The Circle

Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: News

Media Credit: James Reilly Football players practice through construction on the as-of-yet unfinished Leonidoff Stadium.

Students are back on campus, classes are in session, and athletic competitions are in full swing. However, not one Red Fox "home" soccer game has been played at the new Leonidoff Stadium.

Leonidoff Stadium is home to five of Marist's intercollegiate athletic teams: football, men's and women's soccer and men's and women's lacrosse. The new facilities will also house events for intramural sports, as well as club sports.

This is the largest renovation to what was Leonidoff field in its 42-year existence. The new stadium features a new grandstand on the east side of the stadium with chair-backed seats throughout the grandstand area of the stadium.

Marist College Athletic Director Tim Murray said the project is not behind schedule.

"We're not behind," he said. "What we are getting is such a terrific venue, we just have to be patient. One thing that slowed us down is the stone work, but that is work that is so precise that it takes time."

Other improvements on the way are an athletic training room, team and officials' dressing rooms, rest-rooms, concessions and storage space. All of these rooms will be located in the area below the grandstand.

According to a publication on goredfoxes.com, the grandstand will be equipped with a "modern press booth, media booths and VIP suites."

Also, according to an article published in an earlier edition of "The Circle" entitled, "Weather cooperating with vision for Leonidoff project," the west side of the stadium will not be wasted. A 12-foot berm has been constructed which will be available for lawn seating at all events.

According to Murray, much of the work is near completion at Leonidoff field.

"The field playing surface is complete," Murray said. "We are preparing for the line application. The field will remain clean; the lines will not be stitched in, allowing for single sport lines whenever possible."

Other parts of the job that still need work include the walkways around the stadium, the fence work around the outer perimeter of the stadium, and the elevators are currently being installed. Also, the borings for the scoreboard have been poured, with the board to be installed by next week, according to Murray.

"Everything is progressing nicely," he said of the work on the stadium. "Any delays are from the fine craftsmanship of the workers. Really, nice work takes time. We are excited for the completion and getting on the field full-time."

Full-length glass windows are to be installed on the front of the press box. The windows will be hinged at the top, to allow for the panes to open and give the press box a more stadium-like feel. Also, the sound system will be piped into the press box. That wiring has already been run.

The first match to be played on the new field will be a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's soccer match, where the Red Foxes will play host to the Rider Broncs on Friday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m. The match is the MAAC opener for both teams.

The next day, Saturday, Oct. 6 at 1 p.m., the Red Fox football team will play its home opener against MAAC rival Duquense. The contest against Duquense is the 2007 homecoming game for the Red Foxes.

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