After opening in 2005, Assumption’s Multi-Sport Stadium became a key facility for Assumption Athletics and one of the focal points of campus, hosting various sporting events and practices and serving as Assumption football’s home field. Over the years, demand on the turf field in the stadium has steadily increased. Today, as the only turf field on campus, the facility is routinely used by varsity teams from the early morning to late at night. As part of the Light the Way campaign, Assumption seeks to build additional turf surfaces to better serve our varsity student-athletes, club and intramural sport teams, and outside groups.
In addition to being the only turf field on campus, the Multi-Sport Stadium is the only field with lights. It is used year-round by six varsity programs comprising over 250 student-athletes and, during the academic year, is regularly reserved from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. In comparison, most of Assumption’s competitors in the NE-10 conference have more than one turfed facility with lights on campus. In recent years, the baseball and softball teams have been forced off campus for games and practices because of the amount of snow that accumulates on their fields during the spring season. Assumption incurs the costs associated with renting outside facilities for these teams.
To address these issues and to gain a competitive advantage, Assumption plans to install turf baseball and softball fields on either side of the Multi-Sport Stadium at the rear of campus, replacing the current dirt and grass baseball and softball fields. After a snowstorm, these durable turf surfaces can be plowed and the teams will no longer need to go off-campus for games and practices. Lights will be installed at the baseball field to accommodate evening games and practices, along with scoreboards and spectator seating at both fields. A permanent outfield fence will be constructed at the softball field to enclose the field and create a regulated competition area.
Additionally, a regulation-size (120 yard by 70 yeard) turf field will be added within the outfield of the baseball complex to alleviate demand on the Multi-Sport Stadium field. This field will be built with proper boundary lines in accordance with NCAA hosting standards, allowing men’s and women’s soccer to hold competitions and practices on the field. The field will serve as a practice and conditioning facility for other varsity teams and will be used by the general student population in intramural and recreation events.
These improvements will bring Assumption in line with other NE-10 schools and provide an advantage in competition and the recruitment of new student-athletes. Beyond varsity sports, club and intramural sports are popular extra-curriculars at Assumption, and the University has a robust rental program for outside groups. The new turf facilities will allow Assumption to expand our club and intramural sport offerings and accommodate groups from outside Assumption who seek to rent our facilities, bringing in additional revenue for the University.
