North Dakota Athletics Announces Plans for On-Campus Softball Facility

The following release information was issued by North Dakota and information and photo courtesy of North Dakota…

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota Department of Athletics announced the plans and groundbreaking information for Memorial Village II, which features a state-of-the-art, on-campus softball stadium.

On the heels of the UND Alumni Association and Foundation’s annual “State of the Foundation Address” and the groundbreaking ceremony of the Nodak Insurance Company Sports Performance Center, UND Athletics, the City of Grand Forks, the Memorial Village Development Group and a generous gift from lead donors Alexa and Dave Albrecht have all partnered together to fulfill the dream of bringing UND softball back to campus through a public-private partnership.

“This project is the latest example of the power of a donor-led public/private partnership,” said UND Alumni Association and Foundation CEO DeAnna Carlson Zink. “Dave and Alexa Albrecht stepped up to the plate and helped move the complex from a dream to reality very quickly. We are so thankful for their support and the efforts of all the parties involved.”

Breaking ground on Memorial Village II and Albrecht Field! 👷

Couldn't be more excited to bring @UNDsoftball onto campus in 2024!#UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/GCTyHm1w9r

— NorthDakotaAthletics (@UNDsports) October 4, 2023

Memorial Village II, located directly across 2nd Ave. N from the soon-to-be completed Memorial Village, will provide commercial space and mixed-living opportunities for the community of Grand Forks and culminates with a new softball stadium that will rival any program in the area to further enhance the growth of intercollegiate athletics at North Dakota. The complex is being developed by the Memorial Village Development Group, which includes Steve Burian from Burian and Associates, Kevin Ritterman from Dakota Commercial and Craig Tweten from Community Contractors.

“This project, which will include the new on-campus home for UND softball, is yet just another piece of an amazing facilities upgrade puzzle for intercollegiate athletics,” said UND Director of Athletics Bill Chaves. “This particular project will be a case study on how collaboration, cooperation and teamwork can make dreams a reality. The tremendous gift from Dave and Alexa Albrecht along with the support and tireless efforts of our City of Grand Forks, UND administration, UND Alumni Association and Foundation and our wonderful developers will literally transform this part of campus. This truly is a P-5 and could be the only one of its kind in the country – that is how special UND and Grand Forks is.”

The stadium, which is slated to be completed by fall 2024, will feature over 500 spectator seats, a special party deck in left field, a LED videoboard and will be pet friendly.

“This is an incredible time for softball and our athletics department at UND,” said UND head softball coach Jordan Stevens. “Seeing the transformation happening on that side of campus and having softball be part of it is unbelievable. This generous gift will immediately and positively change how we play, train and recruit but will also forever leave an impact for all Fighting Hawk softball players and softball in this great community.”

Large dugouts, a dual-purpose batting cage/bullpen and a state-of-the-art turf playing surface are just a few of the amenities that UND softball student-athletes will enjoy. The stadium will be located across the street from the Frederick D. Pollard Athletic Center and soon-to-be constructed Nodak Insurance Company Sports Performance Center, which will feature new locker rooms, weight room and sports medicine area for the softball program.

Groundbreaking for the new complex will be on Tuesday, October 3. More information regarding the groundbreaking will be released at a later date.

To follow the construction of the project via a live feed, click here.

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