Larks, Bismarck Parks & Recreation District Announce New Deck at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark, home of Dakota Community Bank and Trust Field

New area to provide accessible seating, better sightlines in popular group area

See the projected look of the new deck below. Get your tickets here!

The Bismarck Larks and Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) teamed up again to enhance the viewing experience at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark, home of Dakota Community Bank and Trust Field.

A new, 2,500 square foot deck is currently under construction in the Fireside Tailgate Area – an all-inclusive food and beverage section down the right field line of the ballpark, popular for group outings and company picnics.

While the new deck does not add seats to the area, it ensures all guests will have better sightlines to view the game, specifically fans in wheelchairs and young children.

“This improvement came out of necessity after the amazing support we received our first two seasons,” said John Bollinger, Larks general manager. “To increase capacity in the ballpark, we added 300 seats out there in 2018. While groups and fans had a great time, we received feedback that some fans had difficulty actually seeing the game. After discussions with BPRD, we realized a deck would give us the ability to improve sightlines and give the best experience possible.”

Randy Bina, executive director for BPRD, said, “It’s always great to make facility improvements. Folks attending high school, college, Babe Ruth, American Legion and Larks baseball games will benefit from this new deck. BPRD is looking forward to hosting the 13-15-year-old Babe Ruth League World Series August 7-15, so the timing of this grant and the partnership with the Northwoods League as the Larks head into their third season is really timely. This deck will make it possible for everyone attending a game at the Bismarck Municipal Ballpark to have a nice experience.”

The new deck will have a total seating capacity of 200, including three accessible picnic tables that can each accommodate two wheelchairs and their companions. Part of the project’s funding is being provided by the Northwoods League Foundation, the charitable body of the summer collegiate league the Larks play in. The Northwoods League Foundation prides itself on investing in its affiliate’s ballparks to enhance the experience for the accessible community.

“This project aligns perfectly with the NWL Foundation mission to provide the best viewing experience possible for all fans, particularly for people in wheelchairs.” said Dick Radatz Jr., President of the ¬¬Northwoods League Foundation. “We’re pleased to contribute and help make this vision a reality.”

With the Northwoods League Foundation’s partnership, the Larks will also donate four seats each game to an organization that assists individuals with disabilities and their families. The other five accessible seats can be purchased online at larksbaseball.com or by calling the Larks front office.

The Fireside Tailgate Area also includes a portable bleacher which seats up to 100 additional fans. Courtesy of Fireside Office Solutions, a local business sponsor, each bleacher seat will include a new chair back to increase comfort. Tickets in this area cost $27 and include a free all-you-can-eat-ballpark buffet, soda, and water through the 5th inning. For an additional $8 fans can include three beer tickets.

The Larks were also granted a BPRD Matching Grant this year to add new speakers to the YMCA Family Fun Zone and the Fireside Tailgate Area, televisions to stream Larks games in the new Laughing Sun Lounge and main concession stand, speakers in the restrooms that will broadcast the Larks play-by-play, and lastly, new netting that will help protect fans seated down the left and right field lines from line drive foul balls.

The Larks 2019 season kicks off with the home opener on Tuesday, May 28 at 7:35 p.m. Single game tickets recently went on sale Monday, May 6. Fans can purchase tickets at larksbaseball.com.

 

The Bismarck Larks are a proud affiliate of the Northwoods League, the proven leader in development of elite college baseball players. The Larks mission is to use FUN to make a difference in the lives of our families, businesses, players, and communities we serve. This is accomplished with a commitment to putting fans first and providing high quality family entertainment at affordable prices. In 2018, the Larks sold out 30 of their 36 home games in Bismarck Municipal Ballpark, home of Dakota Community Bank and Trust Field. The Larks were named Northwoods Organization of the Year in 2017 and 2018.

 

The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 25-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 200 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (MIA). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.