CALDWELL, Idaho – Through a public-private partnership between The College of Idaho, the City of Caldwell and the Graye & Brenda Wolfe Family, evening games and practices will become reality as state-of-the-art lighting has been installed at Wolfe Field and Simplot Stadium.
MUSCO Tournament Quality LED Lighting System was recently installed at both venues by Anderson Wood Construction, increasing the capacity of each stadium beyond the typical daylight hours.
For Wolfe Field, it is the completion of Phase 3 of the project. The playing surface, including an artificial turf infield, was installed in as part of Phase 1 in 2008; 1,000 stadium seats were put in place in 2015 and a press box, concession stand and entry way were completed in 2018 as part of Phase 2.
"My family has deep roots in the Caldwell community," said Graye Wolfe Sr. "I went to school here, I played baseball at Simplot Stadium, my family started their car dealerships here and I've served three stints on C of I's Board of Trustees. Partnering with the City of Caldwell and the College of Idaho on this project is something that will provide a lasting legacy to this community."
The new light structure at Wolfe Field meets all requirements for hosting the NAIA Opening Round Tournament, along with all IHSAA State Tournaments and summer baseball events. The first event was to have been the Idaho 5A State Baseball Championships, but the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Wolfe Field is the top baseball facility in the State of Idaho," Wolfe said. "Adding lights will help economic development in our community, as teams and fans from across the Northwest will converge on Caldwell for tournaments – spending money in our restaurants, staying in our hotels – and putting Caldwell on the map as a destination place."
Wolfe and Caldwell mayor Garret Nancolas discussed this project over a year ago – first for Wolfe Field – with the project morphing to include Simplot Stadium, the home of C of I's football, soccer and lacrosse teams.
"The new lights installed in Simplot Stadium and Wolfe Field are the result of the wonderful partnership the City and the College of Idaho have together," said Nancolas. "We are also thankful to the Caldwell Urban Renewal agency and Graye Wolfe for their contributions and collaboration; the project wouldn't have happened without them. We are excited for the community to be able to come together and enjoy C of I events under the beautiful new lights."
The original light structures at Simplot Stadium, which were installed in 1964, were removed during stadium renovation in 2013 – prior to the relaunch of the Coyote football program. With the installation, the facility has the ability to host potential high school playoff and tournament games in the over 4,000-seat venue.
Even more important, however, is the ability to extend the daily usage of the facility for C of I practices during high-volume times in the fall and spring.
"Having a chance to turn the lights on for practice – especially in the months of October and November – is a game changer," said C of I athletic director,
Reagan Rossi. "We are committed to our student-athletes and the academic schedule. The lights will allow for more flexibility for student-athletes to take more afternoon and/or evening classes, along with having the ability to practice."
Rossi knows that this project could not have happened without the support of both the City and the Wolfe Family.
"We are so appreciative of Mayor Nancolas and the Caldwell City Council and their relationship with the College. In addition, the commitment and generosity that Graye, Brenda and their family have made to the College and the Caldwell community is second-to-none. They have laid the foundation for generations to come."
Wolfe concurs the sentiments.
"It was the right thing to do for the Caldwell community and the obvious thing to do for the College of Idaho. Mayor Nancolas and his staff have been phenomenal throughout the process – none of this would have been possible without his leadership. This is a great example of a public-private partnership working for the benefit of an entire community."
