This month, we have another incredible facility to showcase for our February 2026 edition of the Sports ETA Facility Showcase! This month we are heading to Mansfield, Texas to read about the Fields at Station 63.  How many of our facilities start off well and for some reason of another, the luster is lost or budget cuts happen.  No one plans for this to happen; it just does.  What do communities do in these cases?   

One pathway is becoming more and more common these days, a public private partnership or PPP.  This is a method where all parties set out to achieve common goals using their respective funding sources. Let’s dive into this month’s showcase to see how a PPP can address the “little things” at a complex. Make sure to keep reading to the end for the “Key Difference Maker” section.   

An All-Too-Common Outcome from Great Beginnings 

Opened in 2008 with the goal to coincide with the city’s growth and need for youth development in sports and community engagement, Big League Dreams in Mansfield quickly became a popular regional centerpiece. The facility boasted eight fields, an indoor pavilion, two restaurants, and other amenities.  It quickly hosted large, excited crowds and tournaments every weekend. 

However, the park's success was short-lived. Due to a slow but noticeable decline in maintenance, the facility began to deteriorate. Coaches reported hazards, unmaintained turf, and player injuries, causing a shift away from the venue. The Mayor noted that the lack of upkeep made the park lose its "shine" and appeal. The problems extended beyond the fields; the restaurant suffered from non-functioning HVAC units, and bathrooms were out of order. People questioned why the once "world class facility" was in such an alarming condition. 

Mansfield resident and Senior Vice President of KemperSportsVenues, Steve Goris, saw this decline and reached out to city officials to see what he or KemperSports could do to assist in bringing life back to this once great regional sports complex.  

The Recipe for a Public Private Partnership 

The City of Mansfield recognized a problem: a neglected park that was underperforming. To solve it, they forged a strategic partnership with KemperSports, a leader in sports and recreation management. In January 2025, this commitment was cemented with a combined $12.5 million investment dedicated to comprehensive renovations. 

What followed was a transformation executed at a remarkable speed. In just about six months, KemperSports took the troubled asset—which some might have called an "uncut diamond"—and polished it into a "top-notch, world-class" facility. 

When the park triumphantly reopened in September 2025 as the Fields at Station 63, the results were instantaneous and resounding. The community, once embarrassed, is now "proud" of the facility. The positive feedback from players and spectators alike confirmed that the city has truly "hit a home run," turning a problem into an asset capable of attracting "national types of events." 

Behind the Scenes Innovation & Renovations 

According to Steve Goris with KemperSports, the primary focus was transforming the degraded playing surfaces into high quality fields by installing Matrix Turf's state-of-the-art Helix system, which also significantly improved performance and drainage. Beyond the turf, the complex was technologically modernized with a new scoreboard and high-definition cameras. Partnerships with platforms like Perfect Game and Diamond Cast, offered live streaming and brought the park into the digital age for fans and scouts alike. 

The renovations extended to all infrastructure serving the community. The tired clubhouse and concessions were completely renovated to create a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere, complemented by new audio/visual and HVAC systems for year-round comfort. KemperSports oversaw the improvements, deploying their national Food & Beverage staff to meticulously scout and partner with local vendors, ensuring the culinary offerings showcased the region's best. The complex was successfully transformed from a mere field into a modern, comfortable, and locally integrated destination for sports and community engagement. 

Future Forward Goals 

The PPP is the driving engine of this complex transformation while providing a clear vision to elevate the park moving forward. The immediate focus is on attracting "national types of events," capitalizing on KemperSports' expertise and substantial capital improvements designed to make the facility a premier destination. This ambitious goal isn't just about drawing outside attention; it's a testament to a long-term commitment to maintaining a "world class" and "top-notch" complex, ensuring that the facility sustains the vibrant new atmosphere and popularity it has achieved.  

Ultimately, the success of The Fields at Station 63 is measured in terms of community impact, fostering a renewed sense of pride and ownership among residents. The vision is rooted in creating a space "the community is proud of" and, critically, giving local "kids around here something that they can call their own." The complex will add a “Miracle Field” that will provide a playing surface for additional baseball and softball groups. This is already in the works and should be completed April 2026. This blended focus on both local sentiment and national excellence defines the promising trajectory for The Fields at Station 63. 

KEY DIFFERENCE MAKER: “Notice the little things.”  

Steve Goris mentioned that the KemperSports motto is, “notice the little things.” By noticing the little things, and some big things too, this public private partnership between the City of Mansfield and Kemper Sports is viewed as “transformational” for the City of Mansfield.  It took an underutilized asset and transformed it to a higher standard that is bringing lasting and positive impact on youth sports for the region. Mansfield Mayor, Michael Evans, reinforced this by saying “Now looking at the facility today, I can honestly say, we believe, that with the City of Mansfield and KemperSports partnership, we’ve hit a home run.”  

Have you made the effort to “notice the little things” at your facility? 

What are some areas that your facility can improve to make your experience better and hit some home runs? 

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Want to showcase a facility in your destination? 
Contact: Vince Trinidad at Vince@SportsETA.org

Miss a previous Facility Showcase? Check them out here!