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May 15—GRAND FORKS — Longtime Grand Forks residents can't be blamed if they approach the prospect of another local collegiate summer league with apprehension.
After all, three baseball teams have come and gone in the last three decades, each leaving a sour taste in the community's mouth.
After the Northwoods League announced its plans for an expansion softball team in Grand Forks, the Herald editorial board published a column titled
Our Opinion: Northwoods League softball could fill niche, if presented and operated correctly.
When John Bollinger, a member of the Grand Forks Spitfires ownership group, read the editorial, he added a section on the
team website
responding to the concerns.
Bollinger is the majority owner and CEO of the Bismarck Larks and Minot Hot Tots, two Northwoods League baseball teams. He is also the majority owner and CEO of the Minot Honeybees, a Northwoods League softball team.
Bollinger believes his latest venture, now
named the Grand Forks Spitfires
, can succeed where previous baseball teams failed: sticking around.
"Folks that have their doubts, I'd say you should, because we have to earn it," Bollinger said. "But I'd also say we came into this with eyes wide open. We know why teams have come and gone. It won't be easy. But I do know we care a lot, and I know we have some really good, fun strategies and ways we approach this, and we're going to do our best. I think that's why it's different."
With opening day approaching on June 9, some previous concerns have already been addressed.
The venue, Albrecht Field, will be among the best in the league. It opened in 2024 and played host to the North Dakota Class A state tournament in 2025.
The name Spitfires was chosen by the community through a naming contest and is a nod to Grand Forks' strong ties to aviation.
The Northwoods League has a stronger reputation than previous leagues that have attempted to expand into Grand Forks. The Upper Midwest collegiate summer baseball league was established in 1994 and expanded to softball in 2024 with four teams.
The Northwoods League added a fifth softball team in 2025, and Grand Forks will be the sixth.
The Spitfires have added local talent, such as UND's Brooklyn Hofer and Makenna Alexander.
The collegiate players, including some from schools such as Washington and San Diego State, will stay with host families.
The team will not only be run by interns. The Spitfires have four full-time employees on staff: general manager Roberto Lemus, sponsorship activation and marketing manager Gabby Knopik, corporate ticket sales and experience manager Jessica Sardilli and ballpark operations and ticket sales manager Caitlyn Connolly.
All of that is important. Bollinger believes a driving force for the Spitfires' success, though, will center around the experience and atmosphere at Albrecht Field.
"We're trying to be different," Bollinger said. "It's going to be great play, but we want to create a minor league baseball atmosphere. Win or lose, you leave with a smile, and you love where you live a little bit more. ... The talent is awesome, the play will be great. Don't worry about that. But the vision is bigger."
To get a taste of the sort of events in store, one can look at Bollinger's other teams.
The Bismarck Larks, which were founded in 2017, have a schedule loaded with promotional nights. Firework shows, drone shows, giveaways and promotional nights such as "Dakota Ditch Chickens Night" — the Larks will re-brand with custom jerseys — are a few of the current offerings.
The Spitfires already have some promotional nights planned, with more on the horizon. "Ladies Night at the Ballpark" is scheduled for July 26 and will include a fashion show, a market featuring women-owned vendors, a breast cancer awareness jersey auction and more.
"It's bigger than baseball, it's bigger than softball," Bollinger said. "That's the conduit, that's the gel. It's about the moments. The girls are amazing, they're going to get involved in the community. But I'm trying to create, and our vision is, when fun is done differently, it creates core memories, strong communities and lifelong fans. That's what we do."
The Spitfires also emphasize ticket packages. In addition to single-game tickets, there are three-game plans and premium plans available.
Single-game tickets are $15 and three-game packages are $18.33 per seat.
The premium plan is priced at $55 per seat for 10 or 20 games and includes all-you-can-eat food, three refreshment vouchers for beverages and snacks, waitstaff service, VIP parking and box seats.
"Our model is very unique," Bollinger said. "We're about pre-sold packages, crazy value, food, beverage, the best nights, the fun zone for kids, beer."
Bollinger's strategy has worked in Bismarck for nearly a decade. The Hot Tots are entering their fourth season, while the Honeybees are preparing for their third.
Bollinger has started teams from the ground up before, but the Spitfires will be his first softball venture into a town without a softball team.
He's quick to point out, "You think you've got it, you think you know, and then you don't — in a good way, in a stressful way."
"Every market is different," Bollinger said. "What excites me about Grand Forks is everyone is so positive. Such a positive reaction. Albrecht Field is amazing. People want things to do in the summer, and North Dakota supports their sports teams."
