Rendering of new grandstand at Matson Field.

Matson Field, the Moorhead baseball park at the corner of 11th Street and 15th Avenue North, is getting a new look.
The groundbreaking for the first phase of the ballpark renovations has been set for 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 13, between games of the Moorhead Legion Gold’s last doubleheader of the season. The ceremony – and the games – are open to the public at no charge, with guests invited to bring their own lawn chairs.
The event formally marks the start of construction of a new grandstand. The concrete structure to be built in the southwest corner of Matson Field will stand on the spot where the original seating was demolished in 2008; since then, visitors have been seated on portable aluminum bleachers.
To be built of precast concrete, the new grandstand will include four sections of seating accommodating 325 spectators. Seats in the two center sections will have backs. The stadium will also include a new press box and sound system above the seating.
The structure’s cost is estimated at $1.2 million. Among the contributions received to date are a $500,000 grant from the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau and $250,000 from American Legion Post 21. Fundraising efforts continue, with opportunities remaining for individuals and businesses to get involved through sponsorships or donations.
“Matson Field will provide Moorhead baseball players and fans with the quintessential baseball experience,” said Mayor Shelly Carlson. “This project reflects the strength of our community and the generosity of those who have already invested in making this dream a reality. We look forward to seeing this space continue to inspire athletes and fans for generations.”