium next year.