This November, construction is planned to begin on two new soccer fields, and restoration work will begin on several others. The endeavor is to be funded by a $5 million grant secured by Senator Thomas Libous for Binghamton University.
“It’s been proposed that we update our outdoor venues,” said Jim Norris, BU’s associate athletic director. “We’ve put together a master plan to pretty much update them all.”
The first fields to be completed will be the soccer practice and competition fields, to be located behind the West Gym; the lacrosse field, to be located between the soccer fields and the Events Center; and the two lacrosse practice fields, to be located between the soccer fields and Route 434.
“As early as next spring we will be building two fields. One will be a championship stadium field. It will be lit and seat 2,000,” Norris said.
The field, which will be built in the space next to the Events Center, will have artificial turf, as will the practice field built alongside it, which will also be lit.
Construction will begin following the close of the fall 2006 soccer season. After the snow melts, construction will resume in the spring and the fields should be ready for use for the fall 2007 season.
Despite efforts being made to resume a normal athletic schedule, the project will most likely affect some of the teams.
“Lacrosse will probably have to be relocated off campus for the next spring,” Norris said. “But with the weather as it is, the teams generally end up off campus anyway.”
“But that will be part of the beauty of it,” he added. “With the turf we won’t have to wait for them to dry off in the future.”
Norris believes the revamped fields will have a positive effect on the entire BU community.
“It will be a great thing for the campus and student athletes,” he said. “It will allow us to have spectators in the fall and spring.”
With both the men’s and women’s soccer teams and the men’s lacrosse team all coming off of successful seasons, Norris feels the new fields will only help to bolster BU’s growing athletic reputation.
“If we have Division I venues, it will help us with school spirit and recruitment,” he said. “It’s a win-win situation.”
The project may also serve to benefit the school financially.
“It will help with external events,” he said. “Not only will it showcase the fall and spring teams, it will also help with the ability to rent the facilities out in the fall and spring. It will help the local economy.”
If and when more funding is found, there are plans to renovate additional outdoor facilities.
“Next up we will clean up more of the practice fields,” Norris said. “We would like to relocate the softball field to a space between the championship field and Route 434.”
Norris said that one of the main goals of the project is, ultimately, to improve BU school spirit.
“Without a football team in the fall, it’s hard,” he said. “This can help fill that void.”