In its three years of existence, N.C. State’s softball team has already won an ACC Championship but still lacks a field to call its own.
The Walnut Creek Softball Complex, where the softball team plays its home games, sits on the other side of Raleigh, making it difficult for many Wolfpack fans to get to the team’s games.
But construction for an on-campus stadium will begin between July 18 and July 22, according to David Horning, who has been in charge of the project.
“We’re anxiously awaiting the start of construction just to get things rolling,” Horning said.
The location of the new stadium will be on the corner of Morrill Drive and Cates Avenue, adjacent to Derr Track. The new area will also provide an on-campus soccer field for the men’s and women’s teams inside of the track.
Horning said the construction should take around 207 to 209 days, making for a February finish to the stadium.
“We plan on getting the team on the field in time for next season,” Horning said. “We’re hoping the sod will take. We may have to pin it down for the start of the season.”
Heather Gelbard, a rising senior third baseman for the softball team, credited the team’s supporters for the hopes to have this done by next season.
“They’ve had this project in the works for a long time now,” Gelbard said. “There have been plenty of delays, but we’ve been lucky to have a great group of fans and supporters who have kept been behind us 100 percent and have pushed hard for us to get our stadium.”
The delays were caused by budget issues, according to Horning, who said the cost after everything was planned was over the original budget the group had set.
“The first swag cost 7.5 million, which was 1 million over budget,” Horning said. “We had to figure how to get it in budget, then take it before the review panel again. So the budget of the project has been the main delay.”
Curtis and Jacqueline Dail were the primary contributors to the stadium, giving $500,000 for the project and receiving the naming rights.
The Dails have been contributors to various other athletic venues, including the new basketball practice center.
“The Dails have contributed a lot,” Horning said. “They’ve been pervasive throughout N.C. State’s athletic program.”
The capacity of the new stadium will be 500 people and will include a grand entrance looking out on the field. The stadium will also feature elements of the surrounding buildings.
“The construction is being done tastefully to take on the character of Reynolds [Coliseum],” Horning said. “We want to incorporate the limestone, bricks and other features of Reynolds with the new complex. WeÕre going for the aesthetic value.”
Gelbard said she is looking forward to having an on-campus stadium and the opportunity to fill it up with students.
“It will be so much more convenient, obviously, but it will be a source of pride having a state-of-the-art facility,” she said. “The best part of the stadium being in the middle of campus is that it will be much easier for our fans to come out and support us.”
