Detroit begins construction of new soccer/track facility
June 12, 2007
June 12, 2007
Detroit, Mich. - The University of Detroit Mercy broke ground today on a new athletic facility which will include a multi-purpose synthetic playing field and all-weather running track. The complex will be constructed on the site of the Titans' existing soccer field, located on the Northwest corner of the McNichols campus.
Phase 1 of the construction will be completed this fall, in time for use by the UDM men's and women's soccer teams before the end of their seasons. The facility will contain an A-Turf field, along with a six-lane polyurethane track and areas for the steeplechase and field events.
Phase 2 of the project, when completed in the future, will include stadium seating for 2,500-3,000 fans, concession stands, rest rooms, a press box, new scoreboard, lights and a building with space for offices, locker rooms and storage.
URS Corp. of Grand Rapids will serve as the lead architect for the project, and has designed similar athletic fields for Alma College, Calvin College and the Farmington Public Schools. McCarthy and Smith of Farmington Hills will serve as the general contractor.
"Today's groundbreaking for the construction of our new synthetic field and track is another big step forward for the Titan Athletics Program. I am excited that our student-athletes and coaches, who work so hard day in and day out, will have the on-campus facilities they need to train and compete," Titans athletic director Keri Gaither said.
"The University's substantial commitment for the new facilities is a critical component of our sport expansion plan. These facilities give us the opportunity to expand our track program as well as add sports over the next few years. The opportunity to offer possible varsity sports such as men's and women's lacrosse will, in turn, help fund other enhancements for the athletic programs such as the recently-announced addition of new staff members in the athletic services areas as well as coaching staff members. It really is an exciting time for Titan Athletics."
UDM's track and field team recently sent two Horizon League individual champions to the NCAA Regional. The Titan soccer program comes off a year in which the women's team advanced to its fourth straight Horizon League Championship Game and boasted three all-conference players, while the men added two all-league players of their own.
Titan soccer games will be played on a grass field being created south of Calihan Hall until the opening of the new facility. The grass field will then be maintained and used for team practices in the future.
Additional announcements concerning future improvements to the UDM Athletic program are expected in the coming months.
What They're Saying About UDM's New Sports Facility:
Fr. Gerard Stockhausen, S.J., UDM President: "It's exciting to get started on this project. It's great for our student-athletes, and all of our students, for them to have a place to play all year round."
UDM Vice President Michael Joseph: "This has been a long time in coming. I believe this groundbreaking is the beginning of an important enhancement to campus, and not only for our intercollegiate athletics program. Our entire campus community will have an opportunity to take advantage of the new facilities in the future."
Director of Soccer/Women's Head Coach Mike Lupenec: "I'm very excited about our new facility with the turf field. The school is definitely investing a lot into our soccer program with a year-round facility. We can play any time now, regardless of the weather. No games will ever have to be postponed or moved. This will be nothing but productive for both of our programs, men's and women's in the future."
Director of Track & Field Guy Murray: "This is the beginning of a new era for Titan track and field. The new facility will enable us to be a better team as we put more effort into track and field, and less effort into the logistics of how we get to practice off-campus. We will be able to do more quality technical work than we've been able to do in the past, a great benefit to our program."
Photos and an artist's rendering of the finished facility can be found at http://www.detroittitans.com/news.jsp?id=1181668770557
Story provided by Detroit Office of Sports Information
