Bellevue University Purchases Baseball Village from City, Ground-Breaking Ceremony Held Today
Bellevue University Purchases Baseball Village from City, Ground-Breaking Ceremony Held Today
Bellevue University recently finalized a deal with the city of Bellevue to purchase land just south of Offutt Air Force Base that was once home to the World Baseball Village.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held today as work has already begun on modernizing and updating the fields for use by the Bruin baseball and softball teams.
The University will also develop the adjacent 62 acres with ambitious plans that include collegiate-level soccer fields, a football field, restroom facilities, and an outdoor shooting range for use by the Bellevue Police Department. There are hopes that some home games could start being played there as soon as Fall 2025.
“When I first watched games at the fields on Harlan Lewis, I never imagined they would one day be the home of BU baseball, soccer, and softball! We are so excited about the opportunity to bring all of our athletic teams to Bellevue. We have rented fields all over Omaha, and now they have a local home,” said Bellevue University President Mary Hawkins.
Currently, Bruin baseball, softball, and soccer host home games on various fields around South Omaha and Bellevue. The softball team holds home games at Roy Smith Field in South Omaha at 2098 O Street. The baseball home games are nearby at John Stella Field in Brown Park, 5441 South 18th St. The men’s and women’s soccer teams host home games at the Bellevue Soccer Club Complex in Twin Creek, 11320 South 42nd Street.
Hawkins added, “I’m so grateful to the city leaders who saw this possibility before I did. And now, I think we’ll have a great athletics complex that also includes a building for locker rooms, meeting rooms, and places for official and visiting teams.”
Bellevue City Administrator Jim Ristow praised the ongoing partnership between Bellevue University and the city. He also spoke about how great this new sports complex should be for local businesses. “Bellevue University has always been a fantastic partner for the city,” Ristow said. “This new sports complex will bring many people to Bellevue to attend games, with some staying for the weekend. Those are people who will be eating in town, filling up at our gas stations, and shopping at Bellevue stores.”
“Our other partners – Hawkins Construction, Stan How Architects and Mammoth are working in overdrive to be ready for the fall and spring seasons!”
— Mary Hawkins, Bellevue University President
Hawkins also had a special announcement regarding the complex: “The fields will be named after Jeff Renner and Susan Dennis in recognition of their longtime support of Bellevue University and our students.”
|| Pictures provided by Bellevue University ||