Continue reading...
After all, three baseball teams have come and gone in the last three decades, each leaving a sour taste in the community's mouth.
After the Northwoods League announced its plans for an expansion softball team in Grand Forks, the Herald editorial board published a column titled
Our Opinion: Northwoods League softball could fill niche, if presented and operated correctly.
When John Bollinger, a member of the Grand Forks Spitfires ownership group, read the editorial, he added a section on the
team website
responding to the concerns.
Bollinger is the majority owner and CEO of the Bismarck Larks and Minot Hot Tots, two Northwoods League baseball teams. He is also the majority owner and CEO of the Minot Honeybees, a Northwoods League softball team.
Bollinger believes his latest venture, now
named the Grand Forks Spitfires
, can succeed where previous baseball teams failed: sticking around.
"Folks that have their doubts, I'd say you should, because we have to earn it," Bollinger said. "But I'd also say we came into this with eyes wide open. We know why teams have come and gone. It won't be easy. But I do know we care a lot, and I know we have some really good, fun strategies and ways we approach this, and we're going to do our best. I think that's why it's different."
With opening day approaching on June 9, some previous concerns have already been addressed.
The venue, Albrecht Field, will be among the best in the league. It opened in 2024 and played host to the North Dakota Class A state tournament in 2025.
The name Spitfires was chosen by the community through a naming contest and is a nod to Grand Forks' strong ties to aviation.
The Northwoods League has a stronger reputation than previous leagues that have attempted to expand into Grand Forks. The Upper Midwest collegiate summer baseball league was established in 1994 and expanded to softball in 2024 with four teams.
The Northwoods League added a fifth softball team in 2025, and Grand Forks will be the sixth.
The Spitfires have added local talent, such as UND's Brooklyn Hofer and Makenna Alexander.
The collegiate players, including some from schools such as Washington and San Diego State, will stay with host families.
The team will not only be run by interns. The Spitfires have four full-time employees on staff: general manager Roberto Lemus, sponsorship activation and marketing manager Gabby Knopik, corporate ticket sales and experience manager Jessica Sardilli and ballpark operations and ticket sales manager Caitlyn Connolly.
All of that is important. Bollinger believes a driving force for the Spitfires' success, though, will center around the experience and atmosphere at Albrecht Field.
"We're trying to be different," Bollinger said. "It's going to be great play, but we want to create a minor league baseball atmosphere. Win or lose, you leave with a smile, and you love where you live a little bit more. ... The talent is awesome, the play will be great. Don't worry about that. But the vision is bigger."
To get a taste of the sort of events in store, one can look at Bollinger's other teams.
The Bismarck Larks, which were founded in 2017, have a schedule loaded with promotional nights. Firework shows, drone shows, giveaways and promotional nights such as "Dakota Ditch Chickens Night" — the Larks will re-brand with custom jerseys — are a few of the current offerings.
The Spitfires already have some promotional nights planned, with more on the horizon. "Ladies Night at the Ballpark" is scheduled for July 26 and will include a fashion show, a market featuring women-owned vendors, a breast cancer awareness jersey auction and more.
"It's bigger than baseball, it's bigger than softball," Bollinger said. "That's the conduit, that's the gel. It's about the moments. The girls are amazing, they're going to get involved in the community. But I'm trying to create, and our vision is, when fun is done differently, it creates core memories, strong communities and lifelong fans. That's what we do."
The Spitfires also emphasize ticket packages. In addition to single-game tickets, there are three-game plans and premium plans available.
Single-game tickets are $15 and three-game packages are $18.33 per seat.
The premium plan is priced at $55 per seat for 10 or 20 games and includes all-you-can-eat food, three refreshment vouchers for beverages and snacks, waitstaff service, VIP parking and box seats.
"Our model is very unique," Bollinger said. "We're about pre-sold packages, crazy value, food, beverage, the best nights, the fun zone for kids, beer."
Bollinger's strategy has worked in Bismarck for nearly a decade. The Hot Tots are entering their fourth season, while the Honeybees are preparing for their third.
Bollinger has started teams from the ground up before, but the Spitfires will be his first softball venture into a town without a softball team.
He's quick to point out, "You think you've got it, you think you know, and then you don't — in a good way, in a stressful way."
"Every market is different," Bollinger said. "What excites me about Grand Forks is everyone is so positive. Such a positive reaction. Albrecht Field is amazing. People want things to do in the summer, and North Dakota supports their sports teams."
Continue reading...
