The Bismarck Larks Celebrate 10 Years of Northwoods League Baseball

Ask anyone in Bismarck-Mandan how to spend a warm summer night, and they’ll direct you to the Bismarck Larks at Dakota Community Bank & Trust Field. The baseball team is celebrating its 10th birthday this year after owner John Bollinger brought the Larks here in 2016.

“The chance to own and operate my own team has been a dream come true,” says Bollinger. “We had only visited North Dakota twice before moving here, but this is home now.”

The Larks are part of the Northwoods League and pride themselves on offering affordable all-inclusive tickets, unique promotions, and engaging nights out. Bollinger says a night at the ballpark is perfect for families, whether you are bringing kids and grandkids who are four or parents and grandparents who are 74.

The Bismarck Larks are a great example of how to Make Your Mark, whether you are looking to make friends in the community, grow your skills, or launch a big idea. Over the past decade, the Larks have become a community staple and a favorite source of entertainment when summer arrives. 

The Best Decisions Aren’t Always Planned

If you had told John Bollinger 11 years ago that he’d be living in North Dakota, he probably wouldn’t have believed you. But when the Northwoods League invited him to help launch a new franchise, he took a leap of faith. That leap brought him to Bismarck - a community that welcomed his family with open arms and inspired a commitment to building unforgettable experiences and giving back. Today, he proudly considers Bismarck-Mandan home and can’t imagine raising his family anywhere else.

“My wife said, ‘Let’s do it,’” Bollinger recalls. “So we moved here in 2016. It was a tremendous opportunity for us, but what we quickly discovered is that Bismarck is full of opportunity. If you want to build a business, get involved in the community, or make a difference, this is a place where you can do it.”
Bollinger credits much of the Larks’ early success to an energetic front office with fresh ideas, a community eager for baseball, and the vision of the Bismarck Parks and Recreation District. Alongside local donors and baseball organizations, the Park District transformed Municipal Ballpark in 2013 into a fan-first facility designed to attract summer collegiate baseball and create an exceptional experience for fans.

“Bismarck was ready for baseball,” he says. “The community had been without a summer collegiate or semi-professional team for nearly 20 years.”
The response was immediate. In their inaugural season, the Larks sold out 27 of their first 36 home games, confirming what many had hoped - Bismarck was ready to embrace baseball once again.

Now, 10 seasons later, North Dakota truly feels like home. John and his wife, Marcie, are raising their two daughters, now five and three, in Bismarck. They’re already falling in love with baseball, making memories at the ballpark, and becoming active members of the community that welcomed their family nearly a decade ago.

The Northwoods League Brings Family Fun to Fans 

While the Larks are committed to offering affordable tickets, they have also embraced the wacky promotions and theme nights that have become iconic in minor league baseball. Giveaways range from hats and koozies to free LASIK surgery and the opportunity for couples to renew their vows on the field. There are fireworks on Fridays and one-night-only rebrandings.

On July 15, the Larks will become the Dakota Ditch Chickens™ to promote outdoor recreation and conservation. Governor Kelly Armstrong will step in as the team manager and third base coach. The Larks are inviting conservation groups to the game to teach attendees about North Dakota’s wildlife and how to protect and enjoy it.

“This could be the first time in history a sitting governor has managed a baseball game,” says Bollinger. “We want our fans to love where they live and learn where they live, and the Ditch Chickens™ promotion achieves that.”

Bollinger adds that baseball provides an opportunity to connect with friends and neighbors in an increasingly disconnected world. It’s a relaxing game where fans can step away from social media for a night and meet the people around them. He calls the baseball stadium one of Bismarck’s town squares. 

The Larks Are Part of Summer Collegiate Baseball 

The Northwoods League is designed to help players develop their skills and get noticed by larger programs. Summer Collegiate Baseball has been around for almost a century and serves as a sort of baseball internship. It costs players $500 to participate, but their housing, food, travel, and equipment are all covered. Larks players stay with host families.

“They’re here so they can get better,” says Bollinger. “After their time in Bismarck, players might become starters at their college, move to a Division 1 school through the transfer portal, or even get drafted into the minor leagues.”

Each year, the Larks attract around 70 players from across the country. Young people also move to Bismarck to work for the Larks and grow their sports management or marketing skills.

“You’re seeing future stars when you come to a Larks game,” says Bollinger. “No one has heard of them today, but they might in the future.”

This is similar to the Bismarck Bobcats, which develop talent from across the world as part of the North American Hockey League.

The Larks Contribute to Talent Attraction in North Dakota

The Larks season runs through August 6, and players will then return home or head back to school. In the off-season, Bollinger works with local groups to grow Bismarck-Mandan, offering event resources and administrative support when he can. Bollinger also founded Funatix Events, which brings events and experiences to the community.  

“Ten years ago, this Bismarck-Mandan came out and supported us, and I hope we’re creating opportunities to attract the next round of entrepreneurs to start their own thing here,” he says.

His goal is to create events and spaces to build a city where people want to stay, and where new people want to live. The Larks offer more than a fun night out; they contribute to the bigger picture and showcase why Bismarck-Mandan is a great place to live.

“Come home and check out Bismarck,” he adds. “There’s no better place to feel part of your community and take charge of your own destiny.” 

See How You Can Make Your Mark

There are plenty of entertainment options in Bismarck-Mandan, along with ways to get outside and see some ditch chickens (pheasants) for yourself. Bollinger is a great example of how following your passions can make you a leader, sharing your interests with others.

See how other residents Make Their Mark and learn what life is like in North Dakota. You can find your people here and live in a state that wants to see you thrive.