Construction of new Luther baseball and softball stadium will begin around May 23rd

An early conceptual drawing of the new baseball stadium (Courtesy Luther College)

Nothing's better than spending a sunny afternoon in a baseball or softball stadium, watching the game take place on the field.

For fans of Luther College baseball and softball, sitting in the stands is about to get more enjoyable.  The school will start construction right after Commencement this May on a plan to totally renovate the softball and baseball stadiums.

Plans call for tearing out the existing backstops, then removing the temporary grandstands next to both fields.  Both the softball and baseball stadium will get protective netting strung from dugout to dugout, almost, and a couple of rows of stadium seating right in back of the netting.  In the middle will be new bleachers at both fields, which will include handicapped accessible seats, standing room areas and new press boxes with video streaming stations.

When the projects are finished (Luther officials hope that's by the time classes start in the fall), there will be room for at least 300 spectators at the baseball field and 200 spectators at the softball field.

Athletic Director Renae Hartl says the new facilities will not only make the fan experience more enjoyable, they will be a sign to the players of the support of parents, families and the Luther community.  She says the new fields will also help with recruiting and will lead to additional opportunities to rent the facilities to other baseball organizations.