Ball State University’s First Merchants Ballpark Complex Baseball & Softball Clubhouses add approximately 11,000 SF of dedicated athlete space to Shebek Stadium and Ball State Softball Stadium on the north side of campus. Designed by MSA Sport, the new facilities extend Ball State’s commitment to championship-caliber environments while keeping baseball and softball student-athletes directly connected to their competition venues.
Athlete-Centered Daily Environments
Each clubhouse is positioned adjacent to its program’s home dugout and planned entirely around the student-athlete experience. Modern locker rooms, team meeting and study spaces, fueling and nutrition zones, athlete lounges, restrooms and showers, equipment rooms, coaches’ lockers, and satellite training/physical therapy areas create true “home bases” for both teams—supporting preparation, performance, recovery, and team culture in one integrated setting.
A Cohesive, Contemporary Design Expression
Clean brick forms, generous glass entries, and simple rooflines create bright, legible front doors for both programs, tying into the existing ballpark architecture while giving Cardinal Baseball and Cardinal Softball distinct visual identities within a unified complex. Together, the clubhouses establish a MAC-leading standard for diamond sport support spaces and make a clear design statement about Ball State’s investment in its student-athletes.