No. 17: Jim Gustafson Field

One of the most popular places on a Friday night in Albert Lea is arguably Jim Gustafson Field during a home football game.

Jim Gustafson Field, formerly Hammer Field, was built in the 1960s. In 2012 the field was renamed to honor football coach Jim Gustafson.

Jim Gustafson Field, at the corner of Hammer Road and Bridge Avenue, comes in at No. 17 on the Tribune’s list of favorite places of Albert Leans.

Gustafson began coaching the Tigers in 1956. During his career he coached the Tigers to 101 victories, including five Big 9 Conference championships and three state championships.

He was an inaugural member of the Albert Lea Athletic Hall of Fame, and because of his achievements, a committee worked to rename Hammer Field after him. On Aug. 30, 2012, the field was dedicated.

Now the entire sports complex at Albert Lea Area Schools is called Hammer Complex, retaining the historic Hammer name.

The place is used more than just Friday nights, however. Jim Gustafson Field houses four football teams and six soccer teams and is always buzzing with activity when there’s a home game. Who hasn’t driven on Bridge Avenue and taken a peek at the scoreboard to see whether the Tigers are winning?

Surrounding Jim Gustafson Field in Hammer Complex are facilities for softball, soccer and track.

The district hopes to upgrade the field and the entirety of Hammer Complex in coming years. The field isn’t big enough to hold all of the teams it accommodates. Crews presently are installing a new long jump strip.

It wasn’t designed to hold as many games, either. Community Education Director Chris Chalmers said in a presentation at a June school board meeting that the field was designed to hold eight football games per year and now holds 16 football games and 20 soccer games per year.

The field has a high crown to it to drain water — not ideal for rolling a ball in soccer and not favorable for passing to the sidelines in football. The track facilities need to be upgraded because Albert Lea is the only school that can’t host a Big Nine official meet. The football scoreboard is outdated. The softball field isn’t up to Title IX standards.

Nevertheless, many great memories have been made at Jim Gustafson Field.

25 favorite places

The Tribune staff compiled what it feels are the 25 favorite places of Albert Leans. The results will be published over the course of the coming month. What will be No. 1? Agree or disagree, it will be enjoyable to mull over and discuss. Send feedback to letters@albertleatribune.com.