Nelson Stadium, home to the Fighting Saints Football and Soccer teams, has served as one of the finest athletic facilities in the NAIA for over 20 years.
The stadium has provided thousands of fans with a top-rate fan experience for hundreds of contests in that time.
Now is the time for the single-largest enhancement project that the stadium has seen since 2001.
The Nelson Stadium Enhancement Project is officially underway!
Phase One of the enhancement project has begun.
Nelson Stadium will have a NEW synthetic playing surface, as well as a state of the art lighting system installed, transforming the capabilities of the facility.
On April 2, 2024, at a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony, Carroll President John Cech announced that Valley Bank will be the official field sponsor of the new turf following a significant donation towards the project's fundraising goal.
Moving forward, the turf will be known as
Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.
This project has three main benefits:
A high-quality practice and game site
An opportunity to address student recreation needs and pursue emerging sport opportunities
A new community asset for engagement with Carroll College
HIGH-QUALITY PRACTICE AND GAME SITE
This project allows Carroll College to transform Nelson Stadium in to a space that will allow for greater daily use by student-athletes
At current, two-thirds of Carroll student-athletes require the use of outdoor practice areas
A consistent surface will allow for increased practice efficiencies, as well as a game-speed atmosphere for our teams to prepare on
ADDRESS STUDENT RECREATION NEEDS AND PURSUE EMERGING SPORT OPPORTUNITIES
The addition of lighting systems to Nelson Stadium will allow for extended hours of usage to better accommodate the Carroll student-body in meeting their recreational needs, as well as provide growth for emerging sports.
NEW COMMUNITY ASSET FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH CARROLL COLLEGE
The new synthetic turf and addition of lighting systems will provide the Helena community with a new multi-use focal point within the greater Helena area.
Nelson Stadium will have the the ability to host high school sporting events on Friday evenings, drawing crowds from Montana's largest communities.
Special events will be able to be accommodated both in-season and out, such as the annual East-West Shrine Game.
With the upgraded infrastructure, Nelson Stadium will be able to host significant concerts, with estimated capacities reaching over 10,000 people.
For further details or to contribute to the Nelson Stadium Enhancement Project, please contact:
Keith Stout - Vice President for Institutional Advancement
kstout@carroll.edu | (406) 447-4445
or
Charlie Gross, Director of Athletics
cgross@carroll.edu | (406) 447-5480
