UW-River Falls’ Ramer Field could have a new look, and a new name, if the university can raise an estimated $3 million for improvements to the nearly 40-year-old facility.

UW-RF Athletic Director Rick Bowen said plans are in the works for an extensive renovation to the football stadium that would include remodeled bleachers, artificial turf, new lights and a new press box.
Bowen said recent upgrades to other facilities in the WIAC, and the increasing competition to attract student-athletes have made the need for improvements at Ramer Field a priority.
“This goes beyond football,” he said. “It goes to the entire core of this university and its image. People will look and say, “That’s a place worth taking a look at.’

“I spent my coaching career in the worst facilities in the WIAC,” the former Falcon men’s basketball coach added. “I’d like to change that.”
Bowen said the idea to move ahead with an overhaul of Ramer Field stemmed from a conversation he had during the Hall of Fame dinner at UW-RF’s 2005 homecoming with Chancellor Don Betz and former assistant director of alumni relations Bryan Sanders.
“Within a week Chancellor Betz called and said this is worth pursuing,” Bowen said. “From there I started talking it up. I got lots of snickers and a few people laughed and said you can’t do that. But that just motivated me more.”

The project received a shot in the arm when First National Bank of River Falls and the family of the late David Smith, former bank president, committed $500,000 to the effort this summer.

“This is going to happen thanks to Donna Smith, the Smith family and the First National Bank,” Bowen said. “$500,000 gives the project credibility. It will be called David Smith Stadium at Ramer Field. Anybody in town who knew David knew how much he loved the Wildcats, the Falcons and the community. His family really embraced this idea as a way to honor Dave.”

Bowen said a steering committee consisting of UW-RF alumni and community members has been formed to make plans to raise the additional funds.

“This will be done with 100 percent fundraising,” he said. “If we rely on state money, 20 years from now we’ll still have Ramer Field as it is today.”

Bowen said he estimates it will take three years to raise the money needed for the improvements, which will also include encircling David Smith Stadium at Ramer Field with up to 250 arborvitae trees.
“Which would be aesthetically pleasing but also cut down on the wind,” he said.

Bowen said the proposed improvements would benefit the entire community, allowing for more opportunities for events such as band competitions and concerts to be held at the stadium.
“We want this to be a community project,” he said. “It’s time. It’s a second class facility in a first class city.”

Hudson Star Observer Articles and River Falls Journal Articles reprinted with permission from the newspapers.