Stadium Will Be Built on Existing Softball Site

NORTHRIDGE —  A proposed $1.5 million stadium for the Cal State Northridge softball team and youth baseball and softball leagues will be built on the site of the university’s softball field, Steven Soboroff, senior advisor to Mayor Richard Riordan, said on Wednesday.

Soboroff led a tour of the facility on Tuesday with Northridge President Blenda J. Wilson and representatives of the architectural and construction firms that have committed to the project.

“This will be opened up to the Valley and it will be used and used and used,” Soboroff said. “A requirement for the project is that there will be no charge to non-CSUN users.”

Riordan endorsed the project Wednesday in a letter to Wilson.

Soboroff, president of the L.A. parks and recreation commission, plans to use the stadium for tournaments and all-star games involving more than 6,000 youths who play in leagues organized by 30 recreation centers in the Valley.

Little League and PONY League games also are possibilities, although the dirt infield required by the Northridge softball program will make the stadium less desirable to those organizations.

Architects said the stadium will hold about 3,000, including 1,500 permanent seats. Locker rooms will be built for the softball team.