Things are starting to look different again while driving down Ambler Avenue, and this time it is not the renovation of the now Bullock Brothers Ballpark but instead ACU softball’s Poly Wells Field.
Currently, the stadium is in the middle of a significant facelift in regard to its outfield wall—not an entire renovation—due to the wall’s distressed shape. The upgrade will also include adding baseline padding as well, increasing the aesthetics, but also preparing for the national rule changes to come in 2027.
Bryan Bruning, Executive Associate AD for Internal Operations, said that at nearly a decade old, the change was necessary for the facility.
“The padding itself is on its eighth or ninth season,” Bruning said. “So, yeah, it was about time for a fresh look.”
Outside of the additional padding on the baselines, things stay pretty much the same.
The popular black colorway will stay, and the 6-foot height of the wall will remain. However, the elevated batter’s eye portion will be taken out because of softball’s lower arm slot not needing viewing depth in contrast to baseball. Also, no Western Athletic Conference branding will be present on the new wall due to the coming 2026 rebrand.
According to Bruning, the decision to go ahead with the project is to double-dip in both aesthetic updates and the 2027 NCAA safety change requiring that “any hard surface that a player could impact” should be padded, Bruning said.
According to the NCAA’s full statement, “A requirement that all sideline and home run fences constructed of wood, concrete or brick be padded by Jan. 1, 2027. Padding must begin not higher than 1 foot off the ground and extend to the top of the wood, concrete or brick or 6 feet from the ground, whichever is shorter.”
In addition to this, another small upgrade coming soon will include a new center-field camera well that will aim to solve the shakiness seen on the ESPN+ broadcast with the accustomed high winds that come with playing in the Big Country.
So no, Poly Wells is not currently undergoing a full makeover, but the Athletics’ Master Plan has included talks regarding having a full refresh like baseball did just a year ago, including improving the fan and student-athlete experience with potentially new stands, dugouts, video board, etc.
But for now, Poly Wells is home to Coach Koons’ hot Wildcats coming off a WAC postseason playoff berth last season, and any significant upgrades have no timetable but are “on the horizon,” Bruning said.
