News Summary

The Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School varsity baseball team is set to relocate their home games to the newly built 315 Sports Park starting in the 2026 season. This $50 million facility will feature 12 diamonds and night games, enhancing the local baseball experience. Principal Evan Tingley expressed enthusiasm for the benefits the new park offers, including improved facilities that allow BBCHS to enhance their own sports infrastructure. Set just 1-2 miles from the school, this move marks a new era for baseball in Bradley, promising a more vibrant local sports scene.

Big Changes Ahead for Bradley-Bourbonnais Baseball Fans!

Exciting news is coming out of Bradley as the varsity baseball team of Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School (BBCHS) gets ready to relocate their home games to the brand new 315 Sports Park starting with the 2026 season. This move is sure to bring a fresh vibe to the local baseball scene!

A Dream Come True: The New Complex

The new 315 Sports Park is an impressive facility featuring a whopping 12 diamonds and a price tag of approximately $50 million to build. Located just east of the Bradley Commons Shopping Center on St. George Road, this complex is set to become the new home for many local teams.

BBCHS is expected to pay around $5,000 annually to utilize the facilities, which are conveniently situated only about 1-2 miles from the school’s North Street campus. How great is that? The board for BBCHS is still working out the details for final approval for this exciting upgrade, but things are looking promising!

The Contract and Future Plans

The proposed agreement is set to lay the foundation for a four-year contract, running until November 30, 2028, unless both parties agree to a future extension. Payments for usage will be conveniently spread out over four equal installments from February 1 to May 1 each year.

One of the best perks of this move? Night games! The current fields at BBCHS lack lighting, meaning fans have been missing out on some evening baseball action. Although the specific number of night games has not yet been settled (that will be determined by the athletic director and coach), the potential for evening events will surely draw in more fans!

Facility Features That Wow!

When BBCHS takes the field at the 315 Sports Park, players and fans alike can look forward to enjoying the perks that come with Championship Field (Field 5). This lighted field provides stadium-style seating, making for a fantastic game-day experience! The construction cost for Championship Field was approximately $5 million, proving to be a smart investment for the future of local sports.

Additionally, BBCHS will also have access to Field 2, a versatile multipurpose field, enhancing their game schedule options!

A New Era for BBCHS and Future Investments

Principal Evan Tingley has shared enthusiasm for this new partnership with village officials, pointing out the high-quality facilities that the new sports park offers. The agreement allows BBCHS to allocate funds for expanding their own high school facilities, including plans for a $70 million upgrade that features a new fieldhouse. How exciting is that for the students?

Local League Fun: Limited Conflicts Expected

As the spring season approaches, local fans are relieved to hear that there shouldn’t be many conflicts between BBCHS baseball and travel teams. Travel baseball usually peaks from mid- to late June, well after BBCHS’s season comes to an end. The only chance for overlap might come on specific weekends in late April or May when both leagues are using the park.

All Systems Go at the New Facility

If you’re wondering how well the 315 Sports Park has been received, the early reports are overwhelmingly positive! The park has already opened its doors to youth travel baseball, softball, and soccer teams, seeing heavy traffic during the summer with over 100 teams taking part. More than 30 girls’ softball teams and a number of boys’ baseball teams are set to compete at the park during the upcoming two weekends!

Meanwhile, the Bourbonnais Township Park District has signed a separate contract allowing their slow-pitch softball program to use the park for just $50 per hour per field on a monthly basis. They were previously using Diamond Point Park for their games until 2021, as they work to reinvigorate their leagues.

Looking Forward

With all these changes, the future of baseball in Bradley is shaping up to be more exciting than ever! So, mark your calendars for 2026; the BBCHS baseball team is set to make a splash in their new home at the 315 Sports Park. It’s going to be a season to remember!

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