Duluth city officials along with sports enthusiasts and fans are celebrating the acceptance of a two-point-three million dollar grant from the Minnesota Department o Employment and Economic Development.

The grant will be used to help with renovations at Wade Stadium.

According to the general manager for the Duluth Huskies, they've been seeking funding since 1996 and with part of a wall falling in at the stadium in 2013, the funding for renovation provides a big sense of relief.

New lighting inside will enhance viewer experience, a new scoreboard will deliver a clearer tally of the game, and AstroTurf fields will allow games to be played even after a rainfall.

The total cost of the renovation is running with a price tag of $4.6 million which is half funded with the bonding dollars from DEED.
The turf will mean much more than baseball at the field along with fewer cancellations.

"We're already talking to lacrosse teams, we're talking to flag football teams, a lot of youth sports that kinda go inside or play outside somewhere but have a hard time scheduling. This turf allows us to do a lot more on this field" said Duluth Communications and Policy Director, Dan Fanning.

"For players and fans, it's going to mean guaranteeing games out here instead of two or three days' worth of rain outs just because the turf is not available for play" said General Manager for the Duluth Huskies, Craig Smith.

Wade Stadium is the only enclosed facility of its kind North of the Twin Cities.

Managers say the upgrade is a game changer and will benefit players and fans throughout the entire Northland and even into Canada.
Some tuck pointing and other finishing touches will be going on in the spring when the snow melts.

 

Source:http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/

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