Cardinals excited for new athletic complex as South Sioux City works on Phase 1

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. — The home of the South Sioux City Cardinals is getting a major upgrade just in time for football season.

"We're really excited the community is excited. Our student-athletes are excited about the completion of this field." High school sports and activities play a big role in South Sioux City.

"Like many communities, our athletic field is somewhat the hub of the community," said district Superintendent, Todd Strom. "So on Friday night and weekends when no football season's occurring, when soccer games are happening, when there are marching band contests, it's going to be a gem of a place for our students to showcase their talents but also for anyone."

The South Sioux City Community School District has been budgeting for this update for years, thanks to diligent work from the school board in ensuring Phase 1 can be fully funded with district money. "The field, the track, and the bleachers will be funded through our general budget from the school district."

Phase 1 includes several big items, like moving from a grass to a turf field, "we are building a new field turf field, a new track, some bleachers and a press box for our home crowd and then a new ticket office in this first phase of construction."

The 2nd Phase, which will include new concession stands, a plaza area, restrooms and more will rely on donor funding to complete.

"The rest of the phases are going to be dependent upon donor funding," Strom said, "which we've already secured and had some very generous partners come forward."

Demolition on the old complex started in late spring and is on track to be completed later this fall, but it won't be ready for the start of the football season. So the district is getting some help from friends across the river with home football games being played at Dakota Valley to start the season.
"We hope to be able to end our season by playing some games here maybe the end of October," Strom said. "But if not, we definitely have some very supportive educational partners in the Suitland area that were appreciative."

Not only will the complex house football games, but track and field, soccer, marching band, and many other community and club events, too.

"Foot traffic's not going to wear this out," Strom said of the new turf field. "We want to put as many kids and community members on this field using it as we can that schedule allows. Football is just one sport, obviously track and field on the track, but we want to be able to host soccer, which is a huge activity in our community and we want to be able to host not only school soccer events, but hopefully some of the community and club soccer events here in the future."

The Cardinal Athletic Complex is still looking for donors for Phase 2. If you'd like to learn more or donate: ssccardinals.org/news/latest-news/cardinal-activities-complex

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