The North Dakota State University (NDSU) softball team has seen tremendous success throughout recent years. In the 2018 season, NDSU claimed the program’s ninth Summit League tournament championship and won an NCAA tournament game for the fifth straight season. Despite their success, the team lacked an updated facility that was able to accommodate more fans as the sport grew in popularity at NDSU. The University realized that in the hypercompetitive nature of student-athlete recruitment, facilities play a major role in the process and the student-athletes’ ultimate decision and decided to invest in upgrades to the existing softball complex that is part of the Sheldon (Shelly) Ellig Sports Complex.

Phase I of this project included a master plan for the Softball Program. Renovations included installation of a new 552 seats raised platform grandstand with a press box and filming platform, a new backstop and netting, and a new center field electronic scoreboard and sound system.

Phase II included the addition of the new turf outfield, the new turf infield, the right-field grandstand, home team bullpens and batting cages, a visitor’s bullpen, new outfield and foul line fencing, padding and associated field work, and various site amenities.

Phase I
• New 552 seat raised platform grandstand with press box and filming platform
• New backstop and netting
• New center field digital scoreboard and sound system

Phase II
• New artificial turf outfield and infield
• New grandstand in right field
• Home team bullpens and batting cages
• Visitor bullpen
• New fencing
• Outfield fence padding and additional field work