Families gather around the ballfield as a young pitcher’s slightly off-balance windup produces a swing and miss. Cheers for the pitcher. Encouragement for the batter.

On another nearby field, a team of teenage girls chants “Get it started, keep it going,” as they compete in a fastpitch softball tournament.

A bit further off, amplified music plays between innings of a baseball showdown between Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU) and Wartburg College.

Beginners, high-schoolers, and collegiate athletes. All competing at the same moment and at the same place.

Welcome to the Sandhills Global Youth Complex.

“A youth sports facility like no other,” said Charlie Colón, president of the nonprofit complex’s Board of Directors.

For Olsson, it’s a project like no other. One 20 years in the making.

Setting the vision

Our role in the youth complex began in 2005, when Olsson and other business leaders joined the City of Lincoln, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), and other governmental entities to launch an ambitious vision for Lincoln’s growth and economic success.

The group established a set of “pillars” that included creation of Pinnacle Bank Arena, the West Haymarket business and entertainment district, the Antelope Valley flood-control and urban revitalization project, and Innovation Campus, a UNL business research and development district.

"Inspired by a community that dreams big."

The group also envisioned a sports triangle near downtown. The triangle included Haymarket Park, Breslow Ice Hockey Center, and a modern youth sports complex that could host tournaments for traveling softball and baseball teams.

The group completed nearly every pillar, which helped raise the city’s economic trajectory. But one project was left unfinished.

A new game plan

Roger Severin, our former CEO and a member of the original visioning group, couldn’t let go of the youth sports complex. Although nearly 20 years had passed, he and Dan Muhleisen, a real estate developer and former Olsson employee who also served on the visioning group, set out to get it done.

They worked to assemble a new public-private partnership made up of community members passionate about youth softball and baseball. A nonprofit organization led by a board of directors was formed to oversee the project and gather $31.5 million in funding.

On the public side, the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, the Joint Public Agency, and Visit Lincoln – the destination marketing division of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce – provided essential leadership and financial support. Before long, NWU and UNL joined the team.

From the private sector, nearly 30 corporate partners contributed to the youth complex, including leading support from Sandhills Global, an information processing company that serves the agricultural, construction, transportation, and aviation industries. Sampson Construction served as general contractor and a corporate sponsor.

"We built a foundation where kids can be inspired, learn teamwork, and most importantly, have a blast."

The roster of individual supporters included two former Major League Baseball All Stars who won World Series titles with their respective teams – Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals and Darin Erstad of the Anaheim Angels. Olsson’s Erin Bright was the project manager and Brad Korell and Jeff McPeak served as catalysts, supporting the effort both professionally and personally.

The partnership launched the project during pandemic, at a time when lockdowns and isolation had emphasized the value of outdoor sports for youth.

One goal of the project was to better position Lincoln to host tournaments that attract traveling teams and the economic benefits that accompany them. But the primary goal was to create a place where future generations will learn to play the game – especially kids who might not otherwise get the opportunity, said Rich Claussen, a business development specialist with Olsson who also provided leadership and personal support to the project.

“We built more than the region’s finest youth ballfields,” he said. “We built a foundation where kids can be inspired, learn teamwork, and most importantly, have a blast.”

The stats

Opened in spring 2025, the complex caters to the full spectrum of bat-and-ball athletes. This includes:

· Four fields for softball and baseball tournaments, league play, and practices.

· The new home fields for NWU’s baseball and softball teams.

· A UNL practice field designed for both the softball and baseball teams.

· A fully accessible field for players with intellectual or physical disabilities.  

· All eight fields feature lighting and synthetic turf, which significantly reduces rain delays.

· Two concession/restroom facilities.

· Hitting cages and bull pens.

· Paved walkways and parking lots.

Play ball!

A strong wind pushed a gray sky and a few drops of rain on the fields the day of the grand opening. But all games were played on schedule, without delay.

Late in the afternoon, key members of the partnership gathered on the infield of the championship softball stadium and celebrated the achievement.

“This majestic project was inspired by a community that dares to dream big,” said Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird.

“The benefit of what you’ve achieved here is going to serve our community for decades to come,” said Rick Vest, a Lancaster County commissioner.

“This game has taught me so much,” said Alex Gordon. “Whether it’s adversity, staying committed to a team, working hard. And I’m hoping that’s what this (complex) does for the next generation.”

“I’m more proud of this than anything I’ve done in my life,” said Darin Erstad. “I’m dead serious. That’s how important this is to Lincoln. And let’s just keep it how it is and enjoy it, because it’s perfect.”

Engineering Possibilities

The complex was built on city-owned property north of downtown that served as a landfill some 75 years ago. Oak Lake and Oak Creek lies just south of the complex, creating floodplain challenges that had to be addressed.

“I can spend the next 30 minutes talking about all the challenges we had from an engineering standpoint,” Roger Severin said. “But we did it. And Olsson was a key player. I can think of at least 20 people that if they weren’t involved, it wouldn’t have happened. So, it took everybody to get this thing done.”

The services we delivered include drilling, survey, civil, landscape architecture, geotechnical, floodplain modeling, landscaping, playground design, electrical, field lighting, water and wastewater, environmental, structural, traffic, transportation, materials testing, and construction administration.

It takes much more than drawing plans, moving dirt, and rolling out synthetic turf to complete a bat-and-ball multiplex.

It takes vision to see what’s possible. And commitment to engineer it into reality.

“I can’t tell you how many times we started and stopped and almost gave up,” Roger said. “But it is so rewarding to see this get to the finish line.”

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