SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - After a battle over ownership, the nonprofit Friends of Robin Roberts Stadium will sign final paperwork soon to take possession of the ballpark. The Springfield Lucky Horseshoes will stay on the property as a core tenant, but will operate separately from the non-profit.

Team staff will help with day-to-day operations and scheduling, among other things. Jamie Toole, the chief storyteller for the Lucky Horseshoes, said there is a lot to be done to the facility itself. 

"Number one, we've got to work on the field," Toole said. "We've got a lot to figure out between if we have time to get the field turfed ahead of the 2026 season, or do we work on the natural grass?" 

In total, Toole thinks renovations will cost between $6-7 million. He's confident the non-profit will be determined to raise the money to keep the stadium in good condition. 

The 2026 season is set to be a busy one, with a full season for the Horseshoes, the new WPBL and the high school games. But Toole plans for a more diverse lineup of events at the ballpark as well. 

"We had a rugby group come in, we had a softball group," Toole said. "We're really looking at every situation where we can configure the ballpark to host a full day concert series, a full day craft beer festival — there's multiple options." 

As the North End continues to be redeveloped, Toole hopes the Stadium is a highlight of the community. In the coming years, he wants to see something new added each year and breathe life back into the facility. 

The Friends of Robin Roberts Stadium non-profit is set to close on the stadium on Dec. 5. 

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