Meanwhile, Fairfield University, which won approval from the town's Zoning Board of Appeals in July to replace 40-foot-high lights with 75-foot-high lights at Alumni Field, is planning to build "stadium support facilities" and to re-organize spectator seating, according to Assistant Town Planner James Wendt and David Frassinelli, the university's associate vice president for facilities.
John Fallon, Fairfield U.'s lawyer, says in the zoning application that the new facilities go hand-in-hand with the new lights. "In addition to improvements in lighting, the university has made a commitment to upgrade the facilities at Alumni Field in order to insure that it becomes a superior venue in terms of playability, comfort for spectators and safety," he said.
Frassinelli said the new seating arrangement calls for 1,500 seats on the east side of the field, near the townhouses, and 2,000 seats on the west side of the field. "Our plan is to maintain that seating count of 3,500 people but better organize it so you don't have seating in the end zones," he said.
A structure would be built on the west side of Alumni Field to house a coach's room, locker room, restrooms and concession stand, and a press box and hospitality suites would be on top of the proposed structure in enclosed spaces, Frassinelli said. He said the concession stand wouldn't include cooking equipment and that the structure would wrap around bleacher seating.
The university also wants to slightly shift Alumni Field to the south and east to improve "spectator circulation," and the proposed changes also include "much improved ticketing and spectator entry areas," Fallon says in the zoning application.
Frassinelli said the proposed changes are designed to bring Alumni Field up to the standard of a Division 1 school that has successful athletic teams. "We're looking to create a game day experience that is appropriate for a Division 1 school and the successful teams we have put out on the field," he said.
Fallon is asking the Town Plan and Zoning Commission to incorporate into a potential approval of the facilities an agreement with Fairfield U.'s neighbors about when the lights at Alumni Field can be turned on. That agreement dates to the ZBA's approval of a height variance for the lights in July.
Frassinelli said the proposed changes are designed to bring Alumni Field up to the standard of a Division 1 school that has successful athletic teams. "We're looking to create a game day experience that is appropriate for a Division 1 school and the successful teams we have put out on the field," he said.
Great news and next let's hope that Alumni Hall will finally get a long overdue major facelift with at least chairback seating as AH is the home of NCAA Division 1 Women's Basketball and Women's Volleyball but also as it is now a recruiting liability. Next month AH will host the MAAC Volleyball Tournament.
Actually the Prep will also benefit as Alumni Stadium is the home field for Jesuit Football, Jesuit Soccer and Jesuit Lacrosse.
Thank God, this was long overdue. This was an absolute no brainer, the space was there all we needed was two sides of concrete stands. Cant believe it took this long.
Great news. If I read it correctly, only higher lights were approved so far. The Alumni Stadium will likely be approved, but it might not be as easy.
So wll the field be Turf or Grass??? I assume Lacrosse and Soccer will play there. That means they might rip up Lessing field and use that location for a new Alumni Hall.
Let's hope that it is done right, with a little more architectural style and not just a new concrete block building and a new chain link fence.
Hopefully Development will allow Lyons-Lademan to get involved with a campaign for naming rights from "The Insert Your Name Here Alumni Stadium" to the smallest improvement including a name a brick walkway for alumni, family, fans and friends of Stag Football, Soccer and Lax.
Then take care of Alumni Hall and Alumni Baseball Diamond.
An upgrade/improved Alumni stadium calls for only 3,500 seats down from the 4,000 capacity of the current artificial turf configuration of end zone bleachers, the original stands and the townhouse side metal bleachers.
The improved in 2003 Lessing Field (turf) has just 600 seats and University Field (artificial) has only 500 seats.
I'm not sure how donor Stephen M. Lessing '76 would feel about the removal of Lessing Field?
good luck with the "pains in the a..." that surround the campus. The selling points here are: 1) the seating will not increase, no additonal traffic impact. 2)An agreemnt to limit the hours of the operation of the lights is part of the deal. Good luck negotiating point #2 with the "nimbys" who surround the campus. Does anyone remember father kelly decision selling the vacant buffer property at the north end of the campus? heer is where that past decision comes back to haunt you.
An upgrade/improved Alumni stadium calls for only 3,500 seats down from the 4,000 capacity of the current artificial turf configuration of end zone bleachers, the original stands and the townhouse side metal bleachers.
The improved in 2003 Lessing Field (turf) has just 600 seats and University Field (artificial) has only 500 seats
I'm not sure how donor Stephen M. Lessing '76 would feel about the removal of Lessing Field?
No problem with Lessing. Just dump the Alumni and make it Lessing Stadium. Alumni has no meaning except "I'm waiting for a benefactor".
I would think there is a different cost on the naming rights. I would say:
2-5 million for a Field 10-20 for a Stadium our size 25-50 for an Arena
The footprint of where Lessing Field resides, is probably the most valuable and centrally located. Where Alumni Hall resides, is currently best for a Parking Garage.
The University unfortunately shares the on campus athletic facilities including all the playing fields (Barlow Field, Grauert Field, University Field, Lessing Field and Alumni Stadium) with the Prep.
The University needs a playing field for practice and gamedays for Stag Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Lacrosse, Women's Field Hockey, Men's and Women's Rugby while sharing those same fields with the Prep for practice and gamedays for Jesuit Football (Varsity, JV, Freshman), Soccer (Varsity, JV, Freshman), Lacrosse (Varsity, JV, Freshman), Rugby (Varsity, JV, Sophomore, Freshman).
Eliminating a field at this point might not be an option. However, St. John's built their new 2,242 seat soccer field, Belson Stadium on a raised platform with parking below and funded with a $6 million gift from the Belson family.
Selling off the last remaining land next to the nunery was a short sighted financial decison that continues to effect the University including getting permission from the "neighbors" as to when Fairfield University can turn the lights on at Alumni Stadium.
That said, its easy to play monday morning quarterback. I always thought selling that property was a big mistake, but don't know what the financial situation was with the U at that time.
But, the question is, what is the plan going forward? The university tends to keep this stuff very close to the vest. So, how do you get benefactors if you don't show a vision, prototypes, models of the long term plan for the campus. If someone sees a plan for a magnificent facility they may want to leave a legacy and put their name on it. If no one knows the plan and the U does not market it, nothing happens. Do you buy a Ferrari unless you see it and drive it? Do you invest in a upstart company unless you see and understand the business plan?
Post by stagsfan32 on Oct 19, 2012 16:37:52 GMT -5
The neighbors who own homes on the land the University sold in the 1990s are not the ones who have been challenging to deal with. It's neighbors who live in College Park, which is on the other side of the former convent. The nuns sold that property in the late 60s or early 70s. And they weren't challenging until the University built a field right next to their neighborhood, with lights and sound without ever reaching out to them or going through an open approval process.
And while there are always some unreasonable people, most are just fine. The University did just build a new four -story residence hall very close to College Park.
Fairfield U.'s renovation also includes re-orienting the 3,500 seats at Alumni Field so 1,500 seats are on the east side and 2,000 are on the west side. Seats now facing an end zone on the field would be eliminated. The university also plans to build a 35-foot-high structure on the west side that will wrap around that area of the field and include a concession stand, coaches rooms, storage rooms and public bathrooms on the ground level and a press box and two VIP suites on the upper level.
Andre Vega, Fairfield U.'s architect, said the playing surface would be shifted 20 feet to the west and 15 feet to the south to provide better access around the field and that a scoreboard would be on the north end.
Good news all around. Let's hope that it is done right the first time and it looks right, especially the "35 foot high structure on the west side that will wrap around that area of the field". Alumni Stadium should definetely become an asset to Stag Lax.
