The $13 million project in Rockford is nearing completion, marked by the Aquinas College Women’s Softball team’s recent home opener at the new Alro Steel Championship Field.
Mike Guswiler, president of the West Michigan Sports Commission that owns and operates the facilities, says the expansion is designed to address gender parity by providing championship-level facilities for women’s sports while boosting the local economy through sports tourism.
“On the weekends that's what we see. We see a lot of travel tournaments, a lot of teams coming from all over the Midwest, and they're staying in our hotels, eating in our restaurants and contributing to our economy, new dollars that otherwise wouldn't be there if we didn't have this facility.”
Since 2015, the complex has generated nearly $70 million for the local economy. This expansion allows for 200 additional teams annually, projected to bring in another $1 million in yearly visitor spending.
The project refreshed existing facilities and added parking, a playground, championship softball field, two flexible-use turf fields and 20 pickleball courts that will be run by nonprofit Rockford Pickleball.
“Those yet have to be coded and cured, and we need the temperatures just right to do that, but they will open up yet this year.”
To support the long-term sustainability of the project, members of the community can purchase personalized bricks, engraved benches or picnic tables as part of the Winning Streak Legacy Program.
The full grand opening is scheduled for May.
