Selke Field served St. Cloud State University for nearly a century, and its sale on Aug. 22 has ensured it will remain a vital community resource for years to come.
Central Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (CMYSA) has finalized an agreement to purchase Selke Field for $350,000. Proceeds from the sale will be reinvested into facilities upgrades on the SCSU campus.
CMYSA was founded in 1981 and provides programming for 1,100 kids each year, including fielding about 25 competitive teams. CMYSA has rented Selke Field for decades, but now they can make the facility their permanent home.
“We are thrilled a community partner like CMYSA could purchase a facility we were no longer using,” SCSU Interim President Larry Dietz said. “We have confidence that this historic site can have a bright future under new ownership. This sale is a major win for the Central Minnesota community.”
Selke Field, which served as an off-campus athletics facility since the 1930s, was last used by the university’s softball team in 2024. The 16-acre site is known for its iconic granite wall that surrounds the property, which was built by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression.
CMYSA raised over $100K through crowdfunding efforts to purchase the property. Their first priority will be assessment and repair of the 3,000+ foot granite wall, followed by plans for field maintenance and facility and parking lot upgrades.
“SCSU is a place that invests in the community, and by purchasing Selke Field we hope to do the same and even create new partnerships to grow our program and benefit the area,” CMYSA President Emily Willaert said. “We have CMYSA board members who remember playing at Selke who now get to see their kids play there. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.”
Selke Field has a rich history, hosting SCSU commencement ceremonies in the early 1940s and serving as home field for hundreds of SCSU athletics events. The field is named after SCSU’s longest serving president George Selke, who was in office from 1927-43 and was instrumental in the athletic field’s development.
CMYSA invites the community to attend a Selke Social on Sept. 21 from 2-5 p.m. The event will include games and a 4-on-4 soccer tournament. Email [email protected] for more information.
