By Jacob Brown, Staff Writer
Around this time two years ago, Newman University started a $3 million fundraising campaign that would pay for things like new turf and lighting for the soccer, softball and baseball fields at the school.
At the time, Newman administrators said they hoped the money would be raised and the upgrades done in a year or two.
Fast forward to spring 2026. The money has not yet been raised, and Newman’s Vice President of Institutional Advancement said that things are moving much slower than he had hoped.
To date, he said, Newman has raised $55,000 in unrestricted cash gifts and is still waiting for answers on larger asks. The number does not include in-kind gifts to sport-specific improvements, he said.
Meanwhile, Newman has recently had to move baseball games away from the school’s home field because of poor conditions like patchy grass. The baseball team recently played what was scheduled to be its last two home series on the fields of its opponents. The team’s final four home games will be played at Friends University.
Because the fundraising campaign didn’t go as Newman had hoped, it has been taking a more piecemeal approach. Initially, it had hoped to upgrade all three fields at the same time.
The softball team has gotten some upgrades to its facilities, Beumer said. Improvements were made to the field due to NCAA and MIAA Conference regulations regarding distances between the playing field and foul territory. Upgrades and renovations were also made to the locker room area and the press box. Fundraising for the improvements was led by Coach Brittany Henning.
The plan now is to upgrade one field at a time, even though it will be less cost effective, Beumer said.
“This will allow us to gain some momentum to raise money for the next field and then the next,” he said.
Which field gets upgrades next would be up to the donor, Beumer said.
If the donor that Newman is waiting to hear from responds soon with the go-ahead, the next field should be upgraded in no more than six months, he said. NCAA added new rules that require padding on fences around the baseball and softball fields. Beumer said he hopes those improvements can be done at the same time as field upgrades.
PHOTO: Courtesy, Newman Athletics
