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The QCBJ devotes Newsmaker series to looking back on some of the biggest and most noteworthy stories we covered in 2025 across the Quad Cities region. Each story also includes a small update on the topic or news event. The stories are not ranked, but rather, appear in chronological order.
The original story ran January 2025
These are busy days filled with fun and games at the Forest Grove Sports Complex.
The $14 million, 113,000-square-foot sports facility in northern Bettendorf is busy hosting softball, baseball and soccer tournaments, and other events. And it’s getting ready to host winter tournaments — such as the Winter Warm-up softball event — in the coming weeks.
The sports complex, located in The Plex business corridor and near Iron Tree Golf and TBK Bank Sports Complex, is nearing its first-year anniversary. Forest Grove opened for business early last January with a girls’ softball tournament.
In addition, this first year has been a year of change and growth for the complex at 6945 Iron Tee Way. Perhaps the biggest change came in September when the indoor turf field was named the Crawford Field in honor of its new sponsor Crawford Company, a Quad Cities manufacturer, fabricator and HVAC provider.
Sharing his excitement for the naming sponsor for the indoor turf field, Ryan Hintze, Iron Tee Golf CEO and president of TBK Bank Sports Complex, said “The Crawford name carries a strong reputation in the Quad Cities and having them as a partner reinforces our commitment to growing sports and community opportunities in the Quad Cities.”
Mr. Hintze added that the sports complex owners are still seeking a sponsor for building naming rights for the sports complex itself.
“Sponsorship of Crawford Field gives us the opportunity to support youth sports in the community,” said Emily Adams, business development manager at the Crawford Company. “At Crawford, we value teamwork and individual growth. Youth sports and competition provide an opportunity for individual development and emphasize teamwork.”
The field’s name change was made official in September. Crawford Company announced the news on its Facebook page stating how Crawford’s architectural fabrication team designed, fabricated, and installed a 24-foot “Crawford Field” sign in place outside the sports complex.
— Dave Thompson
