CEDAR FALLS - In Rick Heller's eyes, it's as vivid as the sun in the sky.

Down the lines it's 335, 390 in the power alleys and 410 to center.

Georgia red dirt is sculpted into the thick, plush green grass.

All of it surrounded by a 3,000-seat stadium.

Eddie Diaz remembers what it was like to be a professional baseball player in the Cedar Valley.

The excitement and electric atmosphere for every one of his Waterloo Indians' home games.

Diaz has a dream, too.

Diaz, Heller and Northern Iowa athletic director Rick Hartzell have met several times in the last year to see if their dream is plausible.

What do Diaz, Heller and Hartzell want?

A new baseball stadium.

A new baseball stadium on the University of Northern Iowa campus.

"Right now, it is a dream," said Diaz, a Waterloo businessman, "but the only way to make it come true is keep it alive."

A lengthy meeting in November and another this week in Diaz's Waterloo office between the parties explored the idea and what it would take to make it happen.

Whether it happens or not, all involved are enthusiastic about the possibility.

"I'm excited Mr. Diaz has agreed to help with his resources," Heller said. "It is something we've wished for and have talked about previously. With his support, I believe it is possible it can happen."

The group's wish is to have a 3,000 to 5,000 seat stadium located somewhere on UNI's west campus. Hartzell has pledged a pair of different land parcels for the proposed stadium.

Without a doubt, Heller's program has long been in need of its own home.

The Panthers have played at the aging Riverfront Stadium since 1993 # - its first year in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Riverfront has served its purpose, but for Heller's program to continue to take steps toward the upper division of the MVC it needs an on-campus stadium.

Student support at Riverfront has been minimal, while convincing new recruits to play in Riverfront is next to impossible.

"What a lot of people don't think about is our student/athletes would be able to walk to practice instead of having to take time to drive all the way to Waterloo," said Heller. "For recruiting it would be huge. I do think the student support would be better.

"But I believe overall this would have a tremendous impact on the Cedar Valley."

Heller hopes the stadium would become a statewide attraction, bringing high school district tournament games, prep all-star games and possibly, in the future, the Iowa State baseball tournament.

"This is much deeper than us just getting a new stadium," Heller said.

Diaz also has ideas for the stadium. He wants to bring professional baseball back to the Cedar Valley in the form an independent baseball franchise.

The Northern League would be ideal, but Diaz says while it is the No. 1 option, it isn't the only one available.

He also says he's not trying to run the Waterloo Bucks out of area with a better brand of baseball.

"The Waterloo Bucks do a wonderful job for the community," Diaz said. "They are a great attraction. But I want to provide another entertainment option, a professional baseball option."

Many hurdles still need to be cleared before this dream can become a reality.

But it is refreshing to finally here serious discussions of a new stadium rather than what has become standard - a lot of talk with no action.

Jim Nelson is a Courier Sports Writer. He can be contacted at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com.