JUNE 15, 2008
KING'S INSTALLING MULTI-PURPOSE TURF FIELD TO ENHANCE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
Click Here for Rendering/Drawing of
Field Outline - PDF
The Robert L. Fields Athletic Complex will have a new look in the fall
with the construction of a new multi-purpose synthetic turf field. The
field is being constructed on the site of the current football/lacrosse
field. Construction of the new field began in mid-May and is expected to
conclude August 1, 2008.
The field, made possible due to the efforts of King's Legacy of
Excellence Capital Campaign, will benefit the College's football, field
hockey, men's and women's soccer, and men's and women's lacrosse teams.
The approximate cost of the field is expected to be $1.2 million. The
College is expected to hold an official opening ribbon-cutting ceremony
in the fall on a date to be determined.
The width of the previous field has been expanded by 30 feet to meet
NCAA soccer field specifications and the entire scope of the field will
be shifted closer to the John J. Dorish Field House. Visiting side
bleachers will be shifted closer to the scoreboard area and are also
being moved back towards the field house to accommodate for the expanded
field size. The concession stand will also be moved to make room for
the added dimensions and a new scoreboard will be installed to handle
the field's multi-sport function. The turf field will be marked with
permanent sports-specific color boundary lines to differentiate the
playing area for each sport. Additionally, lights will be installed to
allow for the playing of night games while teams will have a variety of
practice time options.
The lighted field will also for teams to practice and better prepare
during their non-traditional seasons. With the NCAA now allowing teams
not in season to hold a restricted number of organized practices, the
aforementioned squads will be able to use the field during their
off-season. In the fall, men's and women's lacrosse, who play in the
spring, will now be able to hold full practices during the fall season,
using the turf field either at night or on weekends before or after fall
sports games. In the spring, King's football, field hockey, and soccer
teams will be able to do the same. The field will also open up increased
intramural sports opportunities for the King's student-body.
In recent years heavy use of the field, combined with rain in the fall,
often left the field in poor condition. At the conclusion of the fall
sports season the field was consistently absent of grass in many areas
and could not recover in time for the spring sports season. The men's
lacrosse team, which utilized the field in the spring, was forced to
play on a surface comprised of little grass. That will now change as
all teams that utilize the new synthetic turf field will have a
top-of-the-line surface that will not be affected by weather or seasonal
changes.
“We are truly excited about the construction of this new field and by
the possibilities it brings," said King's director of athletics Cheryl
Ish. "By having a synthetic turf surface it will allow our student
athletes to practice and compete on a field that is not compromised by
weather and normal wear and tear. Our grounds crew has done a
magnificent job in the past to keep all of our fields in championship
condition. However, rain and particularity snow in the March, hampers
what our teams are able to do in order to prepare for their seasons. By
having this weather resistant field that we will be able to snow plow,
our student-athletes will be put in position for optimal success. Also,
with the close proximity of the field to Interstate 81, this will allow
King's to host Pennsylvania district and state high school playoff
games, bringing a greater number of people to King's and creating a
broader range of visibility to the college. This can only help in terms
of enrollment and recruiting. The field is an exciting next-step for
King's Athletics and we believe it will only help our teams continue to
prosper.”
