Sep. 23—BEMIDJI — The Bemidji Indoor Sports Commission, a newly established non-profit organization created through the collaboration of the Bemidji Girls Fastpitch Association, Bemidji Youth Baseball and Bemidji Youth Soccer, announced it has signed a lease for the Neilson Reise Arena from the City of Bemidji.
Thanks to a generous kickstart donation from the George W. Neilson Foundation, BISC will begin to transform the space into an indoor sports facility named the Neilson Fieldhouse.
The Neilson Fieldhouse will feature artificial turf, retractable batting cages, a walking track, updated locker rooms and workout spaces, a handicap accessible lift and more. While the fieldhouse will be used by the three summer youth sports organizations — softball, baseball and soccer.
The facility will also be available for rent to the public. This includes, but is not limited to, other area youth and adult sports organizations, community groups and the general public.
“We are so excited and grateful for the partnership and support from the George W. Neilson Foundation and the City of Bemidji to revitalize the former arena into a usable facility for our youth. Indoor space for year-round training has been a growing need for all three of our organizations and being able to repurpose this building to serve not only our organizations but the community as a whole is a win-win,” Caralee Nowak, President of BISC, said in a release.
The goal to renovate the field space and have a soft opening for the three sports organizations is the end of the year, with a grand opening to the public in the Spring of 2026. BISC will set up a website for community members and organizations to reserve and rent space.
“The Nielsen Reise Arena has been a Bemidji fixture for many years, and we are excited to partner with these three amazing youth organizations in re-purposing the facility to better serve the needs of our city,” said Mayor Jorge Prince in a release. “Our children are our future, and it is gratifying to see our entire community come together in support of them as they learn the values of teamwork, camaraderie and good sportsmanship.”
Although the donation from the George W. Neilson Foundation will cover a significant portion of the renovation, BISC is actively seeking additional donations and sponsorships to fully realize its vision for the space and to cover long-term operational and maintenance costs.
To donate, please contact Will Tysver at Bank Forward, or email BISC at bemidjiindoorsports@gmail.com. For more information, please visit www.neilsonfieldhouse.com.
