NATCHITOCHES – A groundbreaking ceremony is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27, during Northwestern State's Homecoming festivities to commemorate the start of construction of a new grandstand and press box facility at the Lady Demon Softball Complex.

The public is invited to the ceremony, which will be followed by a tailgating party in the Bank of Montgomery Outfield Club area of the stadium. The day will culminate with the NSU Demons' football game at 6 in Turpin Stadium against in-state rival Nicholls State.

The $466,000 project is funded by a combination of private gifts and student fees designated and approved for improvements to NSU Athletics facilities, said director of athletics Greg Burke, who emphasized that no state or university operating dollars will be used for the project. Demolition of the existing facility will begin early next month and will be completed during the 2013 season before Northwestern hosts the Southland Conference Tournament in early May.

The renovations will provide 436 seats, including 160 prime chairback locations behind home plate. The new facility will include a roof partially covering the grandstand area, which will cascade away from the backstop providing much-enhanced permanent seat locations that were not available with the old grandstand that was located nearly 20 feet away from the backstop.

The construction will also provide an enlarged press box for media and game management, able to accommodate radio and television crews with a capacity more than triple the old press box seating.

The initiative represents the most significant project in the five-decade history of the NSU softball program. It is in addition to $350,000 in other improvements to the facility in the past four years, with installation of new Outfield Club seating, a refurbished club house and locker room, a new ticket booth, new fencing and entrance, a new outfield fence, backstop and netting.

“This project will, first and foremost, significantly and positively impact the future of the Lady Demon softball program. 
Combined with other enhancements made in recent years, the construction of a new grandstand will give NSU a facility which will provide a great Division I softball setting for the players and coaches of today and tomorrow,” said Burke.  “On a broader scope, the ability to complete this project with funds outside of the university and Athletic Department budget reflects a resolve to continue moving the athletic program in a positive direction and certainly sets the stage for completion of other facility projects that are on the drawing board.”

About 50 percent of the private funding is already in place with chairback seating available at $1,000, including permanent naming rights for the seats. Other naming opportunities at the facility are also available through multi-year commitments, said Burke.

“The initial level of support for this project has been outstanding and to those supporters, we extend a heartfelt thanks,” said Burke. “In moving forward, I am confident that more former players and other individuals, especially those who have a personal affinity for women's sports and their success, will help complete the fund raising portion of this project in the very near future.”
 
TBA Studio of Monroe is the architectural firm designing the project, led by Tim Brandon and Lisa Peddy. The contractor is RDS Construction of Natchitoches.

“This is a quantum leap forward for our program,” said fourth-year NSU softball coach Donald Pickett. “This project will transform an already good facility into a great one. It will be a super place to watch softball and to play and practice. It's going to be a huge boost for us in recruiting.”

The Lady Demons will wrap up fall workouts this month, clearing the way for construction to begin. The regular season begins in early February with the first home appearance later that month.